Court Opinion

ID: 8191462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:14:29.640159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:37.523729
License: Public Domain

The following opinion was filed June 17, 1914:
RaeNes, J.
The plaintiff’s appeal raises the question whether certain findings of "fact adverse to it are against the clear preponderance of the evidence.
The defendant’s appeal raises a like question. Defendant also contends that many of the findings of fact and conclusions of law were based on an erroneous conception of the law and on an erroneous construction of the contract involved, and that the conclusions of law are not supported by the facts found, conceding that there is sufficient support in the evidence, for the findings of fact made. Logically the legal *225propositions should be first disposed of, because if they are settled so as to eliminate any of the findings of fact or conclusions of law we are not concerned with the quantum of evidence to support these findings that is contained in the record. The legal questions raised in fact affect the integrity of many of the findings of fact and most of the conclusions of law.

Construction of the viaduct statute.

The most comprehensive claim made is that under ch. 444, Laws of 1903 (the viaduct statute), and particularly sec. 5 thereof, it was the duty of the county to have prepared complete plans and specifications and to advertise for bids and let the contract to the lowest bidder, and that after bids were received and the lowest bid accepted, neither the engineer in charge, the committee that represented the county board, nor the board itself, could make any deviation from or addition to the plans or specifications, but the viaduct would have to be built in accordance therewith.
It is argued inter alia that when the county let the contract to the lowest bidder, to be performed in accordance with the plans and specifications, it had exhausted its power under the statute, and that to hold otherwise would enable the county to evade the provisions of the law requiring the contract to be let to the lowest bidder. The following cases, among others, are relied on: Kneeland v. Milwaukee, 18 Wis. 411, 417; Kneeland v. Furlong, 20 Wis. 437; Ricketson v. Milwaukee, 105 Wis. 591, 598, 81 N. W. 864; State ex rel. O’Donnell v. Benzenberg, 108 Wis. 435, 84 N. W. 858; Board of Comm’rs v. Bunting, 111 Ind. 143, 12 N. E. 151, 152. 2 Dillon, Mun. Corp. (5th ed.) § 791, and 3 McQuillin, Mun. Corp. § 1206, are also cited.
The statute, after requiring that plans and specifications shall be prepared and the contract let to the lowest bidder, provides that the county board shall “enter upon the con*226struction of sucli viaduct, bridge and approaches in conformity thereto.” It is this provision wbicb it is insisted precludes the county from making any subsequent changes. '
There is some force in the contention, but it cannot prevail. Undoubtedly it was the duty of the county to cause to be prepared substantially complete plans and specifications before advertising for bids. It should also exercise good faith in making changes and could not make them simply for the purpose of favoring a contractor or of evading the statute. But neither our architects nor engineers have arrived at that stage of perfection where they can design great structures and unerringly provide for every detail' of their construction. They overlook things, and occasionally they make mistakes* where they do not overlook. Sometimes these mistakes'may be serious. Then, too, we are moving all the time whether we are progressing or not. New and advanced ideas even in the matter of concrete construction might well be worked out during the life of the contract sued on. If the plans proved to be inefficient in some important detail, it would be serious indeed if the county were required to go on spending its money on what might prove to be a worthless structure, when the waste and loss could have been avoided at a moderate cost, or possibly at no cost at all. We cannot think the legislature ever intended to create such an intolerable situation. The statute in terms does not prohibit changes being made. It merely requires the county to “enter upon the construction” of the viaduct in conformity to the plans and specifications adopted. There is no practical difference between the contention here made by the defendant and that made by the plaintiff in Mueller v. Eau Claire Co. 108 Wis. 304, 308, 84 N. W. 430, where the court held that the right existed to make changes under a statute similar to the one under consideration. More attention has been paid to this question perhaps than it deserves, but if held good it would defeat most of the claims made by the plaintiff, and it was argued at the *227bar and in the brief at considerable length and, we have no doubt, in entire good faith, by the attorney for the county.

Power of the county board to delegate the broad powers which it attempted to delegate to its committee.

