Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-28
No Loss by 0verpayments for
Asphalt, Say Commissioners.
BLAME NOT FIXED YET
No Authorization Discovered for
Basis of Measurement.
$4,000 to 100000 IS INVOLVED
Contractor Takes Shy at Admins
tration Which Permits Such
Mistake to Be Possible.

| Mistake to Be Possible.
Has the Brennan Construction Com
pany been overpaid between $4,000
and 100000 by the District Commits
sioners for asphalt for street repairs?
| Why did the engineer department, sus-
pecting last May that overpayments were
being made. continue to certify to vouch-
ers allowing payment under the suspected
! system until December 4?
Who authorized the change in the
| taking of measurements Of asphalt
from the plant of the Brennan Con-
struction Company for use in repairing
streets? And why were not the head
officials Of the engineer department in
formed?
These and other questions are asitating
officials of the municipal building today,
in connection with the investigation of
payments to the Brennan Construction
Company. which the Commissioners are
now making.
Change in Basis Of Measurement.
Maj. Spencer Cosby, Engineer Commits
sioner. says a mistake was made in TAX
ing the dimensions Of a sand box at the
Brennan Construction Company's plant
four years ago. AS all payments made to
the company for asphalt used in the re-
pairing of streets during the four years
since have been based on the reported
measurements the company has been
overpaid during that period.
Officials of the engineer department say
the measurement of the box, which deter
mined the amount Of the payments, was
made four years ago by T. c. j. Bailey,
now an employe of the sewer department,
and Charles Fernald. who left the engi-
neer department following the investiga
ton instituted by p. j. Brennan last
May.
When Mr.. Bailey was told of the state
| ment of the engineer department official
connecting him with taking the measure
ments in question, he declined to reply
or explain.
The investigation. which has now
| reached the public. was begun last May.
At that time the first question was raised
| as to payments to the Brennan Con-
| struction Company for asphalt used In
repair work. Maj. ]. ]. Morrow. then
| investigation be undertaken. Payments
| to the company were continued on the
same basis for several months.
| about December 1, engineer department
| officials say, they became sure the
| asphalt payments were too large. In
| vouchers turned over to the Brennan Con-
! struction Company December 4. % per
cent was deducted for possible overpay-
| ment.
Three vouchers were paid December i,
calling for total amount OF $11.995.62
These bore the certif1cation Of G. W.
Beall inspector; c. B. Hunt, engineer Of
highways. and Capt. T.. NJ. Markham,
| assistant engineer commissioner.
Nothing Lost, Say Commissioners.
| That the District will lose nothing. if
| the facts OF overpayment are established
| is the statement Of the three Commits
sioners. 1t is pointed out that the Dis
trict is now holding back large amount
Of money owing to the Brennan Com
Struction Company, and this will cover
the possible overpayment.
The corporation counsel will be consult
ed as to the best way to recover the sup
posed amount.
The situation is a tangle which even
officials of the engineer department say
| they have not yet unraveled. To the lay
| man the problem makes ''How old is
Amer look like firSt-grade arithmetic
From 1883 until 1904, 1t is explained
by officials who have Investigated. pay
| ments were made for asphalt used in
repair work, according to measurements
made at the place where the work is to
be laid. In 1904 the Brennan Construc-
ton Company, then having the contract
| to supply the asphalt for street repair
work, moved to new plant.
A new system OF measurement was then
adopted. Under the new system, it is
declared. the payments were made in
accordance with measurements made at
| the asphalt plant
Engineer department officials claim
that in the transportation of asphalt from
the plant to the place where the work
| is performed it is shaken down and the
volume is reduced when 1t reaches the
place where it Is to be laid. Upon this
difference In volume the engineer de-
partment officials base their claim that
the Brennan Construction Company has
been overpaid by the District.
Basis Of Measurement.
The statement regarding the alleged
mistake in the measurement Of q sand
box, upon which the payments for asphalt
were made by the District, is to be un-
derstood when technical matters are ex-
planned.
After a series Of experiments, lasting
over a considerable period and conducted
with much accuracy, 1t was determined
that asphalt delivered at the place where
it is to be used Is equal to the amount OF
sand and other ingredients put In a sand
box at the asphalt plant.
Thus the measurement OF the box at the
plant is accepted as the dimensions of
asphalt delivered on the street. There
is an expansion when asphalt 10 loaded
into carts which Is lost by the time it