The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-09-20
THAT PIPE BUSINESS.
All the Result Of Misunderstand-
ing-The Preliminary Pro-
ceedings Were
Regular.

"In one instance. at least. a very promi-
nent official called the Finance Boards
attention to the fact that contract for
pipe, some Of which was used to supply
the United States Express Conpany,s
stables, offices, ETC., was among the
claims hung up. AS long as the honesty
of that claim is matter of investigation,
it goes along with other disputed claims,
just the same
This remark was made by Finance
Commissioner Peterson to JERsEy CRY
NEWS reporter on Friday and was pab-
lished.
Chairman Somers and Commissioners
Dugan OF the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners feel greatly aggrieved
over this statement by the Finance Com
missioner, and this morning, bright aud
early, were going around explaining the
case. and backing up their assertions that
blunder haG been made by producing
all the records of official proceedings
which have any connection with the SUBJ
Ject. They feel that Commissioner
Peterson is not familiar with the facts IN
the case, and thus account Tor his making
the statement They narrate the exact
facts OF the case thus
at q meeting OF the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners, held April 20,
when the Board consisted Of Commits
sioners Somers, Dugau and Van Keuren,
the following resolution was unanimously
adopted
Resolved, That by and with the concurrence
of the Beard Of Finance the clerk Of this Board
be and is hereby authorized to advertise for the
purchase Of about 500 lengths Of six-inch, zoo
lengths of eight inch and so lengths of four
inch cast iron waite pipe.
On the sauna avanfr,r of a ,,,aof;,,er of
the Board Of Finance, a resolution was
adopted concurring In the resolution of
the Street and Water Commissioners,
authorizing the advertisement for the
1850 lengths Of water pipe. On April "A
Clerk German notified Clerk BoGton OF
the concurrence in the resolution. May |
the advertisement for the furnishing of
the pipe was properly inserted In all of the
official papers. May II. at meeting OF
the Board OF Street and Water Commits
sioners, five proposals for the furnishing
of the pipe We're received.
THE PROPOSALS.
One was from the McNeal Pipe and
Foundry Company, with certified check
for 81. 800. Their proposal was S26 20 per
gross ton of 2, $40 pounds of six inch pine;
eight inch pipe, S26 40; four inch pipe,
SIG 20.
The next proposal was from the Warren
Foundry and Machine Company. six inch
pipe. 1920 per gross ton; eight inch pipe.
$3.50; four inch, S2S A certified check
for 1880 accompanied this proposal.
NJ. J. Drummond's bid was:-Six inch
pipe. SIG. so: eight inch. s26.50; four inch.
$27 50. John Fox,s proposal was:--Six
inch pipe. $3.50; eight inch, $26 50; four
inch. $26. So The lass bid was that of r.
%. Wood g Co., of Philadelphia Their
bid was:-SIx inch, so ~; eight inch.
sec. 40; four inch, SGT. 80. A certified check
for 81, 500 as security accompanied this
proposal.
The firm of r. D. Wood g. Co. is an old
established reliable firm, and at the
meeting their bid was received and the
following resolution was unanimously
adopted
Resold, That by and with the concurrence OF
the Board OF Finance, the contract for the fur
nishing and delivering 500 lengths Of 6-inch, 20c
lengths Of S-inch. and so lengths of 4-inch cast
iron water pipe be and is hereby awarded 10 r.
ID. Wood & Co. at the prices named in their
proposal, viz For 6-inch pipe, S2G.40 per gross
ton; for 8-inch. S26.40; for 4-inch. $500; that
being the lowest bid received; and that the
Corporation Attorney be and is hereby request
ed to pre- pare and have executed the necessary
contract for the same.
At about this time a slight hitch oc
CURED between the two Boards and on
the Wednesday following, Chairman
Somers, In presence of Chief Engineer
Ruggles, telephoned from the Office of
the Board OF Street and Water Commits
sioners to tine Board of Finance and asked
if the resolution awarding the contract to
r.. ID. Wood & Co., had been eoncurred in
by the Finance Board. Some one, pre-
sumed to be Clerk German, of the latter
Board, replied that the resolution had
been eoncurred in
The pipe was needed at the time aud
Chief Ruggles. acting under instructions
from Commissioner Somers, directed
Wood & Co. to forward part OF the pipe
contracted for. Within short time ali the
pipe was delivered in Jersey City and
then the alarming discovery was made
that the resolution awarding to r. ID.
Wood 81 Co. the contract had not been
concurred in.
Clerk German maintains that he did not
give the Information which has caused
the present trouble and thus far it has
been impossible to learn who it was that
assumed such a responsibility. In all
other respects the entire transaction was
regular, as has been shown. The prices
were fairly low. and the firm responsible.
The aggrieved Commissioners claim that
If the Finance Commissioners had con-
CURED in the resolution at the time the
present trouble would have been averted
There is nothing crooked, disrepntabIe OF
discreditable in the proceeding and Com
missioners Somers and Dngan claim that
their actions were perfectly clear and
open and above b0ad The Board OF
Street and Water Commissioners, they
say, will stand by their records in every
detail.