Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-22
THAT STONE CONTRACT FIXED.

THAT STONE CONTRACT FIXED.
A Losg ana Spirited Commu union OF
she Common Councils Commissee
with tho Board OF Public works.
The Contract Given For Three
Years.
That stone contract which has bothered
the board of public works and the common
council for weeks past was sealed last night,
but not till after . memorable communion
which ended with lively executive session.
The joint committee finally reported they
found II advisable to give the board of pub
lic works permission to enter into contract
for three years, instead Of one year as Alder
man Gesner would have. So strong was his
opposition, however, that he will bring in
minority report.
The committee of the common coun-
vessisste the affair consisted Of
Aldermen Kent and Gesner and Counoilmen
Richardson, Bromley and Bradley.
The affair resulted from the board of pub
lie works award of the oity's stone contract
to Conner Brothers ct 81. 26 . ton, and the
rental to them of the city's stone crusher for
$40 Q year, when 1t could have brought, a.
some thought, about 81 500 year.
Mr.. States told the story of the contract;
how he and Mr.. Whitney had been made .
committee to investigate and obtain bids;
how there had been two bidders and how
they considered it for the city's interest to
Conner Brothers. He also explained that
they did not advertise for bids, but sent
notifications to responsible contractors, as
this policy brought better results In the end.
Mr.. Gessner added . number of questions.
Mr.. Conner answered with many reasons
why the contract should be for three years.
He said it was improbable to build stone
bins for one year only, a. they could not be
moved away.
Mr.. whitney, calling attention to the
unusual rental of the citys stone crusher at
$40 year, stated that by 30 doing the bids
were made much lower. He said he didn't
care who had the contract, but 1t belonged to
the lowest bidder. He favored letting it for
three years because the bid was low and
reasonable. Later, perhaps, it could not be
obtained 20 advantsReously.
Mr.. States favored three years. contract
partly because the quarries became more and
more inaccessible and the cost of obtaining
the stone proportionately increases.
Mr.. Leigh broke In abruptly and said If
there were any that objected to the course of
the board of public works he would like to
hear them.
II suppose am limited at" said Major
1VuOs no otWbc0 su0 COou41btc0 uhu Ue0A
authorized to call for bids only for their own
information and that the competition hadluot
been open or fair.
Mr.. Reilly-Do You know anyone else
who wanted to bidi
Major Todd-The floor IL mine.
Mr.. Rsilly-But answer this one ques.
ton.
Major Todd shall do a. please. The
floor il mine.
He continued to say the bids were made for
one year andssthe city had no right to extend
the time to three years upon the one year
bids for better bids might DO obtained for
this period. It 10 the city's interest to get
stone::by contract, said he, and they should
be open to fair competition.
Mr.. Leigh-Najor Todd was present at all
Of our meetings and told me one day to get
bids. Why didn't he get them himself If he
knew where responsible ones could be OBJ
tainedl
Major Todd-It was not my business to get
bids for the committee. am not doing the
committee's work.
Mr.. Leigh-Fivs-six of the selectmen
were in favor of q three years. contract and
Major Todd was the only one dissatisfied.
The skirmish continued in this manner.
Finally the records Of the board of public
works' meetings during the contested period
were read and :ths committee 6nishsd their
deliberations, q statsd abovss IN executive
sspsion.