New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-26
SEAMAN GIVES ANSWER
Continued from first page.

| It was here that he used the name of
Commissioner Bassett for the first time,
and in manner that left no doubt as
to whom he meant by "the Commits
sioner." SO frequently mentioned in his
prepared statement
At the end of the interview Mr. Sea-
man promised more developments in
case the commission should take up his
challenge. He said that the facts indi-
Gated in his statement would call forth
an investigation by the present or the
next Governor and that the removal Of
q commissioner" did not appear very
doubtful to him
Commissioner Bassett, when seen at
his home, No. 1716 Newkirk avenue.
Brooklyn. last night. took the attack
made upon him calmly. He ascribed Mr.
Seamans attitude toward him as per-
haps due to Mr.. Bassett's constant oppo-
sition to the subway plans made by Mr..
Seaman. Mr.. Bassett then wrote the fol-
lowing statement:
The Bradley Contracting Company had
the section of the Centre street subway
called sol. the main work of which is the
Chambers street station. At the request of
Mayor Mcclellan their work was stopped
to put in the foundations of the new Mu-
Now that the foundations are nearly
comPlete and the plans have been changed
to adapt the subway TO the new conditions.
1t became most important to hasten the
completion of the subway. The commits
sion appointed Mr.. Eustis and myself a
committee to see whether the Bradley COM
pany would do this work at q proper
figure.
The contract being in Bradley's hands,
a great deal of unexpectedly five or six
months-could be saved If Bradley would
do both the old and new work. Bradley
claimed large damages because his work
was stopped. Mr.. Eustis and ] took I'D
the subject in an endeavor to reach three
fgures-one compromise payment for ex-
and, third, a figure for work that
would be as low as would be acceptable to
our engineering department in case we ad-
yertiSed for new bids.
Negotiations continued for several weeks
and we succeeded In bringing the first two
hgures down to about one-third Of what
Bradley claimed The figure that would be
acceptable for new work was necessarily
given by the engineering department.
which was helping in the entire negotia
The letters are not before me. but think
the first estimate Of cost was N,040.00
Bradley said he could not do the work
for less than s., 100000 Further interviews
took place between the contractors engi-
neers and the engineering department, and
1t, figure of 81, 10000, but did not say that
this was figure which, IL put in at open
bidding, would be acceptable to the en-
gineering department.
In other words, he left the commission 70
assume the burden Of compromising at a
considerable increase on his first estimate
| am glad now that the committee did not
let the matter rest at that point for I
wrote the engineering department that the
figure should be one that would be accept
able If open bids were put in: The com
mittee received the figure of S1.150.000.
There was no compelling or even urging
on the part Of our committee. Mr.. Seaman
was away when the lower figure was put
in, and the letter was, / think, signed by
Mr. Craven as acting engineer. They were
compiled, l presume. by the same men that
were assisting the chief.
Our committee was determined that If a
compromise could not be reached on all
three hgures-viZ., extras, damages and
new work-we would call all negotia-
tons off, let the extras be settled by ar
new work settled by getting new bids
This would mean delay and litigation, but
we worked hard to get low figures.
The negotiation is not yet closed. II II
is not sufficiently favorable to the city. il
need not be entered into. a draft form OF
amendment TO the original contract has
been prepared and will be submitted with
all Information TO the Board of Estimate.
All the particulars OF these negotia tons |
are I'm writing. I assume that all were do
ing the best they could to expedite the
Acting Chairman McCarroll at his
home, No. 75S ST. Marks avenue Brook
lyn. discussed again very fully Mr.. Sea-
mans resignation.
MIR. Seaman was aware for some time
that there was dissatisfaction with him
ON the part of the commission said
MIR. McCarrolL We finally decided to