“An Episode—How Contracts are Awarded— In the course of a controversy about the iron work of the Island Hospital, some remarks passed between Messrs. Oliver and Anderson more piquant than polite. Gov. Anderson said he did not want to hold any intercourse with so corrupt a man. Gov. Oliver would not take any notice of such language, except to hurl it back with scorn in the teeth of the one that uttered it. He dared any one to name a single fact that would show that he was corrupt. Gov. Anderson said that he was guilty of a very corrupt act when, in opening the bids for certain iron work, he endeavored to induce his fellow members on the Committee to give the contract to a man who was not the lowest bidder, more especially as they had since discovered that two of that bidder’s tools—one of them his foreman, and the other a Methodist parson in his interest—were among the bidders.
Gov. Oliver said he did not know anything about these two men; the reason he urged that the contract be awarded to his friend was because he liked to serve his friends, as the other Governors did theirs, (here several Governors protested against their names being called in question,) and because the lowest bidder did not do business in the city. Some other words passed between Messrs. Anderson and Oliver, evidently very much to the annoyance of the other members of the Board, who kept nervously remonstrating, and tried repeatedly, but in vain, to get the Board to adjourn.
The discussion wound up by Gov. Oliver asserting that if any charges could be brought against his integrity, he hoped they would be referred to a Committee; either he or Gov. Anderson was evidently unfit to sit in the Board.
Gov. Anderson said he was quite willing to refer the matter to a fair Committee, and if he did not substantiate the charge of corruption against Oliver, he would resign, provided that Oliver agreed, in case the charge was proved, to leave the Board.
At this interesting juncture, an indignant demand for adjournment from Gov. Maloney prevailed, and the troubled waters once more resumed their wonted tranquillity.
Subsequently the members opened the bids for the iron work on the Island Hospital. There were six bids, the highest being $26,875; the lowest, by J. B. & W. W. Cornell, $18,364.”
Gov. Anderson assures me that Oliver is a very corrupt man, and that he will soon give me the evidence of his corruption, which I will publish as soon as I receive it. The firemen will grieve to learn that Gov. Anderson, their faithful Ex-Chief Engineer, is indisposed, and seeks the bracing air of Long Island for his restoration. Anderson and Carson led the firemen long and bravely, and of the million inhabitants around us, there are no two gallant spirits whom I more profoundly revere than Cornelius V. Anderson and Alfred Carson. Both are the soul of chivalry and honor. And may they ever prosper, and be healthy and happy, and be warmly cherished by the firemen and by all good citizens.
From the New York Express of Tuesday last.
“A Novel Regatta.—Last Saturday afternoon, quite a novel exhibition of aquatic skill came off at Blackwell’s Island, on the occasion of a boat race, gotten up under the auspices of some of the Governors of the Alms House. The boats are six oared barges used for conveying passengers from the various institutions on the Island to New York. The following were the entries which competed for sweepstakes: