New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-04

The doors were opened in the exam
nation OF Mr. Mclean for him TO make
an attack on tho Public Service Com
mission and its engineers in regard to
the letting Of the Lexington Avenue
contracts. which were originally ad-
vCrtiSed IN 1910 as a part OF the tri-
borough system, but were not awarded
until 1911. Henry Seaman. former
chief engineer Of the Public Service
Commission. who preceded Mr.. Mclean
ON the witness stand. testified that the
city could have saved about $500 900
on the Lexington Avenue contracts II
they all had been readvertiscd.
MIR. Mclean bid on the tunnel work
under tho Harlem River in the Licking
ton Avenue contracts. but was not ia
vored with an award He declared it
was because he was outside the com
bination." He said one had TO have
n pull with the Public Service Commits
sion II one wanted TO do subway work
IN this city.
"Do you mean with tho commission.
or with some one back Of the commits
sion ." asked Mr.. Moss.
"Oh. mean the commission" said
tho witness.
Referring 70 the Harding OF the
contracts for the tunnels on the Lex
ington Avenue route. Mclean declared
that T. 7. Shonts. president OF the In
terborough. telephoned to William Il.
Wilcox, then chairman Of the Public
Service Commission, and advised him
the tunnels were built under speci-
l. 'ons *" under which they are
nov ing constructed, they would not
be safe
"Mr Shonts urged Chairman Wilcox
70 make thorough investigation be
fore awarding the contracts said Mr..
Mclean. but within an hour after that
telephone conversation the contracts
we're awarded. Curiously enough Mr..
Wilcox did not vote on the award
The witness contended that the pres
ent Harlem River tunnel was not be
ing constructed according 10 the specl-
fcations He said the original contract
called for three feet OF concrete sur
rounding the tubes. but that no CON
crete was being laid and the tubes
came directly in contact with the water.
He declared the original specifications
had been drawn so as 20 preclude any
other contractors from getting the
award. and the successful contractors
had afterward been allowed. evidently
BY Encouragement" 10 do the work
in another way.
Mclean told OF several talks with
Chairman Wilcox about the Lexington
Avenue contracts, at which the former
pointed out numerous items where the
city could save great deal OF money.
He declared that he told Mr.. Wilcox
these contracts were a fraud upon the
City of New York" and upon one oc
casion Chairman Wilcox had re-
marked that il was "damnable the way
the engineers were going 10 rob the
city Of millions Of dollars
Mclean testified that the present
subway cost $50, 0O0, 900. OF which Sill
600 900 was profit TO the contractor. He
pointed out that the cost Of the new
subways per mile would be about three
times as much as the present subway.
He constructed the present tunnel
under the Harlem River, which he said
cost the city 1856 a lineal foot. while
the lowest bid received for the new
tunnels was $4,000 a foot
Members Of the Public Service Com
mission looked upon Mr.. McBean's tes-
timony as that OF prejudiced witness.
Leroy T. Hardness. assistant counsel 70
the commission. issued a statement
last night i'm which he said that the
outporings Of Mr.. Mclean were but a
repetition OF statements made by him
from time 90 time during the last five
years.
at should be borne in mind said
M Hardness, chat not only is Mr..
Mclean a disappointed bidder on the
Harlem River section, but he is also at
the present time suing the city and the
contractor for the alleged infringement:
Of patents in connection with the con
struction OF that section. As the
Thompson committee gives Mr.. Mclean
this opportunity TO make such an at
tack on responsible public officials, il
might be well for II 20 examine the
records Of the Fassett committee that
investigated the new Croton Aqueduct
work as TO Mr.. McBean's connection
.,..+L Tho. ,,.o-L