The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-10

Chairman Batchelder was recalled TO
to testify before the special investigating
committee of the City Council appointed
TO inquire into the workings of the city
property committee, at . o'clock this
afternoon, when the investigation was
continued.
In regard to the committee which it was
charged had been appointed TO purchase n
city yard and the subsequent changes
in the records, Mr.. Batchelder said that
no committee was ever appointed to pur-
chase land for city yard, that sub
committee was appointed to con-
suit with the committee on
finance, but it had no authority to buy
land that the change'in the records was
done by an order of the whole city property
committee. lie said that he knew of the
existence of city ordnance prohibiting
any city official from contracting for city
work, and he denied that the city auditor
had objected TO paying bills to city
officials.
lie said that the city solicitor gave. it as
his opinion that the city property com
mittee has authority To hire whoever it
desired. IL was on this authority that the
committee had hired an Inspector TO look
after the work on certain buildings.
Mr.. Batchelder said that the Fuller &
Warren Company had never been denied
"A hearing on school house heating. That
the company had been heard but had
never bid against the Smead & Norcross
Company for any work
Alderman Dyer asked why the work Of
the plastering of the Wickenden street
fire station had been delayed from last fall
until this spring. Mr.. Batchelder an
swered that the city property committee
had decided that it was not best TO have
the fire department machines stand out Of
doors i'm the winter.
Mr. Batchelder said that buildings now
i'm progress of construction in the city
would cost about s3OOOO0.
Mr. McCaughin moved that Chairman
McGuinness ask the city auditor for an
itemiZed statement of the bills nlid out
for work done by the city properly COM
mittee for the past two years. The motion
was adopted. The auditor was author
lied 60 employa clerk TO assist him in this
work.
Councilman Read of the City Property
Committee was next sworn. In regard TO
the allowance of extra money TO Mr.
Horton for the Candace street school he
said that when they examined the bids
they only found Mr. Horizons. This was
lower than had been expected. A week
later Mr. Horton found that he had left
out the iron work in his bid and would
not sign the contract unless he was al
lowed something extra for It, On the adj
vice Of the City Solicitor the chairman
WIS authorized 20 allow Mr.. Hor
ton one-half the price he asked for the
iron work-about S2J9. The committee
on city property voted unanimously TO
ada this sum TO Mr. Horizons original
contract This opinion OF the City Solici-
tC, was not In writing. lie said that it
had been stated TO him that the City
Solicitor had given the opinion that the
city committee had the right % give out
TO ANYBODY il saw fit under 500. He
never knew OF the City Auditors refusing
10 pay these bills. It was done by mem
hers Of the City Council. except where he
bill ovCrran The appropriation for the
an architect vas employed to superintend
the work Of building school houses His
firm had never received anything for the
supervision of buildings except 30. lie
denied that his firm had received 5000
for architect work or $500 for carpenter
work.