New-York tribune., 1908-03-14
BRIGGS'S ORDEAL OVER.
Hafen's Chief Engineer Finishes
Testimony at Inquiry.

Josiah A. Briggs chief engineer in Borough Pr...
ident Haffen-s office. finished his testimony beror.
the Commissioner of Accounts yesterday. Com
missioner Mitchell spent the afternoon in probing
the methods used in the appointment. placing and
discharging of inspectors. The inquiry apparenrfy
discover whether political influence had
anything do With the system, but Mr. Brixxs,s
answers were vague and indefinite regarding M
stances where questions were asked 10 INN.
ence that might have been exerted- In the morn.
ing Commissioner Mitchell took UP the Bart Dunn
contract for a sewer in Broadway. which ran f,r
several years beyond the stipulated time. Tn,
was the contract regarding which Borough Press-
dent Hanen examined. where the psnaIty ,o-
overtime amounted to i.OC0. all OF which was -.
mitted with the exception of $500
Mr.. Briggs replied in the affirmative when ASKED
IL he did not believe a contractor could ever b4
held to his contract He said. however. that IN
some instances he did not believe the city could
successfully defend a suit to prevent the irnpos
ton of lines where contracts dragged along IN
excess of the contract time Regarding the sp-ciec
case of the Dunn contract Mr.. Briggs would no.
commit himself. however.
Mr.. Briggs denied knowledge Of any political
activity OF Mr.. Dunn In behalf OF President Har-
fen-s reelection He said that several threats Z,
order the work abandoned had been made 70 n,
contractor, but they had not been carried ou. BE-.
cause the reports did not warrant IT,
Although testimony has been given in the i,-
quiry TO show that Borough President Haffsn had
asked that the cost Of engineering and inspection
work on assessment contracts be kept down .,
Is per cent OF the total cost. Mr.. Briggs SAID hs
had never received such instructions. There nnsh,
have been some suggestions. he admitted.
He could not remember any OF insrect-
or,s being removed from work that the cost
would be kept down. He appointed the inspectors,
Mr. Briggs said, and IN making transfers was
guided by the varying ability of the men.
Inspectors never put contract. ths
witness said. before the work began When two
inspectors were put one contract, IL
make the contractor start work in two places Hs
could not remember whether or not Borough Presi-
dent Hafren had asked for the appointment OF cer-
tain inspectors
tors Mr.. Briggs said he had not always recom-
nended the discharge Of incompetents
DO you mean that you keep inspectors whcss
incompetency is apparent?'' asked Commissioner
Mitchell
No" said Mr.. Briggs: II would investigate the
case and possibly suspend the inspector during tns
investigation
Commissioner Mitchell asked how many chances
he would give an inspector guilty OF habituat
drunkenness and the engineer replied II would de-
pend on the recuperative powers or the inspector.
Spiritual or polfticaI?' asked the commissioner,
with smile
Spiritual" replied the witness. in the same mat
ter-of-fact tone in which he gave all his answers
He could not remember dischargins any inspector
for drunkenness
Commissioners Mitchell asked IL Mr. Briggs had
ever heard of any attempts at extortion on tha
part of inspectors He did not recall that any such
cases had been brought TO his attention
The hearing will be resumed with Borough Presi-
dent Haffen on the stand on Monday