The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16

Investigation discloses the fact that one of the richest plumS that have fallen has been divided up between the con- tractor for the galvanized metal work and those who made it possible for him to go behind the terms of his written contract. The full extent of the States loss on this item of construction has not yet been fully determined, but so far as the investigation has progressed 1t appears that at least $6000 and per haps more has been passed from the States coffers to the pockets of inter eSted parties without any due return The hocus-pocuS by which the officials have been enabled to enrich themselves to this amount is much the same as has been practiced in other contracts here tofore exploited. Contractors were in vited to bid for the putting in of the galvanized metal work, and the con- tract was awarded to the lowest bid der as required by law. After the con- tract had been let changes were made in the specifications in order to allow the contractor to substitute inferior materials for those called for in the original specifications Other evasions and substitutions were made, as will appear.
 The contract for the galvanized iron work was let to William Cronin of 1213 Market street. Among other things called for by the contract was the cov-
 
 the long gallery and the inner walls of the waiting room on the second floor with No. p galvanized iron, as will be seen by the following paragraph from the original printed specifications:
 The entire walls of the gallery in the ends and walls of the waiting room throughout are to be finished in galvan- ized iron. In the treatment of the wait ing rooms, both inside and out galvan- i1od iron c nSad in courses with flush joints, formed by bringing the true edges of metal close together, and Secur- ing the same with hshplates of No IS galvanized iron, six inches wide, rfveted with galvanized iron flushed rfvets, not further apart than three inches, centers, staggered in two rows on each side of joint and well soaked with solder; fish plates secured with galvanized clips to the rough construction of the outside walls, which is composed of small channels and T irons, as indicated on the framing plans or joints, may be joint locked and soldered, at the discretion of the architect. All this work to be of No. P galvanized iron, as will also be the out Side and inside of the corridor and bridges in the second story.
 Two years elapsed between the let ting of the contract and the beginning of work In the interim the Board of Harbor Commissioners granted to Cro- min a modification of the contract per- hitting him to use No. 26 instead of No. 22 galvanized iron for the work. No. P iron costs s105 45 per 100 sheets and No. 26 costs $70 12 per 100 sheets. As it re- quired about 6400 sheets to complete the contract this modification meant sav- ing to the contractor of about $2260. What part, if any, of this amount was used by the contractor to bring about this very remunerative modification does not appear of record?
 After the work had progressed suffi- ciently to permit of the establishment of amicable relations between the con- tractor and the Board of Harbor Com missioners Cronin professed to discover that he was not compelled by the terms of his contract to cover the west walls of the gallery and waiting-room with