The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-16
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Meeting Of the Os%ml.sIea for the Awurd ,

Meetina Of the OSmmlsston for the Awurd Of
.I.I. Contracts.
special meeting Of the commission for the
erection of the proposed public buildings was
held at noon to-day in the room of the com
mission, in the New Court House, President
William s. Stokley In the chair.
Certificates OF the election Of Samuel W. Oattel
and Alexander M Fox as members OF the commits
sion were received and approved. Mr.. Cattell taEea
the place Of Mr. stokley. and Mr. Fox 70 fll the va
cancy ocoasloned by the death OF Alexander J.
Mr.. j. w. v atson announced that the meeting had
been cat atthe instance of the Committee on Con-
ira u, which committee was now ready 10 report
The committee submitted their report IN which
they recommended that, for the preliminary work,
the contracts be awarded as ioDows:-
For the excavations, James Armstrong, at 10
For taking down the terrace wall and cleaning
bricks etc, PANEL McNichO
For concfeting the entire foundation, James Arm
strong, at 10 cents per cubic foot.
For furnishing foundation stone Of approved
quality, James Armstrong, 81 per perch.
For furnishing building stone, Samuel 0orgas.
For brick work, George II. Brinkworth
For building cellar walls james Armstrong, at
S155 per perch.
been received for the different work for which pro
pOsals had been advertised.
Mr.. j. v. Watson stated tnat perhaps some Of the
stone proposed TO bespurchased might not be suta-
BILE, and az the committee had only reported The
lowest bidder, he was OF the opinion that provi-
sion should be made that In the stone furnished
was not suitable, the next lowest bidder should re-
ceive The contract.
MT Wagner desired to know whether the cop,
mittee had satisfied themselves that the lowest bid
ders won properly fulfil their contracts he pnt the
question rom the fact OF there being such dscrepan
Mr. Walter moved that the bid of James Arm
strong for excavatng be accepted, stating that he
was good responsible man. and experienced in
such work. the total cost OF this branch he estimated
will be $gS,440.
Mr.. II. Miller desired to be informed as to whether
she commission has authority to make the contract
The Councils of the city have made no appropriation
to pay for the work. and the Act OF Consolidation ex-
Pressy prohibits the expenditure OF any money for
any purpose unless an appropriation has first been
made
Mr.. Walter then read the ordinance by which the
commission was created, in order to show the MEM
bers that they had authority under its provisions to
make contracts, and that it then remained with
Councils to whether their action in the awarding
of contract should be approved or dsapproved.
Mr.. Mccarthy was OF the opinion that the commits
sion will be wanting in duty, If 1t does not at once
award the contracts.
Mr.. Cattell stated that on the creation Of the COM
mission the expectations were that City Councils
would make the necessary appropriation to carry
on the work; but this commission has gone TO the
end OF its tether. Councils had refused TO make the
appropriation because they thought that the citizens
would not bear the additional tax of one-tenth OF
one per cent this year.
Having failed to make that appropriation. there is
no money TO with the work, and IL there is no
money, what is the use Of making the contracts +?
Councils. he felt, will not make appropriation
this year, and he was OF the opinion that the COM
mission cannot make the contracts until appropria-
uons are made by Councils, and until such is done
the work cannot be done. The duty OF the commits
sion was to report the contracts to Councils and ask
for an appropriation.
Mr.. Walter stated that the contracts will not be
binding without the approval of City Councils. They
have the power to make an appropriation or to
raise special loan and 1t is not now known as to
whether they will or will not make some such pro-
vision at their meeting tomorrow. The question OF
money belongs to Councils and not to the COM
mission.
Mr.. Wagner was of the opinion that it is the
duty OF the commission to say TO whom the con-
tracts shall be glven and then report to Councils
He believed that Mr.. Cattell in error in regard
to the failure to make the appropriation When the
matter was before the Finance Committee, it was
the opinion OF the lawyers there that Councils have
no authority to lay special tax, but that the ap-
preparation should come out of the general tax lie
was of the opinion that the duty OF the commission
was fully laid down in the ordinance, and he hoped
the contracts would be awarded.
Mr.. Csttell answered that when the subject was
before the Finance Committee the principalsreason
given for not making the appropriation was that
they did not think the citizens would bear the special
tax.
Mr.. Fox gave as his reason for the failure of the
Finance Committee to act was that majority of that
committee opposed to the erection of the build
iDgs on Independence Square.
Mr.. Miller was OF opinion that the matter could
be reported to Councils in some way without making
the contracts.
commission to make the contracts, which duty was
fully laid down in the ordinance that had been read
There are some members here who are opposed to
the location of the buildings who raise the oppos-
ton; that If he had been opposed to the location
provided in the ordinance, he would never have
| cuped position in the commission.
Mr.. McCarty gave as his opinion that the COM
mittee was bound to make the contracts.
Mr.. J. V. Watson stated that the parties who made
the bids for contracts all thoroughly understood
their rights and duties under the contracts.
Mr.. Cattell stated that the Committee Contracts
had not compiled with the ordinance, which pro-
vdes that the terms OF the contracts should be pub
| lshed. He was OF the opinion that the awarding OF
these contracts would simply be farce, since there
| is no appropriation.
Considerable discussion followed, when the reso-
luton OF Mr. Walter to award the contract for
vations to James Armstrong, at 79 cents per cdolc
yard, was agreed to by the following vote:-Yeas--
Billington Cattell, Day, Fox, "a. NJ, Gilingham,
| kneass, mccarthy, Missy, Pugh, Robb, Spering
Wagner, Walter, Watson, ~, 81 Watson, q. vs.
| and Stokley, PresdenD, l6 Nays, ii. Miller, l.
| Mr. Walter moved that the contract FOR building
cellar walls be awarded to James Armstrong at 81 Sc
| per perch. Agreed to.
Mr.. Walker then moved that the contract for con.
| cretng the foundation be awarded to James Arm
strong at 10 cents per cubic foot, and for taking
down the terrace walls to Daniel McNichol at 800
| Agreed to-
Mr.. Fox moved to refer the bids for stone to the
| chairman Of the Committee on Contracts Archi
lecture and Buildings, to make further report OF
| the subject. Agreed to-
| Mr.. James S. Watson moved that the commission
| proceed TO the election OF President for the pre-
| sent year. Agreed to.
Mr. Stokley was then chosen 10y accamation
| Adjourned.