As will be seen by a reference to the resolution set forth in the statement of facts, the county board attempted at least to confer on the committee all powers which it might itself exercise over questions arising out of the viaduct contract during construction. The committee was given carte blanche and there was little or no interference with it by the board.
The defendant contends (1) that the resolution, having been adopted over eight months -before the contract was signed, cannot be construed as giving the committee power to do the things which the board reserved the right to do in the contract, such as the right to modify the contract as provided in sec. 8 thereof. (2) The power attempted to be delegated rested in the county board, under sec. 652, Stats., if it existed, and the board could only empower the committee to report to it under sec. 668, Stats. (3) The powers attempted to be delegated could not be conferred, because they were not merely ministerial, but called for the exercise of judgment and discretion and were in fact legislative. Sec. 668 provides :
“Any county board may, by resolution designating the purposes and prescribing the duties thereof and manner of reporting, authorize their chairman to appoint before the first day of November in any year -a committee or committees from the members of the county board elect, and the committees so appointed shall perform the duties and report as prescribed in such resolution.”
This section does not restrict the power of the committees appointed to making investigations and reporting recommendations. It does not undertake to define what power is conferred on committees. Whenever they are authorized to do *228an act they must very properly report to the board what they have done.
Sec. 652 provides that the powers of a county as a body corporate can only be exercised by the county board or in pursuance of a resolution or ordinance by them adopted. This section contemplates that some powers of a county board may be exercised by a committee pursuant to resolution. No attempt is made to define the extent of this power of delegation.
It would seem particularly appropriate that the board should give broad powers to its committee, if it was authorized by law to do so. The contract was a large and important one. It extended over a very considerable length of time. Disputes and differences were almost constantly arising between the engineer and the contractor. It was advisable, to say the least, that the engineer might be able to frequently consult and advise with his principal. The county board was a large and unwieldy body. It could not well remain in continuous session, and if it did all of its members could hardly devote their time and attention to this work. Assuming that the committee was honest and competent, it could look after the matter better than the entire board. Some of the business of the county must be transacted by representatives of the board. There are, however, limitations on the power of the board to delegate even administrative functions, and the question presently before us is whether or not these limitations have been transgressed. Perhaps the cases even in this court are not entirely harmonious on the proposition.
We think, however, that our law is fairly well settled and is to the effect that the county board might delegate to its committee the power to make changes in the plans and specifications, so long as such changes would not substantially alter the character of the structure or increase its cost to an unreasonable amount. Hasbrouck v. Milwaukee, 21 Wis. 217; *229French v. Dunn Co. 58 Wis. 402, 17 N. W. 1; Mueller v. Eau Claire Co. 108 Wis. 304, 84 N. W. 430; Forest Co. v. Shaw, 150 Wis. 294, 136 N. W. 642; Rockwood v. Woodford, 25 Wis. 443; Cass v. Gibson, 107 Fed. 363, and cases cited.
The fact that tlie committee was appointed before the particular qontract was made we do not consider significant. The committee was appointed in connection with the work being done by a former contractor who was working under a contract similar to the one here involved. It was evidently the intention of the board to continue this committee until the work was completed. It looked after the work as it was intended it should, with the full knowledge and acquiescence of the board and with the intention on the part of the latter that it should perform the functions described in the resolution. The board went farther in its attempted delegation of power than it had the right to go if the resolution is construed literally.

Rower of committee of the county hoard to waive conditions of the contract.

It follows from what has been said that the committee of the county board might make changes in the contract, provided they were not material and did not result in unreasonable expense. At least as to any changes or additions made under sec. 8 and the last sentence of sec. 10 of the contract (copied in the statement of facts), they were to be made upon the written order of the engineer approved by the board. This approval might be given by the committee if the change or addition ordered was of such a character that the committee had power to give the order. We think it is established that some changes or additions falling within the provisions of-these sections were made and that they were made on the verbal order of the engineer.
The court held that the matter of giving a written notice *230was waived by the committee. Tbe defendant contends that the committee had no power to waive such a provision. The facts present a strong case for the application of the doctrine of waiver. There is evidence tending to show that the engineer gave peremptory orders which he refused to put in writing, claiming that he did not have to do so and that he would drive the contractor off the work if they were not obeyed, and that the committee as well as the assistant district attorney upheld him in his position. There were certain clauses in the contract and specifications which lent color to this claim and which will be discussed later. Attention is presently called to sec. 14, which required the foreman or superintendent to follow without delay all orders or instructions of the engineer. The evidence also tended to show that one reason for refusing to give written orders was that they might injuriously affect the interests of the county in a suit pending between it and the former contractor. The court evidently believed the evidence of the plaintiff’s witnesses on this branch of the case, and it was ample to show 'waiver if the power to waive existed. There is no doubt that as between individuals such a provision may be waived. Laycock v. Parker, 103 Wis. 161, 167, 79 N. W. 327; Ponti v. Eckels, 129 Wis. 26, 30, 108 N. W. 62; Chicago & E. I. R. Co. v. Moran, 85 Ill. App. 543, 551; S. C. on appeal, 187 Ill. 316, 324, 58 N. E. 335; W. H. Stubbings Co. v. World’s Col. Exp. 110 Ill. App. 210, 219.
The defendant, however, insists that this rule has no application to municipal corporations. The cases relied on do not seem to be in point. McManus v. Philadelphia, 201 Pa. St. 619, 51 Atl. 320, and Cashman v. Boston, 190 Mass. 215, 76 N. E. 671, are cases wherein it is held that the engineer or supervising architect in charge of the construction of a building cannot waive the giving of a written notice, where .it is required by the contract and authority to waive is not given. The power of a county board or of its committee to *231waive sucb a provision is not passed upon. In Johnson v. Albany, 86 App. Div. 567, 83 N. Y. Supp. 1002, no waiver was claimed and tbe question here involved is not passed upon. Tbe other cases relied on are to tbe effect that clauses in such contracts requiring written notices to be given are valid and will be enforced unless waived. There is no doubt about this being an accurate statement of tbe law. This court has so decided in Burnham v. Milwaukee, 100 Wis. 55, 75 N. W. 1014. There are cases which hold that a municipality may waive a provision of this kind just as well as a private individual. Cincinnati v. Cameron, 33 Ohio St. 336; Elgin v. Joslyn, 36 Ill. App. 301, affirmed in 136 Ill. 525, 26 N. E. 1090; Dwyer v. New York, 77 App. Div. 224, 230, 79 N. Y. Supp. 17. It goes without saying that there are many things which a municipal corporation may waive. Ample evidence of this fact is furnished by our own reports. Kane v. Fond du Lac, 40 Wis. 495; Webster-Glover L. & M. Co. v. St. Croix Co. 71 Wis. 317, 36 N. W. 864; Monroe W. W. Co. v. Monroe, 110 Wis. 11, 85 N. W. 685; Att’y Gen. v. S. & St. C. R. Co. 93 Wis. 604, 67 N. W. 1138; Benton v. Milwaukee, 50 Wis. 368, 7 N. W. 241; Sheel v. Appleton, 49 Wis. 125, 5 N. W. 27; Jaquish v. Ithaca, 36 Wis. 108; State ex rel. Att’y Gen. v. Janesville W. Co. 92 Wis. 496, 66 N. W. 512; Coffee v. Chippewa Falls, 36 Wis. 121.
The county in the first instance might have contracted that the required notice need not be in writing. It might modify the contract in this regard if it saw fit. No good reason is apparent why it might not waive it. Municipalities, and particularly cities, are continually entering upon new enterprises which often require the expenditure of large sums of money for construction work. They are building, acquiring and extending waterworks plants, lighting plants, telephone lines, and some of them have gone into the 'street railway business. They must construct school houses, court houses, city halls, streets, sewers, and such like. In doing this work *232they aim and from a practical point of view are obliged to carry it on mncb the same as individuals would. In dealing with their contractors and employees it would seem reasonable that they should be subject to substantially the same rules of law that govern private individuals. Such is the. holding in the well considered case of Argenti v. San Francisco, 16 Cal. 255. See, also, cases cited in notes on this case in 1 Notes on California Cases, 838; United States G. Co. v. Gleason, 135 Wis. 539, 545, 116 N. W. 238; and Thomson v. Elton, 109 Wis. 589, 85 N. W. 425. It is probable that in doing this work the comity was performing a governmental rather than a municipal function. Evans v. Sheboygan, 153 Wis. 287, 141 N. W. 265. But when the character of the work is considered, we do not see how this can make any difference. Evén the ordinary rule as to liability for negligent acts done in the performance of a governmental function does not hold good for certain kinds of damage done in constructing a highway. Bunker v. Hudson, 122 Wis. 43, 99 N. W. 448. We go no farther than to hold that, the county having the power originally to provide that the required notices might be verbal, it could waive the provision calling for a written notice, and that, the county having delegated all the power in the matter that it could delegate to the committee, the latter might waive the provision in regard to written notice in reference to any change it had the power to order.

Apparently inconsistent provisions in the contract and power of engineer to modify the same.

