The excess which I furnished can only be ascertained by
weight instead of by measuring the thickness of the plates and frames.
At the second session of the Forty-ninth Congress, and early in 1886,
this claim was before the Senate Committee on Claims, and at the
instance of the committee this work was again examined by experts, who
came to the conclusion that the claimant was entitled to the sum of
$45,615.67 for the extra work which he had performed and materials
furnished.
It is only alleged that the glass tiling and frames actually put in the
building were slightly thicker than those required by the contract, and
this alleged increased thickness seems to be fairly represented in a
general way by the claim that some of the glass and frames which were
required to be 1 inch thick were actually put in 1 inch and a quarter
thick.
Upon this statement it must be admitted that the sum above stated as the
value of this extra thickness is somewhat startling. In the language of
the report upon this bill by the Supervising Architect, "a claim of
$47,159.02 for such slight excess on work the price of which was
$35,217.57 is hardly entitled to consideration."
The claim, as well as the award of the experts last named, reach their
astonishing proportions by the application of weights to the question
in the following manner: A certain area is measured. A square foot of
the tiling actually put in is weighed, and a square foot of the tiling
required by the contract is also weighed.
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