Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-20
NEWARK ENGINEER
SUED BY HOWARD
Continued from First Pase.)


Works commissioners here on August
ID last
At that meeting the commissioners
were considering the veto of their
resolution to pave Broad street with
wood block. In his veto message,
Mayor Haussling cited the expert re-
port of the technical phases of wood
block paving proposition, which was
made, at the mayors request, by
Colonel Howard. Chief Engineer
Sherrerd objected to the veto being
signed on the strength of Colonel
Towards report. who, Mr.. Sherrerd Is
alleged to have said. was employed
by a paving concern which used spec
ifications contrary to those proposed
for the Broad street paving.
In his bill of complaint, Colonel
Howard states that Mr.. Sherrerd
made the following statements at the
meeting in question, "or words TO
that effect"
"ATayor Haussling has a perfect
right to oppose the laying of wood
block. 1t is not fair, however, either
to the engineering department or to
the commissioners for the chief exec
utive to base his opinions on the
findings of James W Howard.
Colonel Howard has been in the
employ of the Wyckoff Pipe and
Creosoting Company, of 30 church
street, New York, the very concern
that has been fighting these specfnca-
lions for years. Whether Colonel
Howard is still in their employ, l am
not prepared To say. Three months
ago, though, he represented the con-
Germ before a certain municipal body
in an effort to induce IL to adopt the
Wyckoff specifications instead of the
other.
1.-THE Wyckoff people do not use the
heavy oil which our specifications
call for On the contrary, they use a
very much lighter oil, and they are
known among engineers as the light
oil people Their specifications call
for the use of light oil, quite nat
urally, and these specifications were
prepared by James w. Howard.
among engineers 1t is the consen-
sus of opinion that heavy oil is better
for wood paving. Colonel Howard has
always stood alone In opposing the
heavy oil. He has advocated the light
oil as a wood preservative, as called
for in the Wyckoff specifications pre-
pared by him."
| Colonel Howard supplements this
quotation of Mr.. Sherrerd's accusa-
ton by stating, in his bill of COM
plant, thats the city engineer used
words ito the above effect"
Chief Sherrefd's statement, asserts
the complainant, means that Colonel
Howard has been prejudiced and
biased in his report, land had not,
with absolute fidelity, served his
honor, the mayor of his home city,
as a disinterested expert, but that he
had sacrificed his honor. the mayor,
and betrayed the trust reposed In
him by submitting a report ealcu-
lated to surreptitiously serve an out
side private concern for his per-
sonal pecuniary income, the defend
ant we'll knowing the statements to
be absolutely and hideously false"
| Colonel Howard also states that he
and Mr. Sherrerd attended school
together twenty-seven years ago !;
that they had met on numerous oc-
casions since then in their profess
sional capacities that the defendant
knew of the International reputation
acquired by Colonel Howard as a
consulting engineer and paving ex-
pert; "he, said defendant, knowing
the premises, but greatly envying the
said plaintiff, falsely and malicious
ly'' made the statements he Is cred
ed with having made at the board
meeting.
Colonel Howard today said that he
had given Chief Engineer Sherrerd
four months in which to retract the
alleged charges that the colonel was
acting In the interests of private
corporation when he recommended
the veto.
In addition to the $4,000 asked for
damages to- his business and repu-
tation, the colonel also petitions the
court to lay the burden of the court
costs of the suit with Mr.. Sherrerd.