New-York tribune., 1898-01-23
THE COUNSEL NOW TURNED OUT.
EAST RIVER BRIDGE COMMISSION DIS
PENSES WITH LAWYERS-PROTEST OF
THE OLD COMMISSION

The New East River Bridge Commission held
meeting yesterday afternoon in It's office, at No 81
Chamhers-st.. and announced later that William G.
Choate. H NJ. c. Ingraham and Frank d. Pavey
who had been special counsel for the old Commits
sion. had been removed They the lawyers
whose fees were made the subject OF open criticism
10y the Mayor Wednesday.
Mr. Choate held a long conference with Commits
soners Lane and Moore. When he came from the
room ne asked If he had anything to give out.
and he said:
Il never give out anything but always take in
Mr.. Choate refused to say whether the old Bridge
Commissioners would take legal steps to combat
the appointment of the Board not.
A requsition made by the Commission on the
Corporation Counsel for a lawyer to transact the
business Of the Commission. 1t Is the intention to
make the Corporation Counses office do the work
hereafter. instead of retaining special counsel
Andrew d. Baird. Richard Deeves. Salem H.
Wales Henry Batterman James A. Sperry and
+. B. Thurber. the East River Bridge Commits
sioners who were removed from office on Wednes-
day sent a letter 70 Mayor Van Wyck yesterday,
protesting earnestly against the manner of their
removal and against the statements which the
Mayor made TO his reasons for turning them out
of Office. The letter is in part as follows:
The sums paid our counsel were FOR about two
years and d half of continuous, arduous and faith
ful service and far less than would have been
~ important business affairs. . -
The Commission was organized on June -, 1870
The preliminary work OF determining the line most
practicable 1lcal and useful to the pubic, OF
negotiating for eXtinguishng the rights OF
the East River B. ge Company as permitted ny
the charter. which olved US III serious litigation
of boring in the bed the river 10 ascertain the
character and depth - the tower foundations o.
obtaining the consent OF the Federal Government
in respect the height and span OF the bridge, ana
OF the necessarily tedious preliminary calculations
OF the engineering department consumed con-
siderable time But the work has been prose-
cuted without cessation and with the utmost
diligence The beginnings Of the work on the
structure itself being done In the bed OF the East
River are necessarily out OF the public view and
compa lively slow. but this work has been con
tnuously carried with the greatest VSor night
ana day. and such progress has been made with
the tower foundations and the anchorases ana IN
the preparation for the superstructure that II no
unex pected obstacles are encountered the bridge
can Il is believed be open for traffic in three years
from this time. and will have been constructed IN
considerably less than One-half OF the time con
sumed in the construction Of the present Brooklyn
Bridge, although II Is OF more than double the
carving capacity OF that Bridge
down 10 the lowest point consistent with efficient
work AS 10 our legal expenses. we would willing
w submit the question Of their proprety 10 any
Wel-informed business man familiar with legal
business Of similar importance. And In respect 10
tho conduct OF the work, would willingly sub
init the question OF our diligence 10 any competent
engineer OF experience.
We deny utterly your charges Of misconduct. You
| have been unjust to us and 10 our counsel, ana
the office that you occupy aggraVates TINS IN
Justice.