ABSTRACT
There remains several remnants of the works of the last years that are not finished and will never be finished, simply because, your Eminence, of the confusion caused by the frequent cuts which are made to these works. Breaking of contracts, failures to honour verbal agreements and new adjudications, only serve to attract those firms which do not know which way to turn, rogues and ignoramuses, and to make those with the knowledge and capability of directing firms, beat hasty retreats. I would add that they delay and inflate considerably the cost of these works, which are the worst since these cuts and the cheapness sought are imaginary. For the contractor is ruined, and like a drowning man who clutches at anything, he clutches at anything he can as a contractor. He does not pay the merchants who supply the materials, pays badly his employees, cheats on those he can, has only the worst, and since he is cheaper than the others, uses the poorest materials, quibbles about everything and is always crying for mercy from this one and that one. That is enough, your Eminence, to show you the folly of this way; leave it and in the name of God, go back to plain dealing; pay the price for the works and do not deny an honest salary to a constructor who fulfils his duties; that will always be the best deal you can find.
