The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-22


Remodcllins tho Gas-works-IIis Resolu-
tion TO this Effect Lost--Somethins About
the Contract Complications.
The Common Council at q late meeting
passed hin appropriating $4,000 for the
purpose Of remodelling the gas-works.
The bill for the same purpose had been Of
7 fered before iii the Board OF Aldermen and
been defeated: but after the Council
passed IL the previous action OF the Board
was reconsidered, and IL concurred In the
action OF the lower branch, and the action
of both branches received the sanction Of
the Mayor.
The Committee on Light at once pro-
ceeded 10 award the contract for remodel
| ling the gas-works, after which il was dis
covered that the Board Of Aldermen recon-
sidered its previous action in the presence
OF fewer number OF members than were
present when the same resolution OF ap-
preparation was defeated. In the mean
time the bids for repairing the works had
been opened, but the Common Council, at
a called meeting held last saturday, con-
Cured in the action OF the Board OF Alder
men.
The talk growing out OF the awarding
the contract to Mr.. Anderson. whose bid
in actual figures was not the lowest, and
the questioning Of the right Of the commit
tee TO award the contract before the appro-
priation for payment Of the work TO be
/ done had been legally made, caused good
deal Of interest to attach to the called meet
ing Of the Board Of Aldermen held yester-
day evening at : O'Clock, when these ques-
tionS were 10 he considered.
Tho fOIloyinr npmlprS VNprp nTpSpuf :.
Mr.. Bass president), and Messrs. Burwell,
Cabell, Chafiin, Cole, Crump, Dickerson,
Dufiield, Glasgow. Powers, Pleasants,
Rankin, Taylor, Todd, Wexford, and Will
liams.
The President explained the nature Of
the meeting to be ''to further consider the
Improvement OF the gas-works."
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and approved
Mr.. Chailin said he was sorry to see so
few members present, and asked if ii were
not necessary for eighteen members TO be
present il he intended TO move a recon-
sideration. The Chair said such resolu-
tion would not be in order. as eighteen
members were present when the appropria-
tiOn was made, and only sixteen now.
TODD's RESOLUTIONS,
Mr.. Todd offered the following reSou-
tiopS:
Whereas the committee on Light,
through the Superintendent OF the Gas
Works, having advertised from April 26 to
May ID, 1888, for proposals for remOdelling
the works upon plans and specifications
adopted by the committee; and at opening
OF the bids il was found that Messrs. Gard
ner Brothers Of Pittsburgh were the lowest
bidders, and therefore, in good faith, enti-
titled to the contract; and the contract
having been actually awarded to Mr.. j.
Anderson, OF Cincinnati, at much higher
sum, because OF his demand that unless the
contract should be awarded him he would
expect a fee Of $1,000 for his plans
and services to the committee; and
as the acceptance OF Mr.. Anderson's pro-
poSal, under these circumstances, was an
act OF manifest Injustice TO the lowest bid
ders, and violatiye Of those principles OF
fair dealing which should always charac-
terize the letting Of contracts; and whereas
section SO of chapter % of the City Ordi-
nances, concerning gas-works, specifically
provides that "any plans Of the committee
ION Light for extending the works, or add
ing TO the buildings or machinery, and the
contracts therefor, must always be submit
ted TO and approved 10y the City Council
before said contracts shall be binding on
the city," and the Committee on Light
having awarded the contract in question
in disregard OF the foregoing provision OF
the City ordinances; now, therefore, be 1t
RESOLVED (the Common Council concur
ring) That the Committee on Light be,
and they are hereby, instructed 10 annul
the said contract with MIR. Anderson; and
are further instructed hereby TO enter into
a contract with Messrs. Gardner Brothers
for the performance OF the same III strict
conformity to section SO of chapter % OF
the Ordinances.
ResOIred. further, That should the Com
mIttee on Light be OF the opinion that Mr..
Anderson ought to be compensated for his
plans they shall forward his claim therefor,
with their recommendation endorsed there
on. to the Committee on Accounts and
Claims for consideration and report.
Mr.. Todd then read the section OF the
CITY Ordinances applying to the awarding OF
contracts for the extension OF works or the
remodelImg Of machinery, in which all
contracts fOr such are required TO he sent
TO the Council for approval. Mr.. Todd
DIsCLAIMED ANY UNKINDNEss
70 tbe committee. 1t had simply made a
mistake. and he wished to give them an op-
portunitv TO correct it. lie was not un-
willing TO pay Mr.. Anderson for his work,
but he wanted him paid in the proper way.
Mr.. Todd sad he hoped other members
would speak.
Mr.. DickcrsOn then asked that minutes
Of the Council having reference to the cost
OF manufacture Of gas and the failure on
the part Of city officials to fululRsame De
read. The resolution read was the one Of
fered by Mr.. Todd at previous meeting
OF the body, i'm which he called upon the
Superintendent and gas officials to resign II
they failed to do what they claimed they
could under the Anderson plan.
Mr.. Dckerson argued that this cut the
committee loose from the Council. lie
had never had thought but that Ander-
son would get the bid. On the floor OF
the house il had always been Anderson
and Granger. The committee reserved the
right to reject any and all bids. He
thought the purchase OF $4,000 worth OF
iron here ought TO be consideration. Mr..
McIlhenny, OF Washington, had written
that il Anderson was made TO do what he
had promised there could be no failure. III
the power TO contract was taken from the
committee il annulled the action OF the
Council, which held the gas officials and
committee responsible. lie was tired OF
hearing
TALK THAT THINGS WERE GOING WRONG.
II any man knew anything, and could
proye il, let him come forward and make
the charge openly.
Mr.. Chailin said the whole action OF the
committee was illegal. They had awarded
the contract before the Council had made
any appropriation. and Judge Crump. he
a t1,ot ocffon