The Detroit times., 1911-08-31
LONG GREEN AIDS
IN MANIPULATING
BRICK TESTS
Money Often Produces Wonderful Re-
suits, Manufacturer Tells Probing
Committee-No Hint of Corrup-
tion in Detroit, He Says.
Mechanically, Too, Rather Can Be
Made To Give Any Result Desired,
Il Another Admission.

1nht Drlck tests can Do mahipuiaC
ed with the aid OF the long green
was the most interesting point
brought out In Wednesday afternoons
session OF the Board OF Commerce
inquiry into Detroit's paving ques-
ton.
Charles j.. Deckman, OF the Deck
.msn-Duty Brick Co., who says he has
sold this city 100000 brick in the
past six years. Is the man who i'm
parted this interesting bit of informa-
ton, but he based his statement on
conditions that existed Is years ago,
when he was actively identified with
the selling end of the business. So
| far as he knew, no corrupt practices
are resorted to In Detroit at this
time In connection with the purchase
of brick by the city.
There were several ways. Mr.. Deck
man said, In which a rattler could
be manipulated SO as to give any
result desired, low or high percen-
| tage OF abrasion. He did not go into
details, but said:
IF you gentlemen will come down
. to my eplant some day, i will show
you a way to manipulate the RATHER
all right. | will tell you this much,
. the long green has sometimes had a
wonderful effect on a RATHER test"
"One might infer from your re-
marks that there had been some cor
ruption In connection with the pur-
chase of brick by the city OF Detroit"
said Charles B. Warren. who Is act
ing as interrogation for the committee.
Have you anything at all to tell us
along that line
Il have never heard of anything Of
the kind during the administration of
the present commissioner, nor the adj
ministration of his predecessor"
Mayor Thompson wanted to know
| II the rattler could be manipulated
mechanically.
Yes, In the weighing in of the
1 orick and the weighing out Then II
can be run fast or SLOW"
4 but, II II had a speedometer on
.nY"
We'll. II you were watching rat
/ tier test, you probably would not
want to stand close by during the
whole hour. II you should go away
/ for few minutes IL would be a very
simple matter to manipulate>the ma
Ichine."
ais there any test that cannot be
manipulated by dishonest men?"
There is one test that cannot be
manipulated, the test of service"
The mayor asked lot of questions
about the Deckman-Duty Co.'S rela-
tions with the city and brought out
that. while Thomas Bros. represent
THE firm here, all contracts are made
directly with the company and the
company sets the prices. The agents
merely look after the delivery of the
brick, he said. The mayor brought
Tout that the city has paid S7,000 for
labor In repair work on streets COW
Tered by the manufacturers guaran.
tees In the past three years. He
Thought II was up to the brick men
Ito reimburse the city for the money
$50 expended.
IF II can be shown that we are
|justly Indebted to the city for any
part of that $1,000 We will gladly
bay" said Mr.. Deckman.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion, the quizzing Of Will p. Blair,
Secretary of the National Paving Brick
Manufacturers association, who sub
Emitted. q sensational report in the
morning. was resumed. He was ask.
Ter particularly regarding the rattler.
Mayor Thompson sat up and took no.
.tice when Mr.. Blair declared that as
.per cent OF the American cities using
brick for paving do not require tho
|rattler test.
Name one" interjected the mayor.
1 Mr.. Blair mentioned several small
.cities.
How about the large cities, Chi
.cago, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincin-
.nati?-
u believe they all use rattlers"
Mr.. Blair expressed the opinion that
\ ny brick showing an abrasion of less
| than 30 per cent in the rattler test
WAS good brick. though he admitted
that brick testing Is per cent would
/ be worth more than brick testing at
| rs per cent
The committee adjourned. about 4
|bclock, to meet again at 1880 o'clock
| Thursday afternoon.
i The knowledge displayed by Mr..
/ Il. arren and his associates on the COM
| ~ ttee az to the brick business, as
Known in the%uuestions asked, was a
|surprise to the city officials and others
|present at the hearing. The commit
Zee certainly Is well primed for the
business In hand and II Is a safe bet
That Detroit citizens will know just
what is wrong with their payements
when the committee Is through with
its work.
by some she is considered the
E. yding emotional actress of the dav