By sec. 6 of the contract the engineer was empowered to correct any errors or omissions in the plans and specifications when such correction was necessary for the proper fulfilment of their intention.
Sec. 36 of the specifications makes the decision of the engineer controlling as to the interpretation of the plans and specifications.
*233Neither of these sections authorizes the alteration of the plans and specifications further than may be necessary to carry out their real intent and meaning.
Sec. 8 of the contract empowers the board, on the written order of the engineer, to change any portion of the work from time to time and make any addition thereto or deduction therefrom.
Sec. 10 authorizes the engineer, with the approval of the board, to draw detail plans, to change plans, to order extra work, or grant an extension of time.
Sec. 33 of the specifications recites that the contractor must be prepared to do any extra work that may be ordered in writing by the engineer.
Sec. 35 of the specifications provides:
“Any modifications of the prescribed lines, grades, positions, methods or materials of construction which in the judg- . ment of the engineer may be expedient, shall be made by the contractor.”
The principal difficulty arises out of sec. 8 of the contract and sec. 35 of the specifications. It will be observed that the work done under sec. 8 must be done under the order of the board, while sec. 35 contains no such requirement. The plaintiff contends that sec. 8 applies to extra work only, and that the engineer had power under sec. 35 to change the materials and the methods of construction, in his discretion, without any order or direction from the board. The defendant contends that the specifications were no part of the contract ; that if they were, the power therein given is referable to sec. 8 of the contract and must be exercised on the direction of the board, and that the county had no right to delegate to its engineer such powers as plaintiff claims were conferred upon him.
If there is necessarily a conflict between the contract proper and the specifications, we think the former should control. It is the duty of the court to harmonize the two provisions *234unless they are so incongruous that they cannot reasonably be reconciled. It is entirely clear that the specifications were made a part of the contract by appropriate reference thereto. We are not inclined to agree to the interpretation placed on these paragraphs by either of the parties. The plaintiffs construction of sec. 8 is too narrow. The power to “change any portion of the work from time to time and make any addition thereto or deduction therefrom” cannot be restricted to mei’ely providing for extras. If during the progress of the work the board concluded that it desired to make any change in the plans, or in the contract, or in the materials provided for, or in the manner of doing the work, we think it would have the right to do so regardless of what the engineer thought about the change, assuming that it was Avithin the rule stated. It seems to ns that sec. 35 was not designed to make the engineer the county board also, to the extent that he might mutilate its contract at pleasure. It is obvious that in large • undertakings of this kind some defects or omissions will be encountered in the plans and specifications during the course of construction. A pillar may not be placed in the correct location; its height may not be correctly shown; it may not be strong enough to support the weight it Aras designed to carry. The cement mixture provided for may not be rich enough for certain vital portions of the work. The reinforcement may not be strong enough for other parts. These things and many others that might be enumerated present, peculiarly, engineering questions, questions upon which persons who are not .engineers or architects have no knowledge whatever. On these matters involving technical attainments the county must perforce rely on the judgment of its engineer. Neither the county board nor its committee could furnish any assistance on these subjects. The county was • spending a lot of money on a structure that was intended to stand, not to fall. If there were any inherent defects in the plans, manifestly they should be remedied and obviously the *235engineer was tbe party relied on to discover tbe defects and work out tbe remedy. It is to modifications of tbis character that we think sec. 35 was intended to apply, and possibly to some other minor matters where it was obviously proper that the engineer should take action on his own initiative: It would seem to be entirely reasonable that matters of this kind should be left to the judgment of the engineer. At best the county board could only put the rubber stamp of approval on his recommendations. We do not wish to be understood as saying that, where the change contemplated was substantial and involved a large additional cost or where there was reasonable doubt as to the necessity for making it, the board should not be consulted and its approval secured before the change was ordered. But as to all obviously necessary changes not involving an unreasonably large addition to the contract price, considering the magnitude of the work, the engineer might be authorized to act on his own judgment and was so authorized. So construed, sec. 35 does not conflict with paragraph 8 of the contract.

Vo changes in method of doing the worJc amount to changes in the contract ?

It is practically conceded that the contractor might, under his contract, use plastered forms and that he was required to use the spaded finish instead; that the contract permitted sectional construction of the arches and they were built monolithically; that the'specifications provided for plaster forms and that iron linings were substituted therefor; and that there' was a change in the construction of the railings.
The plaintiff contends that these changes, as well as some others, were not changes in the contract, but were mere modifications of the methods or materials of construction which were covered by sec. 35 of the specifications and which might be ordered by the engineer without consulting the county board. We have already stated the construction which we *236tbink sec. 35 should receive. If a contract provides for a certain method of doing a thing and the parties see fit to change that method, it is not apparent why they have not actually made a change in their contract. This is more apparent where the specifications proyide that a certain kind of a form shall be used or a certain style of railing shall be built and it is afterwards decided to use a different form or a different railing, as the case may be.

Liability of the county for improper orders of the engineer.

