The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-06
BROOME UNDER FIRE
His Specifications Unmerci-
fully Riddled Before the
=
New Commissioners.
HARD TO TELL WHAT THEY MEAN
Contractor Kiernan Requires Writ
ten Orders for Extra Work So
lie Can Sue the City.

The new City Hall Commissioners met
In the Aldermanic Chamber this morn
Ing. It was intended to give the con-
tractors an opportunity to explain why
they have not finished their work This
plan miscarried, however, as Louis H.
Broome. the architect. monopolized the
time by attempting to explain away the
innumerable defects in his $4,000 specif-
cations, which the Commissioners, with
the exception of Mr.. Datz, fully realize
are responsible for all the trouble which
has accompanied the construction of his
monstrosity.
Carpenter Contractor Kiernan was put
on the rack first. He declared he would
have been through on specified time had
the other contractors done their work
on time. The derelict contractor who has
interfered with him, Kiernan said, was
Richard English, who, all through the
squabbles which have occurred. has been
shielded by Broome. even in the glazed
brick scandal
To Offset this charge Broome took it
upon himself to defend English by call
ing attention to the fact that Kiernan
had not enclosed the outer halls so that
glazed brick could be laid and plastering
done.
Broome,s next charge was that Kiernan
had not used the kind of furniture, that
is hinges. bolts and hooks, called for and
that he had not bought them of certain
New York dealers. He charged that the
door hinges used by Herman were too
small. being only 4x4 He said they
should have been at least 5x5 and 6x6.
Kiernan sprung surprise on the S17, 600
architect at this juncture by reading
paragraph from the curious specifications
in which it distinctly said 4x4, plain,
bronzed bolts should be used. Broome
was not nustered.
oh he replied, sbut in another part
of my specifications it says the archi-
teet shall select the butts and other fur
niture''
DO you suppose that l propose bid
ding en- one article and then allow you,
who have pounded me from STRAIT to fin
lsh. to go and select larger size mate
rails and more expensive stuff for me?"
asked Kiarnan. IF your specifications
are not as they should be or as you in.
tended them, it is not my fault de-
NY your right to choose materials not
called fer"
Broome made an answer. but Kiernan
Interrupted him saying
why there are holes enough in your
specifications to drive a horse and cart
through"
Broeme was mad, and then Custodian
Datz tackled Kfesnan, but he was check
cd by Commissioner Dickinson, who all
through the meeting clearly demonstrat-
ed that he was boss.
Il have been compelled to do work
not called for in my Specifications, de-
elared Herman; Il have done woodwork
wnere iron was. called for, but am
through. I do not want to shirk any
part of my work. 1 will do everything
the specifications call for and nothing
more. We may as well understand each
other now as at any other time
'That is the way he has been acting
all through said Broome. 81 have not
talked with him in eight months. All
my orders have been given to his fore
man
1--WE don't care to hear about your
trouble said Commissioner Dickinson.
Silence followed this remark.
The question of doing about $40 worth
of excavating SO that the elevators may
be placed in position was brought up.
Broome said it was Kiernans work and
Kiernan insists that several months ago
Broome said it was part of English's
contract. Kiernan was asked to do the
work and said he would if anything
about excayating could be found in his
specifications. He consented to do the
work if Broome would give him writ
ten order, at the same time Informing
the Commission he wanted the order so
as to have something on which to base a
suit for the recovery of the amount. This
course will doubtless be pursued The
easiest way is to be adopted SO as to get
ff1a nj p6 oil toe
viii be settled in court.
There are no door saddles called for
in the building declared Mr.. Herman
specifications for the cheapest tenement
house or shanty were never prepared
where provision was not made for sad
dies"
Broome did not like this cut and raised
the: point that the architect had the
power Under the contracts signed by the
contractors to order them to do such
work as to make a good job no
matter what the specifications set forth.
..Do you imagine any sensible man is
going to take a contract and then allow
you 10 order such work as you think
necessary when 1t is not specified?'' de-
manded Herman. "You cannot do that
with me.
Plumber Farrier was next put on the
rack. and his representative, Edwin
Moore. put Broome in more trouble Moore
made Broome admit to the Commission
that his specifications were not intended
to provide for radiators on the third
floor. He had impaired that inforna-
.tion to Farrier when he submitted his
bid. and as a result no radiators for that
floor were considered N the estimate
Broome's specifications in one instance
make no provision for third floor rada-
tors. and in another they do Corporation
Counsel Blair battled with the curious
case for a few days. and then decided that
r'aTr.er should furnish the shird floor
l5Gsatorss
~ Broome is empowered to decide
l.st Kiernan and English have to do"
III w w. Farrier, who was present,
would like to know why it was neces-
to appeal TO the Corporation Coun-
81 in my case particularly as Broome
had already decided that I was not to
furnish the radiators"
The Commissioners were perplexed.
They lodged the issue by declaring the
dificulty will probably be satisfactorily
adjusted, which means the city will be
put to great expense for radiators
because Of Broonle's defective specifica-
lions. Mr. Farrier complained that he
could not finish connecting number
sf the closets because the mason, Rich-