, 1874-03-11

49,
Council in the same manner as those for
Corn Meal for Bureau.
The President replied that it was not
customary.
Eater did not think the matter had been
treated in a fair and proper way. The
simplest way would have been to have
opened them in the Council. 1t is
seen from the Presidency's letter that
the Presidency itself does not like to de-
viate from the rule of accepting the lowest
tender at licitations, but it has been eX-
planned that in this case the Hospital Com
mission has interfcred and recommended the
person at present doing the business. He
had no objection to the Commission being
asked, but if the tenders are not to be
opened in the Council, both Commissions
should have been asked. There is prece-
dent for taking the opinion of the Com
missions in a doubtful case which he gave.
AS far as he remembered, it was at that time
recommended not to take the lowest offer,
and it was resolved to try q new licitation.
The members are in the present case placed
in an awkward position, for they have to
choose between departing from a general
principle, or disaYoWing the views OF the Pre-
sidency and the Commission at Christiansted,
He must repeat that the matter has not been
treated in a proper manner, for, after the
tenders had been sent in, private indiyidu-
ais received information of the nature of
them, which has given rise to agita-
ton that might have been avoided.
The President said it was unfair to blame
the Presidency for having followed the
general practice. There was no necess ty
to doviate from what was customary and
open the tenders in the Council. The
Hospital Commission in F|rederiksted
would not have made any demands for the
acceptance Of any tender but the one now
recommended, The Commission here had
reason to desire an opportunity Of express
ing its opinion, for the person who for the
last 9 months has been conducting the
business has given every cause for satlsIac-
ton. A new contract might give rise to
inconvenience. OF the parties applying
in Frederiksted none had been in the situa-
ton before. Therefore there were but
two things to attend to viz. lowest offer
and security. He, the President, could
not disregard the opinions and suggestions
of other parties having an official
interest in the choice Of the indlvidu-
al. He had yielded his own indivi-
dual opinion and left the matter to the
Council. Fault was found with the tend
ers not being kept secret; but there was
no rule or necessity for that. Did the
Honorable Member wish to insinuate that
this was done for the purpose Of favour
ing With regard to the recommended
ton of the one Commission, that could only
be of a personal nature.
Latimer asked if the Presidency had re-
ceiyed a letter from Mr.. b. Woods, similar
to Mr.. Johansen's, and why it had not been
read to-day.
The President said that the letter was
received after the Presidency had laid It's
report before the Council. He could not
see how the whole thing would end, if
every party were to be at liberty to come
forward atterward with more tenders.
For the rest he knew of no positive rule
for bringing matters like this before the
Council. Governor Birch used to bring
them in cases of doubt like the present.
If Mr.. Woods offer was to conn under
consideration, what was the good of lici-
-- q 800