The contract between the county and the engineer contained a clause by which the engineer agreed to save the county harmless from liability, delay, or loss sustained by reason of any improper orders or decisions, or any inaccurate, insufficient, or wrong instructions or directions rendered or given by him in the performance of his duties, and to reimburse the county for any loss it might sustain by reason of the failure of the engineer to perform the obligations of his contract. This contract was referred to in the contract between the plaintiff and the defendant, and it was stated therein that its terms were known to the contractor. This we regard as a provision made for the benefit of the county and not for the benefit of its contractor. The specifications, however, provide that the decision of the engineer shall control as to- the interpretation of the plans and specifications during the execution of the work thereunder, but that this shall not deprive the contractor of his lawful right to redress after the completion of the work for any improper order or decision which may have been received during the execution of the work.
In his decision the circuit judge held that an improper order or decision is such an order in the method of construction as entails additional expense on the contractor to carry it out over the method prescribed in the plans and specifications. Under this definition, if in the judgment of the court the engineer made an honest mistake as to the true and correct in*237terpretation of the plans and specifications, and such mistake resulted in extra expense to the contractor, the county would be liable for the extra charge. Such was the definition given of an improper order by some of the expert witnesses who testified in the case- Unless the paragraph in the specifications which has been referred to has added to the liability which the county would otherwise assume under its contract, the conclusion of the circuit judge is not correct.
An engineer, although employed and paid by one of the parties, is treated in law in this class of cases as being an umpire or arbitrator, and,, his decisions can only be attacked for fraud or bad faith. John Pritzlaff H. Co. v. Berghoefer, 103 Wis. 359, 79 N. W. 564; Coorsen v. Ziehl, 103 Wis. 381, 79 N. W. 562; Wendt v. Vogel, 87 Wis. 462, 58 N. W. 764; Forster L. Co. v. Atkinson, 94 Wis. 578, 69 N. W. 347; Hudson v. McCartney, 33 Wis. 331; Foeller v. Heintz, 137 Wis. 169 (118 N. W. 543) and cases cited on p. 173; Halsey v. Waukesha Springs S. Co. 125 Wis. 311, 314, 104 N. W. 94.
There should, we think, in the present instance be one other qualification added to this rule, if in fact it is not included within it. The contractor had the right to rely on the belief that the county would employ an engineer of ordinary skill and judgment to take charge of the work. If in fact the engineer employed was ignorant or incompetent and gave foolish and unnecessary orders which operated to the detriment of the contractor, the fact that the engineer was doing the best he knew how should not relieve the county of liability. O'Neill v. Milwaukee, 121 Wis. 32, 98 N. W. 963; Markey v. Milwaukee, 76 Wis. 349, 45 N. W. 28. We do not regard the specification referred to as adding anything to the liability of the county for the acts of its engineer, and of course it is outside the domain of an expert witness to add to the terms of a written contract. The specification simply provides that certain acts on the part of the engineer shall not *238deprive the contractor of bis lawful rig'bt to redress for improper orders. The lawful right which the contractor had was to recover the damages which it sustained by reason of acts done by the engineer fraudulently, in bad faith, or through inexcusable ignorance. As to any orders made in good faith upon matters where there was reasonable ground for the exercise of discretion and in reference to which engineers might honestly differ, the decision of the engineer was binding and there was no lawful right to redress on the part of the contractor for such orders. We are in doubt as to whether the discussion of this subject is particularly helpful in this case. There were some orders given by the engineer which resulted in .extra expense to the contractor and in reference to which it would appear to be a close question on the evidence as to whether the engineer was guilty of anything more than an honest mistake or error in judgment. The court, in making its findings with reference to these items, recited that the orders were arbitrary and unreasonable and without justification or excuse. We are at a loss to know whether the trial court treated every order which he deemed to be an improper order as falling within the category of those described in the findings as being arbitrary. To say that a thing has been done arbitrarily is not necessarily the equivalent of saying that it was done in bad faith or through ignorance or ineompetency. The-words “without justification or excuse” approach more nearly to finding bad faith, but they ai’e not always used to indicate bad faith. In the light of hindsight we sometimes speak of acts as being unjustifiable or inexcusable in reference to which reasonable minds might differ when they were exercising foresight only.
We deem the safest practice to be to set aside the findings dealing with arbitrary and improper orders, not because we think there may not be sufficient evidence in the record to support them, but because we are not satisfied that the court would have made the findings of fact which it did if it took *239tbe same view of tbe law as to tbe liability of tbe county tbat this court tabes. If tbe court deems it proper, on tbe evidence already offered, to find tbat tbe orders were not made in good faitb and in tbe reasonable exercise of tbe discretion vested in tbe engineer, appropriate findings covering tbe same items can easily be made.

Whose duty was it to furnish lines and grades under the contract ?

Sec. 32 of tbe specifications reads:
“Lines and grades will be established by tbe engineer, and no work shall be commenced until these are given. Tbe contractor shall protect lines, levels, etc., given from injury, and should any marks, lines, levels, etc., be destroyed or removed by him or any of bis men, be shall pay for replacing tbe same.”
By finding 26 tbe court found tbat tbe engineer failed to do certain engineering work necessary and required on bis-part under tbe contract to furnish lines and grades to said contractor during tbe progress of tbe work after demand for tbe same. By finding 27 tbe court found tbat by reason of such failure the contractor was necessarily forced to have such work done at its own expense and at a loss and damage to it, tbe amount of which was to be determined.
Tbe defendant contends, correctly enough, tbat tbe question involved is one of law arising out of the construction of tbe contract. It further contends tbat tbe engineer was required to furnish only main lines and grades, and tbat as- to minute details tbe contractor was to work them out.
Upon its face sec. 32 would seem to require the engineer to furnish all tbe lines and grades tbat were necessary. It may be tbat it is customary in contracts containing like clauses for tbe contractor to do tbe detail work. The plaintiff offered some testimony tending to show tbat tbe custom was to tbe contrary. It attempted to offer other evidence of like tenor and effect, which, however, was excluded by the court *240on. defendant’s objection, partly because it was tbongbt tbat the contract was' plain and partly because it was not preliminarily shown that the witness knew that contracts of this kind usually contained similar provisions or that he knew how such provisions were construed. We are inclined to adopt the conclusion of the court that on its face the contract not only required the engineer to furnish main lines and grades but also the necessary details. If there was a custom in vogue with reference to which the parties contracted which was to the effect that it was the duty of the contractor to provide all the detail lines and grades necessary, it was incumbent on the county to show it, and, having failed to do so, we think the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh findings of fact and the conclusion of law based thereon should stand.

