The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01
Says He Has Made a
j. Careful Study Of Tim
Der Preserving.
Has Always Tried to Do His
Duty by the People and .=
the State.
Devotes Five Hours a Day to His
office as State Harbor
~: =: - Com M iSsiOner. .-::< =:

The trial of the suit brought by the
Paraffine Paint Company against the
State Board of Harbor Commissioners
was resumed yesterday before Judge
Belcher Major p. j. Harvey, one of
the members of the commission, was
on the witness stand all day, and when
adjournment hour arrived his cross
examination had been scarcely begun.
Harvey was examined on lines similar
to those involved in the questions
asked him last Thursday and nothing
new or interesting was brought out :
Harvey testified that all the knowl-
edge he had concerning the Slade
Lumber contract. was hearsay, as he
was not a member of the commission
at the time the contract was let. He
said that he had, since his appoint
ment, been guided in his actions in a
great measure by the advice of the at
torneys for: the board.
Had you any intention of evading
or disregarding the law while acting
as Harbor Commissioner" asked At
torney Stratton.
Il had not" replied Harvey. Il have
always endeavored to do my duty by
the people and the State"
Harvey then said that all of the bids
received on and prior to December IA
last had been rejected on the advice of
Attorney Stratton. He advised us,
added Harvey, that inasmuch as the
bids had not ben opened and acted on
at the advertised time, and because
of the injunction suit brought against
the board, many legal complica-
tions might arise / acted on his ad-
vice. as l did not want to give my
sanction to what might afterWard
prove to be a void contract. Attorney
Stratton also advised US that it would
probably be better If we changed the
specifications so as to avoid any pos
sibe legal complications.
The cross-examination of Major Har-
ney was conducted by Attorney Cope
Have you any business other than
that of Harbor COMMISSIONS? was
asked.
II have" replied the witness. Il
act as business agent for people en-
gagged in mining and other industries.
What amount Of time do you devote
to outside business?"
About two hours a day." answered
Harvey. Il put in about five hours
day attending to the affairs of the
Harbor Commission and two hours to
my outside business"
Have you devoted any time to the
study of the best means for preserving
piles?" asked Attorney Cope.
Yes, SIR" answered Harvey. II have
read the reports of the Harbor Com
missioners and civil engineers relative
to creosoting and other means for pre-
serving timber. ] have made a par
ticular study Of pile preserving, as L
think a knowledge of that matter is
most important for a Harbor Commits
sioner to possess.
Have you ever gone under the
wharves to examine the piles?"
II have not. but / have received re-
ports from wharfingers and foremen."
Whom have you talked WITH"
Il received considerable information
from Wharffnger Buckley concerning
creosoted piles"
us he not related by marriage to P.
F. Dundon?" asked Attorney Cope.
Not to my knowledge" answered
Harvey II do know this much, how
ever: Dundon had nothing to do with
Buckley's appointment. l appointed
Buckley and Dundon had nothing to
do with it"
.'Is 1T not a fact asked Cope, that
Mr.. Irving on behalf of the Paraff1ne
Paint Company promised to guarantee
piles prepared by his company to last
a certain number Of years."
IT have no recollection of having had
such a conversation" replied Harvey.
The rest of the session was then
devoted to an examination of Haney
the length of time piles gen
orally last when treated under the diff
farant processes.