The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-03
"IT'S GRAFT, GRAFT, GRAFT"
COMPLAINT or 4 TAXPAYER IN
DER THE CASSIDY GOVERNMENT
A Distinct Setback Given on MOnday' How
ever, 70 the Patent CurbinE nnd Nllrt
ned Brick Schemes ny John &, Wait'Who
Appeared and Talked Out IN MeeUnH'

curbing graft and the yitrihei Dick gralV
In Queens were numbered, Aroused by The
recent exposure OF the deal printed IN IHB
Sum several taxpayers OF that borough
have got together and employed John e.
Wait, formerly assistant corporation coun-
sal. 10 take steps 70 prevent the awarding
Of the contracts for street improvements
Involving about $3.50 900, for which bids we're
opened by President Cassidy on May l.
A large number OF contractors who feel
that Cassidy did not give them square
deal are also making preparations TO night
the awards and IL u likely that the Borough
President will be enjolned within the next
few days from taking further steps in the
matter.
Proposals we're advertised for in the
CITY Record recently and May 1 was set
as the date for the opening OF the bids
A. this time Mr.. Wait appeared In Cassidys
ONCE and made a strong protest against
the opening Of the bids or the awarding
Of the contracts on the ground that the
specifications did not conform TO the re-
auirements Of the Charter, inasmuch as the
ourblng called for was patented article
and the vitrihed brick pavement the subject
Of restricted bidding. Mr.. Wait talked
right out In meeting. He made II plain 70
the Borough President that his clients
whose property would be assessed for
large share OF the improvement would
stand no nonsense and that they would In
sist that the law be complied with In every
particular Cassidy was evidently sur
prised at this display Of courage on the part
OF taxpayers who had for obvious reasons
heretofore carefully refrained from crossing
the wishes Of the big boss. He asked Mr.,
Wait 10 reduce his protest to writing and
submit It later.
But Cassidy was not half as much sur
prised at the protest Of the property owners
as we're the vast majority Of the oontrao-
tors who had journeyed to the Borough
Presidents ONCE 10 submit bids for the
work. II they had been as wise before the
visit as after Il the chances are that they
would have stayed away and saved them
selves the trouble Of preparing estimates.
When they got there they found that
Joker had been inserted in the speoifca-
lions In relation 70 the vttrthed clay brlok
that made IL practically impossible for them
10 comply with the terms OF the contract.
All agree that this clause was not IN the
specifications originally and the opinion
among them Is unanimous 10 the enSct
that It must have been inserted aiter the
form Of the contract was approved by the
Corporation Counsel The joker was
worded as follows:
Section GAL manufacturers Of vitrihed
IRE clay brick OF. block must he BOND WIN
the President OF the Borough lat the time
samples are submitted) guaranteeing the de
livery Of said brick or block within thirty
days from the execution Of the contract
aaid bond 70 be In q sum equal 20 81 for each
yard Of pavement to be laid, and 70 De ior,t
fslted 70 the city as liauidated damages II
within the specified time.
The words in parenthesis at the time
samples are submitted were written IN
with q pen. According TO the testimony OF
those present there was but one contractor
who had samples 10 submit. In the adyer-
usement for proposals in the CITY Record II
was stated that the usual bond for the faith
full performance Of the work have 70 be
given in each instance, but no mention was
made Of a bond for the delivery OF the brick
in a specified time or Of any samples to be
submitted. The contractors who are not
on the inside say that the purpose OF these
provisions cannot be mistaken. IL was 70
choke OF all competition with the tavoHte
contractors for whose benefit the jobs were
put up. -,,..I
for completing the contracts ran from forty
i've to eighty days yet by the terms sf Oh thg
10 deliver ell the brick necessary TO Dom.
plete the entire work within thirty days OF
the execution OF the contract or forfeit
81 a yard for all the pavement laid. OF
ing such an undertaking unless he had
enough brick on hand 10 lay the pavement.
Otherwise he might get caught short or be
unable to buy the brick on time and thus
subject himself 10 a forfeiture that would
simply mean bankruptcy.
The Niger in the woodpDe Is Just this, >
said one Of the disguuntled contractors yes
tsrday: There is only one finn hereabouts
that Is In q position 10 give such bond as is
required In Section 90. None OF the other
contractors has the brick on hand In the
quantities required and any one OF them
might be squeezed 10 death II he attempted
% 20 into the market and buy 1t. AS
matter Of fact the specifications are put
up in such a manner that this brick can DO
bought from only one firm. IL isn't pat
ented article, but IL Is just as big graft as
the steel lined concrete curbing only II
isn't handled by the same persons
But there Is little use Of buohng the
combination over here. The outsider
hasn't got a show for his life. Really, u
is something fierce the way the cost OF
public works In Queens is piled on in the
interest Of the ring. 1t H. state OF AFFAIRS
that wouldn't be allowed TO. exist for a
moment In any other civilized community.
Il Is no wonder that the taxpayers are
putting UP a kick. / really don't see how
they stand It at all. But Of course we
can't say a word The slightest kick on
the part Of any contractor would bar him
absolutely from any work In this borough.
Il am not a lawyer, but l would y Ike 10
know what legal right Cassidy has TO insert
such a provision for bonds az that which
covers the delivery OF the brick. / have
been doing public work for a great many
years but never heard OF such a caper
before. / don't believe the Corporation
Counsel would stand for it.
Mr.. Wait said yesterday that he had pre-
pared the written protest against the
awarding OF the contracts as requested by
President Cassidy, but that he had not
fled II yet. He declined TO make known
its contents on the ground that 1t would be
discourteous TO the Borough President 20
make II public until IL had been presented
20 him. Mr.. Wait has sent 20 Washington
for information concerning all the patents
issued for curbing. lie 10 confident that
the article called Tor in the Cassidy specl-
boations il patented and will be shown 70
be so by the records Of the Patent Office.
One Of the property owners who will be
heavily assessed for the pro eced improve.
ments said yesterday that even " Cassidy
went ahead and awarded tho contracts the
fight would not be called on. He said that
the Compt roller would be enjoined from
paying out any money on the work and
that n necessary an injunction would be
secured prohibiting the levyEg Of the
Assessments,
I'VE are going to see this thing through,
he said, we refuse 20 be buncoed any
Inn0ar Tho upoyrfh ~ fhta tkprOnuh Il