Damages caused by delays.

Sec.'17 of the contract and sec. 39 of the specifications provide in substance that no allowance shall be made to the contractor for any hindrances or delays from any cause, but that where the county does cause delays the engineer may extend the time of the performance of the contract. If this clause is held to mean just what it says, it eliminates many of the claims for damages that are made by the plaintiff. The clause, however, in our judgment should not he construed to prevent recovery of damages for delays caused (1) by fraudulent conduct of the engineer, (2) by reason of orders made in bad faith and to hamper the contractor, (3) by reason of orders unnecessary in themselves and detrimental to the contractor and which were the result of inexcusable ignorance 'or incompetence on the part of the engineer. No good reason is apparent why an order which is traceable to any of the causes enumerated and which resulted in damage to the contractor should not constitute a valid basis of a claim for damages, as well as other acts done by the engineer that were the result of ignorance, bad faith, or fraudulent conduct.

*241
Delay m pouring the eighty-foot arch.

By the thirty-eighth finding of fact the court found that the engineer, by an arbitrary and unreasonable order, and without excuse, prevented the contractor from pouring the eighty-foot arch from the middle part of April to after May 1st, which delay caused damage and expense to the contractor.
There was a sharp conflict in the evidence in reference to this delay, the engineer insisting that no delay whatever was caused on account of the change and that the pouring was commenced as soon as the contractor was ready to proceed with the work. There is sufficient evidence to warrant the court in finding that the delay was due to the failure of the engineer to give the order seasonably.
The testimony offered in behalf of the plaintiff tended to show that the engineer forbade the contractor to go on with the work until a conclusion was reached as to the manner in which"the construction was to be carried on, and that the orders of the engineer were peremptory in this regard. Other testimony offered in behalf of the plaintiff tended to show that the engineer and the committee were waiting until Mr.. Mueser, the consulting engineer, could come from New-York and advise the committee and the engineer whether it would be advisable to change from the sectional to the monolithic construction of the arches, and that the engineer could not come or did not arrive until April 29th. Substantially all .of plaintiff’s evidence is to the effect that the engineer decayed the work until he could arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to how it should be done.
If the committee or the engineer deemed it advisable to counsel with the consulting engineer before deciding on an important matter of this kind, it seems to us that they had a perfect right to do so and in fact should have done so. It is not apparent how either could he charged with bad faith on account of the delay which resulted from the cause specified.
*242We think that so much of the thirty-eighth finding of fact, 'as finds that the delay np to April 29th was without justification or excuse is wrong and should be set aside. The provision in the contract and the one in the specifications above-referred to are very comprehensive and were no doubt intended to meet a case of this kind. There seems to be some-evidence in the record which might justify the court in finding that the engineer did not give the order in regard to monolithic construction seasonably after the meeting of April 29th. If this is the fact, no reason for the delay is apparent and the plaintiff would be entitled to damages for delay caused by failure to give the order immediately after the meeting referred to. There do not appear to be any other facts found against the defendant which are not fairly supported by the evidence. This statement is not intended to apply to any conclusion of law that may be embodied in the facts, as the conclusions of law will be treated separately.

Sufficiency of evidence to sustain findings of fact.

