The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
An Admirable Witness
 Is Expert Reid.
READY FACTS AND FIGURES
CONTRACTOR AND ARCHITECT
 ARE IN ACTION.
The Expert Before the Senate. Com- mittee Responds With Minute Details of Measurements
 and Prices.

The Senate committee charged with the responsibility of Investigating State fn- stitutions held two sessions at the Har- bor Commissioners office yesterday. Ex- pert James w. Reid replied to all the in- quiries addressed to him by Senators Dickinson, Prisk and Boyce,' and under a certain form of examination re- sponded promptly to inquiries from Con- tractors c. F. Mccarthy, William Crenin. Architect Edward R. Swain and Lawyer. F. B. Young ..-.
 The subject under consideration was Expert Reid's report showing that the State had been plundered of vast sum of money by a process of. jugglery with specifications and the introduction of ma terials of construction in the ferry depot other than those originally specified:
 P. F. Mccarthy, contractor for masonry. said that he appeared for the sole pur- pose of defending the acts of the Hareor Commissioners and Architect Swain. MT.
 Mccarthy conducted the cross-examina-
 tion with skill and persistenoy, but ut- terIy failed to weaken the case of the ex- pert. MT. Reid was so we'll equipped with facts and figures, and displayed such masterIy ability in elucidating every point, clearing away all technicalities and pre- senting the plain truth, that the commit- tee and spectators listened with admira- tion to his ready, calm and comprehensive replies. He was ready at all times to go into the most minute detail as to measure ments, prompt to quote the price or ma terials when the contracts were award ed and when substitution of material ana changes of plans were allowed. He cal.
 culated the number of Roman pressed foot he quoted the prices Of galvanized iron according to weight. Where: points
 were in doubt he calculated that the ma
 terials were supplied and the work was performed in good faith, thus reinforcing his position that his report. was fair to
 the Harbor Commission, the contractors
 'i8 When ll MT. Mccarthy retired from the | attitude of cross-eXaminer Contractor: w. Young. availed himself of the. privilege to | ask questions concerning the methods | employed by the expert. Again MT: Reid
 replied with readiness. to a long line: of
 measurements and calculations were: not | given in the most minute detail he segre-
 gated items and computed the cost ae-
 cording to the fashion desired by the at
 MT. Reid readily admitted that there
 could be an honest difference of opinion l as to whether galvanized iron or brick 1 should be used according to drawing No. 8, but construing the specified tons and
 the drawings together doubt was dis
 Architect Swain insisted. that the draw | ing clearly established the intention of | the architect that brick should be used.
 MT. Reid maintained that as both were 1 not used there should have been re- | duction to the State for one:o the other. l It was contended by the cross-question- l CT that MT. Reid's report specified a loss | to the State on both brick and iron. If l the reduction were charged against Mo- | Carthy, the brick contractor. 1t. should
 not have been reckoned ~against Cronan, | the iron contractor.
 | The architects, Commissioners, con-
 tractors, Senators and spectators inspect ed drawing No. 8, which was telephoned | for by Chief Engineer Holmes. When the | cross-questioners were congratulating
 themselves that brick was indicated MT. | fcations which left no doubt that gall | vanized iron was specified as the mate
 rial He did not acknowledge that the
 architect had authority to omit galvan- i ized iron
 The committee will hold another ses- sion this forenoon.