New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
J. E. SIMMONS ON STAND
EXPLAINS DAM CONTRACT,
attempt to Show Commissioner
Neglected Water Board.

A large part Of the time at the inquiry at the
city Hall yesterday into the letting of the Asho-
kan dam contract was occupied by Mr. Mitchell
Commissioner Of Accounts. in trying to make
J. Edward Simmons admit that he did not
do much OF the actual work of the Board of
Water Supply. Mr.. Simmons. who besides being
president OF the Fourth National Bank is presi-
dent OF the Chamber of Commerce gave a supe-
rior exhibition OF verbal sparrng retiring from
the combat without embarrassment
The commissioners of Accounts on the Mayors
ORDER are trying TO get at the real reasons actu-
ating the board in disregarding the bid of the
John Peirce Company and giving the contract TO
the Macarthur Brothers Company and Winston
& Co. at $2.354,425 more than the Peirce COM
sany willing to do it for
The Board of Water Supply consists Of J. Ed
ward Simmons, Charles n. Chadwick and Charles
4. Shaw.
At the time of the award of the contract the
commissioners gave as the reason for the rejec-
lion of the Peirce bid the inability of Peirce
properly TO do the work at the price offered
unless at loss.
Peirce quoted as saying that while his
bid might be too low for profit he was willing to
accept the contract.
Mr.. Simmons said yesterday that the board
surprised that there should be such a wide
difference in the bids offered.
Have you had any other experience in award
ing bids?"
No. a banker. and bankers don't have
that experience"
Mr.. Simmons said that the chief engineer Of
the board said that Peirce could not do theworI
at the price bid. Mr.. Simmons said also that he
had never seen Mr.. Peirce.
You were satisfied to rely on the Judgment of
the engineers" ?"
'I was satisfied with their Judgment to the
cost but as TO time and speed I relied my own
Judgment as well as on financial matters
Did you doubt the financial ability of Mr..
Peirce?"
NO did not"
Did you doubt his ability to finish the work
in timeT"
It did"
Did your engineers advise you that the Peirce
bid was too lowT
They advised the board"
Did you rely on that advice"
Il did"
Did they give you reasons?
NO; If they had I could not understand them
! am not an engineer. To prepare engineering
work is what 1 employ them for do not under
stand such technal matters"
You took the word Of the engineers in the
matter without any further investigation on
your part?" asked Commissioner Mitchell
Il did"
You did not think Il worth while 10 make
further Investigation
IT did not expect TO visit the site"
How much time do you devote TO the water
board?"
-As much time as is necessary; some days
] go there and some days do not, but always
do go whenever il is necessary.
How much time have you given TO the office
Of Water Commissioner in 1902?
There is not day that am not called upon
10 DO something OF advise something.
when you took office was it not understood
that Won were not to give all your time TO the
work."
Before I took office it was distinctly under
stood that was not to devote all my time to
the office and on that understanding / took
Office"
where is Engineer John r Freeman:
He is out in Colorado"
with the permission of the boardF
Yes"
Commissioner Shaw testified that he ATTENDED
"a the office details OF the water board and that
the question of the Iowness Of the Peirce pid
suggested itself to him without any one else
having suggested it. The suggestion came 10
him when he began TO tabulate the bids
Co,,rnissioner Shaw did not know whether the
o,,e,1tine engineers had visited the dam site
ar NOT rrior 10 giving their opinions adverse 10
,,,e lat+ing of the contract to Peirce, but was
under tloe impression that they had not lie
e.ta that when Commissioner Chadwick talked
with Mr.. Peirce the latter said he could go
ahead with the excavation work but had care
fully avoided saying he could do the emoanK-
ment work
commissioner Shaw said that 1t would take
seven years TO complete the dam.