It is not customary for this court to detail the evidence which it deems sufficient to sustain a finding of the trial court. .It might be some satisfaction to counsel to know that the evidence had been read and carefully considered, but it is not going too far to ask them to take our word for it. The findings attacked as not being sustained by sufficient evidence are not numerous. The contentions of plaintiff in this regard that seem to be seriously urged are that the following findings should be set aside: (1) The finding whereby it was determined that plaintiff was not entitled to any claim for damages because of the monolithic construction of the piers and haunches; (2) the one whereby it was found that the plaintiff was not entitled to any extra compensation because of the-heavier and more expensive forms used on the piers and haunches by reason of the monolithic construction; (3) the one whereby the court refused to allow any damages because of the alleged extra heavy centering used in the arches; *243(4) tbe one whereby the court refused to allow any damage to plaintiff for an alleged order to keep up the centering an ■unreasonable length of time. Besides the items above specifically named, the plaintiff appeals from a part of the interlocutory judgment disallowing two other claims made by it, one for interest and the other for what is designated as the switch-track delay. No particular claim is made in this court in reference to the disallowance of the two last mentioned items. Counsel do say in their brief that the court should have made certain findings requested by plaintiff. The plaintiff’s appeal, however, is only from paragraphs “a” to “f” of the interlocutory judgment, which correspond with the same paragraphs in the conclusions of law set forth in the statement of facts. The findings of fact challenged by counsel for the plaintiff are numbered 8, 9, 10, 11, and 31.
A particularly earnest argument is made by counsel on the proposition that the court was in error in holding that plaintiff was not entitled to extra compensation because of the monolithic construction of piers and haunches. We have endeavored to closely examine the evidence bearing on this important question. It is not contended by counsel that there is not evidence to support the finding as made, but it is asserted that the finding is against the great weight of the evir dence.
Our conclusion is that this court cannot and should not say on the conflicting evidence that the finding of the trial court is against the clear preponderance of the evidence. As to the other findings of fact that are attacked by the plaintiff, we reach the same conclusion. The result of such conclusion is that the plaintiff cannot prevail on its appeal.
Turning to the appeal by the defendant, as already stated its principal contention is that many of the facts found are wholly immaterial and that they do not justify the conclusions of law drawn therefrom.
The principal attack made by the defendant on the facts actually found arises on the fifteenth finding, whereby the *244court determined that at a meeting held at tbe Hotel Piaster in April, 1909, the committee of the county board authorized and directed that the method of constructing the arches be changed from the sectional to the monolithic. It is argued that no record was kept of the proceedings of this meeting; that all of the members of the committee were not present; and that it was a special meeting in reference to which notice was not given to all of the members. The conclusion drawn is that the meeting was not lawfully called and that any action taken by the committee would not be binding on the county.
A majority of the committee were present, and there was sufficient evidence in the record to warrant the court in.finding that those present assented to the change, and -we. think sufficient evidence to warrant the finding that those who were not present ratified the action taken.
It is a well established rule that, where a statute requires a certain thing to be done at a meeting of a county or town board, the act cannot be done by separate individual action on the part of the members of the board, but must be done at a duly called meeting. We do not think this rule should extend to the action taken by a committee of the kind that was here employed. Many of their meetings were necessarily of an informal character; the members were frequently on the work observing how it was done, and it was necessary for them to have frequent meetings and consultations with the engineer, at which all of the members might not be able to be present. The character of their work was such as to render it impracticable to carry it on with that degree of formality that is exercised by boards in performing legislative or quasi-judicial functions. No statute is called to our attention which requires a committee of this kind to carry on its proceedings in the accurate and precise manner in which a town board, for instance, must act when proceeding to lay out a highway, and we think the finding of the court in this regard should be permitted to stand. We regard the finding as be*245ing an essential one, becanse under tbe established facts wfe do not think this change was one which the engineer was entitled to make on his own motion. It is conceded that a better job would result from the monolithic than from the sectional construction, but no claim is made that the safety of the structure would be endangered by the sectional construction. Besides, it appears that the engineer did not undertake on his own responsibility to order the change to be made. The supervising engineer, Mr. Mueser of ÜSTew York, was called into consultation in reference to the change, according to the finding of the court, and so were the members of the committee. Except as-indicated elsewhere in this opinion, the findings of fact of which the defendant' complains are approved.
We now proceed to point out wherein the court’s conclusions of law are either contrary to the rules of law here laid down or should be set aside because the requisite facts have not been found to sustain them.

Conclusions of law.

