New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-14
DIX AND HOOKER CLASH
Governor Says BenseI Report Is
Arrangement of Commission.
CHAIRMAN MAKES DENIAL
State Engineer Drawing Up New
Form of Contract--Dix
Wants No Delay.
rBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune J

Albany, Jan. 13-Characterizins It as
rather a severe arragnment." Governor
| Dix sent to-day the report OF State Ensl-
neer Bensel on the good roads contracts,
which the State Highway Commission was
about TO award. to that body for its re-
ply. The Bensel report will be made public
by the Governor or the Highway Commits
sion along with the commissions reply.
Meantime S. Percy Hooker, chairman OF
the commission. is wondering whether the
Governor read Bensel's communication or
not, end If he did. how he got the notion
that It was an arraignment Of any sort.
He declined 10 discuss the details Of the at
fair, but did reply TO what the Governor
had said about IT,
In announcing that lie had sent the Ben-
sci document to the commission the Cow
ernor said:
Yes, 7 sent the report TO the commission
for reply. II was rather severe ar
ragnment Of the present contracts ana
thought il fair not to give It out until the
commission had had a chance 10 make us
defence The point was that there was
so much uncertainty about the contracts
the maximum bid, and that sort OF thing
Contractors had 10 make maximum DID
for certain work, and the labor and stone
and other materials which went INTO the
Job weren't worth II, so that the state was
paving more for it's roads than they were
worth"
TO this the Governor added that Mr..
Bsnsel was drawing up A new form OF con-
tract now. He said II this were completed
before the proposed measure wipins out
the commission became law he was per-
tecty willing to have the commission
award the contracts for good roads work
according 10 this new form.
I'VE want no delay" he said. The work
must be done I should have no objection
70 the commission awarding the contracts
II the form OF contract wss all right. but
we've got 10 be sure about that"
i can't conceive how the Governor got
the idea there vas any arraisnmenr Of the
commission in Mr.. Bensel's letter." said
Chairman Hooker % the Highway Com
mission. He vas considerably exercised
over the implication carried by the word
"arraignment"
There was no arraignment," he went
on. The only thing which looked like an
arraignment was not true. and the com
mission has the figures 70 prove that It
isn't true. The only criticism offered Is
that we have been too technical. As to the
maximum bid. which is required by the
law, l think the Governor has made a mis-
take or misunderstood"
Asked IL the commission would award
contracts according to the Bensel form
provided the Democrats had not wiped It
out of existence, Mr. Hooker replied:
The work has got TO be done. OF course,
we will let contracts according to that
form when We become satisfied that Il is
fair and the states interests are protected
We have no pride Of author
ship on this matter Of the form o, con-
tracts. Protection TO the public and pre-
vention Of favoriusm in bidding are the
essentials, and for them We stand"
T. ia understood that the bill designed
to carry out the Dix recommendations has
been completed, and will be introduced
soon aIteI tho seuatorshlp fight Is over
Various contracting firms and some Demo.
cratic politicians who hope 70 get Jobs I'M
der the new regime have been displaying a
lively interest in its details. II was said
tonight that many protests against the
Adjustment Of the commission had been
n ade TO the Governor by Democrats. Some
" the upstate Democratic legislators, who
have had a chance 70 see the kind OF
work the commission has done since its
creation and have had practical oppor-
.unity n compare the states roads now
and "a they were under state Engineer
skene, Democrat, say they will oppose the
recommendation in the Legis-
azure