The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-18

lne much talked or investgation into
The affairs OF the superintendent OF public
buildings. was begun by the joint COM
mittee on accounts OF the city council.
at 1880 O'Clock last evening, in the muni-
clpal court room, City Hall
Chairman Hrask. Councilmen Rooot,
Parks, Massie. Alderman Reynolds May
or Granger and city Auditor Chase sat
behind the court rail. but Alderman Co
veil of the committee was not present.
Superintendent or Public Buildings Albert
T.Mansfield occupied a seat at one of the
tables, and was accompanied by his
counsel Franklin r. owen. while P.Henry
Quinn, Esq, was present In behalf OF
William n. Chadsey a Co.
City Solicitor CoIwell appeared on be-
half OF the committee, and he conducted
the examination Of witnesses While
Mayor Granger sat with the committee
he took no active part In the investiga-
ton.
THE CASE rs OPENED.
city Solicitor Colwell informed the com
mittee that it had met pursuant TO
resolution Of :he city council authoriz-
ing the committee TO examine into and
report upon the manner OF the conduct
of the department OF public buildings
since Jan. 4. 1897 Mr.. Colwell said that.
az he had been chosen TO conduct the
examination OF witnesses, he would call
unon the Witnesses without delay.
Mr.. colweil said the first matter To be
cnauired into was work done on the
Broad street school houses, and he called
the first witness City Auditor Chase,
who testified that all the bills were ap-
proved by the superintendent of public
buildings, then by the committee on city
property. then sent To the auditor, later
10 the committee OH accounts and finally
TO the mayor
Col. Chase was asked about the bill OF
w. y. Chadsey amounting To $3.50 for
cutting a doorway at the Broad street
school. and stated that this amount had
been approved by Supt Mansfield Chair
man Perkins OF the committee on city
property. and by the city auditor. but
had been held up and laid on the table
by the committee on accounts
JOB WAS WORTH so.
James c. Peck testified that ne had
been mason since 1si1. He had visited
the Broad street school house with Mr.
Penniman, and examined the hole cut for
door with reference 10 the work and
The charge made for IT, lie thought,
from what he had been told about the
job, that the work was worth $50. He
considered 1850 "A pretty high charge.
skilled workman ought 10 do the
work for $50. The job was done by
skilled workmen and the work was left
very rough. He did not think any plumb
had been used OH the work Two masons
and helper ought 10 have done the job
I'm two days which would have cost N2.60
for labor. and a trifiing expense for stock.
In cross-examination by Mr.. Owen,the
witness said the door was six feet six
inches high by three feet wide. and the
wall was 16 inches thick He admitted
that II the work was interrupted IL
would take longer 10 do It. In the
amount OF $40 which he had mentioned
he was calculating only masons' work.
and not anything for the door frame.
Hts estimate was on the plain work
done without any interruption. II he was
employed to do n job subject to Interrupt
tions he should charge for the time his
men were employed upon IL, from the
time they left the shop until when they
returned.
In redirect Mr.. Peck said that he
would not keep his man hanging around
for the purpose Of running up bill
MIR HUNTS FIGURE,
George NJ Hunt testified that he had
been n mason for 81 years. The work he
had examined was the cutting or hole
for a small door with fiagstone on top,
and the work was finished In very
rough and unworkmanlke manner He
considered that fair price for the work
was SIS. One man, with a lahorer, ought
10 have done the work In two days.
In cross-examination, Mr.. Hunt said he
would charge for the time that men left
IS place until the time they returned.
George +. Lewis testified that he was
n mason and contractor. He had exam
incd the character OF the work In dues-
ton and thought that II he got si5 for
the 100 Ne would be doing well lie be-
lieved that one man and two laborers
could easily do the work in two days
The work had been done In crude man
ncr
In cross-eXamina tion. witness said that
he had examined the work on April II. at
the request OF members OF the committee
on accounts. He paid his masons 81 cents
an hour for a nine-hour day. and his
helpers 81 a day. This Is what he paid,
but he charged i5 cents an hour for ma
sons and % cents an hour for lahorers
To Councilman Parks witness said any
ordinary mason could have given a price
on the work before IL was commenced.
Hiram II Young, engineer at the Broad
street school house. said that he had no
knowledge OF any Interruptions OF the
work and knew of no orders having been
given 10 the mon 10 stop work. fte 6id
not know either OF the two worlsmen.
but one OF them came 10 nis house on
riday. November 80 ana wanted TO
know where the door was 10 go The two
men worked on Friday and Saturday
without any interruption. as there was
no school on those days.
AT FEDERAL. STREET SCHOOL. /
city Auditor Chase was again called 20
The witness stand, and was asked con
cernlng bill for repairing the chinneys
and a jet at the Federal street school
house he stated that the amount of the
hll for this work was s2O2 IS. The hill had
been regularly approved and had been
paid
John a. Cole testified that he was
mason. he had been callcd upon TO ex-
anime the work and in his opinion fair
charge FOR the work would have been
So
George NJ -~Eunt testified that ne had