New-York tribune., 1907-11-26
PIERCE WOULDN'T QUIT.
MONEY IN 1T, HE SAYS.
Stood to Make S9.OOO, 900 on 1sho-
kan Dam Work.

John Perce. president OF the John Perce
company, whose bid for the Ashokan Dam con-
str1ction was $2,350.O00 lower than that OF the
firm which obtained the contract, said yester-
day on the stand that if he had obtained the
contract he would have performed all its obli-
cations to the letter; that he stood to make
from 100000 to S250OO00 on the job and
that in all his dealings with the city OF New
York he had never defaulted on a contract.
The testimony of Mr.. Peirce and the vice
president Of HIS company. Emil Diebtsch, and
Ernest c. Moore engineers of long experience,
deepens the impression in the City Hall that
Mayor Mcclellan viii ask for the resignation of
he entire Board Of Water Supply, and that If
hs does not get it he will remove the commits
Sioners. J. Edward Simmons president of the
Chamber Of Commerce; Charles a. Shaw and
Charles y. Chadwick
The Mayor has been cold toward the commits
sion for some time. 1t is said that the commits
sioners have not consulted him as frequently as
he expected and have acted on their own judg-
Tnent in almost everything.
Mr.. Peirce in the course Of his testimony said
that after consulting with friends he had be-
come convinced that his bid for the embank-
rnent and excavation work was too low, con-
sidering that it would take seven or eight years
TO complete the work and he said he was will
ing to drop out if the commission would let
him.
He said that John B Mcdonald, the subway
contractor, not formally associated with
him in the bidding. He met Mr.. Mcdonald in
Europe before the contract was Iet and had
consulted with him about the work. Mr. Nc
Donald had expressed a willingness to go in
with him.
How much did you figure your profit would
be?" asked Commissioner Mitchell.
1T-1 mill m
thousand dollars" replied Mt. Peirce.
"a profit OF 10 per cent the Ashokan work
as a whole?"
YES"
You did not think that big enough mar
Ein?"
Not for that kind Of work"
do you remember telling a representative ot
but not enough profit"
IT do not
Have you ever failed to five up to con-
tract?"
no"
Were you prepared TO put up 100000
bond if not relieved OF your bid?'
YES"
Would you have performed the contract il
the commission had held you to it?"
Yes, sir"
Was it your intention 20 perform the letter
Yes"
II came out in the investigation that ". J.
Oliver the Panama Canal bidder, teIegraphed TO
Peirce that he would like to get in on the job
and told TO send on some Of his engineers
10 make an investigation Mr.. Russell, Of the
Oliver firm, came on and went with the engi-
neers of the Peirce company TO the Ashokan dam
site They, too. said that the bid the en-
bankment work was low, but that on the other
features II was all right.
Commissioner Chadwick took the stand and
identified the original bids. vice-President
had been IN charge OF matters connected with
the making Of the Ashokan bid. He said that
he had written 10 Mr.. Peirce about the sub
iect, stating that the bid was a large one and
the money market tight. ne believed that it
would be good plan TO submit a bid at d high
figure.
who actually fixed the figures OF that bid ?"
asked Commissioner Mitchell.
Il did, replied the witness.
viii you produce the book containing the
figures upon which your bid was based?'
"I believe So"
II am simply asking you because If you will
do so voluntarily it viii do away with the neces-
sity Of my having TO serve you with subpoena,
VIII you produce it:"
Yes"
What was the effect Of your conversation
with MI Peirce after you had learned what
the other bids were?'
We decided we would take the contract If
we got it, and If didn't get It we wouldn't
kick about it."
The hearing viii be continued to-day.