The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-30
CUNNEEN SEEKSTO STOPFRAUD
HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT BARGE
CANAL WILL COST,
offered Amendments to the Plans and
Specifications Requiring Contractors
20 submit Lump Sum Bids rs We'll rs
Init Bids on Each Piece OF work.

ALBANY, Sept. 2e.-At the instance o
Attorney General Cunneen the State Cana
Board to-day took action which the Attor
ney-General believes closes any loop
hole for fraud in the construction of thu
ai01 900 900, barge canal. This was the frs
meeting Of the Canal Board since the pub.
lished statement OF the Attorney Genera
that plain steal had been made from the
State Treasury In favor of Edward H Harri.
mans Furnaceville Iron Company when the
Canal Board awarded that company $4,000
1t the instance OF Gov. Odell for excavatine
rock which a dozen witnesses testified was
mud.
It had been expected that there would
be trouble at the meeting OF the board.
but Attorney General Cunneen seemed to
be the only unconcerned member present
Other me mbers on hand were Secretary
of State John F. O'Brien, who is endeavor-
ing to supply the coal for the State Con-
eimpdve Hospital at Raybrook, in the
Adirondacks. through the influence OF Gov.
Odell and State Fiscal Supervisor Harry H
Bender; State Engineer Henry A. Van
Alstyne. a personal appointee Of Gov.
Odell and former manager of the Furnace
vile Iron Company; State Superintendent
Of Public Works Charles c. Boyd, who
rowed in the same boat with Gov. Odell
during their college days at Columbia
University; State Treasurer Wickser and
Comptroller Kelsey.
The meeting was held for the purpose of
passing finally on plans and specifications
for the first six and most intricate pieces
OF work under the barge canal improvement
scheme. The board approved Of these
after material amendments had been made
at the instance Of Attorney General Cum
neen in the interest OF the taxpayers OF
Z the State. The Attorney General wanted
I, the contractors to be required in bidding
on each piece Of canal work to submit a
lump sum bid representing the amount
for which they would complete the work
and o unit bid showing the price OF each
item.
Mr.. Cunneen said that such a course
not only would permit the State authori-
ties to determine at the outset through
such lump sum bids whether or not the
work could be completed within the en-
gineers' estimates but would place them in a
position to accept either bid on the basis
OF what would be best for the interests
of the State.
In past canal history said Attorney
General Cunneen, frauds have been per-
petrated on the State because the bidding
has been confined to unit prices and be-
cause Of Redistribution. By compelling
the submission Of lump sum bid upon
each piece OF contract work We will to a
large extent prevent the possibility Of a
recurrence OF these frauds We're each
item only bid for, the quantities bid on
might vary and loopholes offer for eI-
cessive bills for extra work. This was
especially true Of the work under the So
900 900 canal Improvement law.
"A hump sum bid would give the people
an idea Of the actual cost Of the work and
show just how near it will come to the
engineers estimates. for one do not
want to 20 into this work on the SUPPOSE
ton that 1t 10 going to cost SOL ,000, 900
and then find later that Il will cost two or
three times that. II lump sum bids had
been required under the 100000 law,
people would at once have discovered
that that amount was deficient"
Secretary Of State O'Brien asserted that
n lump bids were demanded contractors
would put up the price, and that such a
course would encourage the sentiment
that the barge canal proposition should
be resubmitted to a vote Of the people.
State Engineer Van Abtyne thought
Mr.. Cunneen's plan would discourage
bidding.
State Comptroller Kelley, after much
discussion, had Mr.. Cunneens idea amended
by making it permissive instead Of manda-
tory, 30 that now the canal contractors
may submit either unit bid, a lump sum
bid or both, as they see At. All Of the Repub-
loans voted for the amendment, but Mr.
Cunneen stood by his guns and voted against
1t.
But just as important as the above amend
nnept were other amendments offered to
the plans and specifications by Attorney
General Cunneen. He caused dozen
changes to be made SO that contracts will
have to be worked out and completed in
strict accordance with the plans and specfi-
cations without leaving to the State Engineer
Or any OF his assistant engineers discretion
to deviate from such plans and specifca-
tons.
The pl ans as submitted by State Engi
neer Van Alstyne provided that the con-
tract work should be pursued according
to the plans and specifications unless
changed by the engineers or permission
to deviate therefrom be permitted by the
State Engineers Department.
The Republican members Of the board
hemmed and hawed at these amendments
suggested by Attorney General Cunneen,
but tho Attorney-General insisted upon
their adoption. and although some OF the
members OF the board were opposed to
them they did not have the courage to
vote against them, in view OF the exigen-
oies OF the present political situation and
the dilemma in which they find their boss,
Governor Chairman Odell.
Other changes were suggested by At
torney- General Cunneen which will mini
mise the opportunities for fraud in the con-
etruction OF the barge canal, especially
with q view OF preventing a reclassifica-
ton Of excavated mud as rock in the interest
Of favored contractors.
The six pieces OF work for which plans
and specifications were adopted to-day
will now be advertised by State Superin-
tendent OF Public Works Boyd, Governor
Chairman Odell's chum and personal APP
pointee, who has the sole authority to award
the contracts.
He il TO advertise for bids once a week
for four successive weeks, which means
that no bids will be awarded until after
election. and that expected canal contractors |
must do the proper thing between now and |
elactiop dav md that Goyerpor-C Chat p,an