Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-05
NEW CITY HALLHITCH
coxrrAcr Yoa IMPLEMENTS TAKEN
IRON WATKINS, c0rT1ELL 4 co.
Mr.. Myers Wants His $4,000, but Kust
wait Until His Plsrs, &C.. are
Complete.

held in the Office Of the City Engineer
Il 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
Present: Messrs. Render tchairmsn),
Crsnshaw, Pizzini, Snsad, and Am.
mons; City-Attorney O. V. Meredith,
Cisy-Engineer W. E. Cutshsw, Mr..
Burgwyn, supervising architect; Mr..
George w. Myers, and his counsel,
Judge Marshall.
THE PLANS NOT COMPLETE.
Mr.. Render stated that the meeting
was called to consider certain questions
as to missing parts Of plans and some
few inaccurate drawings, or those with
no dimensions written.
Colonel Cutshaw said that be did not
feel willing to sign warrant for t6, 900,
the frst payment on the slO,5O0 for
the plans, until they are in every respect
made correct and perfect. He felt UNI
willing to proceed with the work until
everything was complete and satisfac-
tory. He then read letter, which he
wrote to e. Z. Myers, dated June 2,
1884, explaining the defects then exist
ing in the plans and what corrections
were necessary to be made. He ex-
hibited the Myers and the Wait Il Cut
ter plans, and showed the defects and
the changes desired to be made in the
former.
City Attorney Meredith read the con-
tract with Mr.. Myers and explained
what was meant by the clauses pertain
ing to the complete and accurate draw
iDgs.
On motion of Mr.. Snead, the signing
of the contract was laid on the table,
and the City Engineer directed to mott
fly Mr.. Myers in writing what correc-
tons are necessary.
THE LABoRERs' PAY.
Mr.. Pizzini asked how the amount Of
tl.25 per day came to be fixed as the
compensation Of laborers engaged to
work on the new City Hall.
The Engineer explained that this
amount had been fixed by him in &C
cordsnce with the resolution adopted by
the committee fixing the pay OF the
lsborers, &C., at the highest price paid
by private parties for the same class of
work. Messrs. Ammons and Snead
had stated to the committee that labor
ers were paid from 81 to sl.25 per day,
and he had fred their pay at sl.25
as the highest price paid by private par
ties.
The Committee decided to increase
the pay of the laborers from $l.25 to
sl.50 per day.
sHovELs AND PICKS.
Colonel Cutshaw called the attention
of the committee to the fact that he
had received information that the hands
vsuld refuse to work with the shovels
and picks if furnished by Watkins,
Cottrell & Co., to whom the contract
for furnishing the same was awarded
that be had talked with majority Of
the committee-Messrs. Snead, Am
mons, and Pizzini-and had been au-
thorized by them to purchase these ar
ticles from George A. Smith, the next
lowest bidder.
Mr.. Crenshaw was not satisfied
with this action. He thought
when any question was to be de-
cided that a full meeting Of the COM
mittee should be held, and that each
member should have the privilege of
voting. Colonel Cutshaw said that he
had notified Watkins, Cottrell & Go. of
the award, and that the city, he be-
lieyed, was compelled to purchase the
implements from them if they de-
mAnded it.
Some member Of the committee
asked Colonel Cutshsw if he knew
whether Smith was on the "blsck
list" lit being understood that this was
the objection raised by the laborers to
working with tools purchased from
Watkins, Cottrell & Co.. Colonel Cut
shaw replied that he did not know
that he was not informed concerning
the black list and whose names were
on it.
CONTRACT GIVEN TO GEORGE A.
SMITH.
Mr.. Ammons offered the following
Whereas the Engineer had notified
Watkins, Cottrell & Co. that they had
received the contract for furnishing four
dozen shovels and one dozen picks and
handles and one Ratchet, that he be in
structed to order the payment of the
same after receiving the goods, and that
hereafter the contract be awarded to
George A. Smith.
Laid on the table, but subsequently
taken up and agreed to.
ABOUT DAMAGES.
Mr.. Pizzini offered resolution pro-
yidiDg that the Engineer be directed to
call on Watkins, Cottrell & Co. and as
certain if they have any claim for dam
ages on account of cancelliag the con-
tract awarded to them for shOyels, &C.,
and report to the committee. Adopted.
THE WHOLE COMMITTEE MUST ACT.
Mr.. Crenshaw raised the point as to
whether or not the committee in the
future should take such action as it had
done concerning the contract for picks
and shovels without regular bOnd:tde
meeting and each member being noti-
fed.
Mr.. Ammons said be was one Of the
number who had taken this action
that be was convinced that he had done
wrong, and he therefore moved that the
committee, or any members Of it,
should not act on any subject in future
without the sanction of the committee
as given in active session.
Mr.. Ammons's motion was carried.
THE PLANS AGAIN.
Judge Marshall, counsel for Myers,
appeared and asked that the committee
pay the $4,000 due to Myers, he having
executed the bond and signed the con-
tract required.
City-Attorney Meredith urged that
the $4,000 should not be paid until the
necessary changes in the plans and
specifications we're made.
Judge Marshall held that under the
contract the money was due, and it
should ha maid AZ npna