New-York tribune., 1901-11-21
CIRCUIT STIRS KEATlNG.
RPooKIyS,s PRESIDENT SAYS ASPHALT
CONTRACTS BAR ALL BUT TRUST.

At meeting Of the Board Of Pubic improve
rnents Yesterday President Edward M Trout
of the Borough of Brooklyn asserted lhal 'i-e
specifications applying to the contracts ioi p">
ing various streets Of Brooklyn contaiheo pio
visions that could only be adhered io Wy 'io
asphalt trust thereby shutting out all other
asphalt companies that might wish to Ola on
contracts.
President Grout's assertion was lnclsiiaiiliS
denied by Commissioner of Highways Jalies
Keating The two members had TO be called
to order several times by President '1oiai
and at one time it looked as if Commissioner
Heating would give President Grout the he'
Several petitions had been brought up
ouesting the asphalt paving of various streets
in Brooklyn. All of the members except fresi-
dent Grout voted Yes" and. as fresiueh'
Grout's Noes" became more and more Vehe-
ment as each petition was brought up. Fresi
dent Holahan last asked Mr. Gfout 10 s'A'e
his objections.
'sIn the specfcations" said President Grout'
there are certain provisions made wnlch nriiiS
outside of the Asphalt Trust are unaoie 10
con,plv with and. as 1 think that every asphalt
firm ought to have fair chance, L vote NO.
and will continue to vote the same way uhiee'
the specifications are changed
The provision which 1 most object TO Is tne
one which states that no company shall be al
lowed to bid for contracts unless they can snow
that they have paved street, in some town.
which has been laid for two years. Thls prac-
tfcaIIy shuts out the small bidders, as the COM
panies in the Asphalt Trust are the only ones
which have had their asphalt in a street FOR
that length of time. Another provision reads
that the companies shall use certain chemicals
in the compounding of the asphalt, and these
chemicals as stated are those WHICH are uoeu
by the Asphalt Trust only
Commissioner Keatng, who had been loset-
ing around in his chair stood up, and, bringing
his fist down the table with a loud lhui'P'
said that he denied Mr.. Grouts statements
The reason those specifications ana the pro
visions contained In them are made salu COM
missioner Heating, ARE for the express purpose
of keeping out firms whose asphalt is of an IN
ferior character. Firms that have paved streets
in a small country town that has practically no
traffic cannot be deemed competent to pave the
streets of New-York Brooklyn on that ac-
count and / deny Mr.. CIRCUITS assertion that
the provisions are made to suit the companies
con tanned in the Asphalt Trust.
The two argued for nearly half an hour,
and while President Grout remained cool, Com
missioner keating grew more and more excited,
until it looked if he might lose his temper.
President Grout said that in mis- opinion there
ought to be some other way OF determining the
efficiency of an asphalt cOmpanys power TO
fulfil a contract. Commissioner keating said
that there could be other way
The argument was finally ended when Presi-
dent Grout quoted another provision, which
seemed 10 nonplus the Commissioner of High
ways.
Another provision states" said President
Grout. that half the money that is to be paid
10 a company procuring a contract shall be
held back for the space of two years suf-
ficent guarantee that their work is satisfactory.
In my mind this is sufficient TO insure salts
factory work. and ! cannot see the reason for
the other provisions"
The meeting was hastily adjourned.