The first conclusion of law, which relates to a change from a plaster form to a spaded finish, is set aside as not supported by the findings. The facts found should show, in addition to what has already been found by findings 12, 13, and 14, (1) that the change did not substantially alter the character of the structure, and (2) that it did not increase the cost of the structure to an unreasonable amount, taking into account the actual necessity for the change and the magnitude of the work called for by the contract. We do not see how this second question can be determined until there is a trial on the merits and the amount of the necessary extra cost of making the change has been ascertained. Some of the items of compensation claimed because of changes are so large that it is insisted the court should say as a matter of law that neither the committee nor its engineer had any power to order them. *246Manifestly this cannot be done at this stage of the proceeding. The plaintiff may have been making claims that are extravagant. Besides, it insists that a large part of its claims for extra cost is due to intolerable intermeddling on the part of the engineer. The engineer was given almost unlimited power as to the manner in which the work should be carried on where no specific provision was made in reference thereto in the contract and specifications. Obviously damages caused by orders made in bad faith or through inexcusable ignorance should not be taken into account in determining whether the change itself involved an unreasonable addition to the contract price. If orders of the character named were given, the county is responsible for them. It is not intended to hold that plaintiff,is not ultimately entitled-to recover on the item covered by the first conclusion of law, but merely that on the facts presently found the conclusion of law should not be permitted to stand, and it is set aside without prejudice to the plaintiff.
What has been said with reference to the first conclusion of. law is equally applicable to the second, which is based on findings 15 to 18 inclusive, and to the fourth conclusion, which is based on findings 21 to 23 inclusive, and the same direction is made in reference thereto.
The third conclusion of law, which deals with an order of the engineer requiring the retaining forms for vertical surfaces to be left on an unreasonable length of time, is set aside for reasons stated under the heading “Liability of the county for improper orders of the engineer.” This conclusion is based on findings 19 and 20. There is no provision in the contract specifying how long these forms should remain in place. The engineer was empowered to make any direction in reference thereto that he saw fit, and the contractor was obliged to follow it. The matter presented a purely engineering question. If the order was one on the unreasonableness of which competent engineers would not disagree, then it was made either through inexcusable ignorance or bad faith and *247the county is liable for damages resulting therefrom. The trial court should make its findings of fact specific on this question, and this may be done on the evidence already before it.
What has been said of the third conclusion is applicable to the eighth conclusion in reference to the piling of material and which is based'on findings 33 and 34; also to the ninth conclusion in reference to the delay ordered in pouring into the arches after the haunches were completed, which is based on finding 35; also in reference to the tenth conclusion, dealing with the leaving on of extrados forms an unreasonable length of time, based on finding 36; also to the twelfth conclusion in reference to the delay in pouring pier No. 3, based on finding 39.
Conclusion of law numbered 4-| is allowed to stand if it has actually been made. We do not find it among the conclusions of law nor in the interlocutory judgment signed by the court, and neither do we find any amendment to the conclusions or judgment in the record. The conclusion is printed as one of the conclusions of law, and both parties have argued the case on the basis that it was made. There is an exception in the record taken by the plaintiff to failure of the court to make such conclusion. It is conceded that this change was made because it was necessary to make it on account of the plans being defective. The defendant admits liability, but suggests that damages on the same account are claimed under another item in the plaintiff’s claim. We assume as a matter of course that the court did not intend to duplicate damages.
The fifth conclusion of law has already been discussed, and is correct.
The sixth conclusion of law deals with an order of the engineer directing the contractor to omit the placing of drains in the arches, and the seventh with an order requiring the replacing of said drains. The matter of leaving out the drains in the first instance presented an engineering question, and or*248dinarily the same disposition should be made of tbe sixth conclusion that is made of the third, eighth, ninth, tenth, and twelfth. The'order, however, stands on a somewhat different basis under the evidence. The specifications provided for the insertion of the necessary drains. Neither the engineer nor any one else attempts to justify the order, if it'was in fact made. The claim of the engineer was that he did not order the drains to be left out, but simply permitted it to be done at the request of the contractor. The court has found the contrary. We do not find any substantial evidence in the record that would justify the order. As we understand the position of the county, it makes no attempt at justification, but rests on the propositions (1) that no such order was given; (2) that the engineer had no right to give such an order; and (8) that the contractor, had no business to obey it.
In view of the position taken by the consulting engineer and of the other evidence on which this conclusion is based, and of the fact that the specifications plainly provided- for the drains, we are of the opinion that this conclusion of law should be permitted to stand, although the findings of fact on which .the same is based are not as complete as they should be.
The sixth conclusion of law being permitted to stand, it follows as a matter of course from the findings and the evidence that the seventh conclusion of law should not be disturbed. Some damages are sought to be recovered under these two conclusions that would seem to be remote.
The eleventh conclusion of law has already been discussed. The conclusion is set aside, and recovery for delay in pouring the eighty-foot arch is limited to such damages as occurred by reason of delay caused by the engineer after April 29, 1909.
The thirteenth conclusion of law is permitted to stand, but recovery thereunder is limited to such extras as were ordered by the committee or were ratified by it or were necessary from an engineering standpoint, and no recovery is to be allowed where an unreasonable expenditure has been made.
*249The fourteenth conclusion of law is set aside. Becovery may be had for the piling if it appears that the item of expense was not an unreasonable one for the committee to incur under the rules of law already stated. If that fact be found, it may be followed by a conclusion like the one now set aside.
The fifteenth conclusion' of law is approved. So is the sixteenth. The gravel used for filling appears to have been absolutely necessary. No claim is made that the expense incurred was not reasonable. The only defense attempted is that the board could not delegate any power of the character exercised to the committee.
The seventeenth conclusion of law is approved, as axe conclusions “a” to “f” inclusive.
The conclusions of law are embodied in and practically constitute the interlocutory judgment, and such judgment is approved, modified, and set aside to the extent indicated in the treatment of the conclusions of law.
We do not find any conclusion of law covering the facts found in the thirty-seventh finding. The principles of law governing the right of recovery, if any remains, have been set forth in this decision.
It was suggested on the argument that damages were duplicated in some o-f the claims on which recovery is sought. Nothing said herein is to be construed as authorizing any recovery beyond actual damages sustained.
By the Court.- — So much of the interlocutory judgment as the plaintiff appeals from is affirmed. On the defendant’s appeal the judgment is modified to the extent indicated in the opinion, and the case is remanded for further proceedings. Costs are allowed to the defendant.