, 1881-06-26

Again. VIC let the contract afterwards to Edwin
! he was the lowest bidder, uld offered to do tho
work ut the lowest price, nnd he failed to per-
form his contract accordn$ to lls tGrlnS deiMy T..
| WAS too 1Ate to get it really for occupancy by
the lst IF May last, us WIS intended We also
pany fur the sidewalk ard tagging iii front Of
the building becausc they were tho lowest bid
ders and the result shows clearly that th!s "as
a mstnke. Other mistakes have no doubt been
! made. bur none have resulted more dsastrousiy
than those Committed in letting contr:,cts to the
done 50 none would have occurred as frequently.
The CHARGES which ann asked to explain are OF
the most liaGrant crimes. committed " us In
public Such CRIMES, If committed may bc
prnycn Innocence of them cannot be proven;
nor can explanations bc expected to s1t'sty
istencc without proof. But am and shall he
ready to state what know OF facts and circum-
stances Us to any matter in which l hive taken
Il part
PLUMBING AND GAs-FITTISG.
Comment has becn made in the Times article
upon the contf7lct for plumbing; and | nu, spoken
Of us having noved the awarding Of this con-
tract. Sclleuster s. Lnlnparter were deemed tho
lowest responsible und rcliuhle bidders for this
rtnr ~ them hen over the two lower bidders. They
tScheuster g. Lan}purtcr were strHnscrs to
mt. / never saw them 10 know them
/ bccnmc satisfied by reliable information that
they wer. men Of gtult standing, and that they
possessed the lneas that would enaole en-, them to
award thu contract to thctn, MS think wns the
cuse did it If. pursuance Of my own best !nds7
ment and that of Il majority Of the Board. I
Kfu, that they had no knowledge or informa
uon beforehand Of what | in1cnttd 10 10. The
cNIrA work which they have done, uiiu which
WAS not provided for III their contract, hns been
ordered upon tie recommendation of tic Archt-
tcct ana the superintendent Of tho work:
and | have no doubt it WAS necessary and
proper. When such extra work Involved the
payment OF any material amount, il has been
estimated and agreed upon before It WIS or.
dcred, | think it wouid be found 0" strict
examination thAr every change innde or atldi-
ton directed in either tho plumbing or gus
it ntpg & Mas te'rS ht u II shon he 'n
i very Strange idea seems tu exist 1H rctcr.
ence to changes and additions, Called "extras,
buildings. perhaps, completed throughout with
out any cn,n.cs whatever. Bur the rule Il that
many Will necessarily occur IN tue erection or
Hur buiI.1ing. IN characterize such extras us
steals, ind Conclude, without evidence, that
1ho5e authorizing them or claiming p"y for
b%i tnGm uH 1 Viii Gc fnd @ 3 On examination.
think, that the total amount paid out 0r ~
lowed for cxtrns IN the erection or tue Court
stuue by substituting grant und tho extra for |
thicker stone. all Of which were directed before
any OF the present Board cs.1le forward. ana tor
which none Of them ure responsible, ana III tile
brickwork) wilt fail f.lr short Of tue aycrngo
amount st. allowed aud paid i'll the construcuon
of buildings Of sniinr character.
nm sntisteu that No improper influences have
operated to produce changes since have been |
/, nc1ubrr Of the }Oard. How it WAS before |
have never hnd tho tiuic Or inclination to de-
tertnnc.
HUGHES AS SUPERINTENDENT.
On account Of the nature OF the work tt was
Thought bust to apuuint snle practical plunbertn
81, perintrnli the plumbing and gastlttlnE; Kind
Df work easily sighted und kept from view It
WAS not thought wise to cntrust to tile dtscre~
tiDr OF any contractor alone. Accordingly Mr. !
Hughes wins appointed. He was mt. however,
Or recommended by me- as hns been
.huryed. IT is true that | had known him for
many yenrs rs Il practical plumber, anh be-
icve'l he would perform thg duties REQUIRED
faithfully and honestly. 1 believe he has done
;o with great advantage to tie county think
t was Mr. Burltng, or Mr. Spntford. who moved
lis appointment. aud my recollection IS tint
here w:ls i1o opposition to thu motion, Us no
>thcr nomination WIS lnade. Neither wits tho
notion 1nude as the result of any PREVIOUS con-
ercurc or understanding. Tho iilhes says he
ms been Il sort Of political Striker" for me.
desire to say here. that llavc not nor have
ever hatj. my political aspirations, and huvc
,0t. ul,r have ever had. nor TO eyer Intend 10
,a,'e any use for II political strikers. have
ueu twicc placed in nomination for Il compira-
ircIy uui,nporrAnr town office, nnd once for tho
ljtc now hold. In neither cnSe has it been a |
,ositiut, Of my own seeking, and when nn1D1- |
atcd have done simply what every other hosi-
|raLIe cnndjdate IS Under obligation to do. AS !
q the future no one need SUPPOSE or lns:!g'ne:
i1at 50 far as relates to my prospects Tor oflce,
tayc any sort Of cOncerl-
I. do not believe thar there is any evidence I
hat Scbustcr s. LumpArtucr have paid, or of-
ert.J to n foreman, or any one else. any per- |
t.ntare Of their means for bush money OF
nr Il nv other improper purpose Ihey suy TINT !
he charges made nrc all false, and have every |
easnn to believe them. But II it Is otherwise. !