New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-26
SEAMAN GIVES SHARP
ANSWER TO P. S. BOARD
Says Action in Regard to Valua-
ton of Work Forced Him
to Resign.
HOTTEST SHOT FOR BASSEu
Commissioner Promptly Dictates
Statement in Reply TO Former
Chief Engineers
Attack.


Friday as chief engineer of the Public
Service Commission. issued an answer
yesterday To the statement made in re-
gard 10 his resignation by Acting Chair
nan NcCarroIl Of the commission. Mr.
Seaman severely criticizes the commits
son in general and certain Of the COM
r1issioners in particular as TO their &C
ton in regard 20 valuation Of work to
~ done by contractors under the juris-
diction Of the commission.
The brunt Of Mr. Seaman's attack is
directed against Commissioner Edward
Bsssett. who. with Commissioner
John z. Eustis- was appointed a com
r-lttee n pass upon the demands Of the
Bradley Contracting Company in pay
Tent ~ SIS work under contract for
the section Of the subway loop under the
future Municipal Building.
NJ. Seaman's contention. not includ-
q in his tvpeVritten statement but ex-
p'siHed verbally. is that the Commits
sioner in question desired to grant To
1he Bradley Contracting Company
higher payment than was consistent
Eith the recommendations of the engi-
reering department IF the commission.
T the demand Of the contractors was
z reasonable one. Mr Seaman said. the
commission always had the right to per-
nit additional payments on various
grounds. like damages for DELAYS caused
20 contra Ctors without their fault. I'M
foreseen difficulties Of construction. or
The like But the commission would
assume full responsibility for such ad-
crtionaI eE7erse. and the records Of the
commission would have to show why
they were made
Wanted Valuation Revised
II this case. Mr.. Seaman implied. the
assuming Of such responsibility did not
appear desirable 70 Commissioner Bas-
set. and he ordered that the engineer
irE department. revise its valuation Of
the work TO be done and artifcially raise
the estimate g, that the contractors
might be satisfied in their demands.
This action. Nr. seaman claims, was the
main cause Of his resignation
Mr.. Seanan-s statement follows:
have the deepest sympathy for my
friend Acting Chairman McC aTrol. IN ms
irrerhlew Upon nay resignation Mr.. Mc-
CerroH apparently forgets his appreciative
WORDS 10 me NfEH ne asked NE 10 NNlti
nv request Tor assistance, although was
personally dong fie work formerly done
cv three men He had wondered at my
patience under the irving conditions.
have refused 10 discuss the subway
plans. and must continue 10 do 20 for the
present They were Lot ueT1oned IN my
letIer, and II - OBVIOUSLY improper t. open
THIS subject while the bids are pending.
Ny heart and energy have been bound Up
Nth the Public Service Commission for
three years. and 1 regret that Mr. Nc
CARROLL : interview VIII necessitate COM
n
-eEIEnsfIOn was sent al this time HIS
suggestion that II was not voluntary might
rel.e ne Of considerable responsibility
tbs detail however, seems 10 me matter
O. minor importance I told Nj. MCCairoll
nefore my recent vacation that contlnu-
Er-e was impossible. pom my return from
Europe the chairman sent for me. and IN
friendly manner we agreed TO disagree
and 10 separate. he suggested my taking
uIre me DINER commissioners but ! con-
sidered nay resignation was not open TO DIS
CGssion.
IRE princ;nal cause or ny resignation at
rrls TINE was q difference OF opinion as TO
the pToprie5s of artincially raising an est
Crc-T TO meet the demands OF a cohtl sAclo4-
L. may De possible, and sometimes proper
- increase a la4 llleilt as a Iil4ttSI o. -
peClcncy. but n i not proper 10 90 50 Uh-
der the cloak OF an artificial estimate.
For the purpose 81 modifying a con
tractors agreement one Of the commas
tore~v had proposed 10 pay the contractor
s., ~, for work estimated a. Sls"o- $4,000
damages claimed but not proved. ara NaEl-
----re7 90 9. detailed eva animation The
Fis-sJion % these offerings was tLat me
..1--r rs..-ar said he would not take less.
= W. then expected that the contractor
Vol'd proceed on the oasis OF iiS ~ e'. "a
contract. with EropcTuonai@ INC IL
BY additional work q -, =,
rafre 81 this work. and stated the Nalue 70
% about g a-af.s1. 7 he cohu aeioI : IL"
r. ~ 80 a. -ris disparity the Commits
Scorer resitared 10 make further az Fer
-re--s and referred the matter TO me LOT
1.--,--75zeiorer stated that 2 compromise at
8 ~ 90 would n satisfactory 1890
n -cr-rauv with TWO Of my assistants !
z..-ree5e5 IN getting the contractor, 70
--o.-.r-- his rice 70 8 80 go and 80 incluoe
IN this about 5000 TcTtn ST. ., ne, est
r-z-e rr 3 o.e nao however was hasea On
enc original rourTart u Coald l.'g - 90
and -f-a- submitting II 70 "nfSlH" u =
.-..,- rs confirmed as - rs
- .---.ee The Commissioner said
-. .s-fz urorIT nut him in 2 hcie- ~
e---rz ~ .ir7-oezihle post on 4.
49,. 49, -ir,e found = necessary =
=--er- -7-zelf from The once 80, ling
= --s- A7+red craven he 7ppoir191 - -
--,e< e--treer during my absence y. -.
ferl~ut-r dev Nfr craven vas reduF ,-u.
-e-,e 80 e-rfv77ste = 11o@n = hlci. 49,. -
lz 1cfrr r. includiuE addif1snal
- .- ~ ,or+ra~t and b. adding =. -"
ref~r= aco~pfinE ms = - ne - argue
90. > "a ooa e+s+5nE that he Fc1iG no.
IKE Jess Suggested fhat y g ~ he
s~~e-+ u-hs+ the Conr1lsslor - - -
--,--+ - en- less 4 the matter were P"'
r. -1-.-sc+,~ accepted the kl-l7'.v', 8
.1o.r,- - I'D esid -rsf he "oo' - 80
fe~. $780, 3 20 on How 70 " -oz,,c
- --,-rd 7-o- have accepted s,Ill. -, .--a++e-
,tov- ~ che items n extras u - -
tsz ,-ee~ mt through IN ire I+SS.- iee-tIa
s-e-ezd u making this irrNA1i9
rerfT 80 --e 20 continue
= rvooeeSf rrs II this KIND ere - In get
~ gr9f o00 O00 contract. some -
80 .rC-b1e Z rsrefer 70 be re- lfl.iao,. and
IT, o-bev matters ~ ny reSiSiif - 80.
- NJ ,F~Csr-olis interview nNs'
t-l later
u ernlsinine his statement Ar'
r-sr emrbasized particularly that '"s
raising # the valuation of the VOTE
be done bv the Bradley Contr
Corrpsnv vas accomplished during i'S
leave II a absence. and that upon ms
turn n duty NJ craven Informed MN
r. The accomplished fact and indireo'is
srologized for the deed
"Mr Craven told ne that he nso =
oei,,ed orders 70 revise the valuation
sad NJ Seaman. He said that me
commissioners assumed the attitude that
the engineering department. is IN theif
employ and has 10 do their bidding