The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-23
THE BID WAS TOO LATE.
THE HOLLY WATER WORKS PRO
POSAL ELECTED.

of the Holly Bid-Tls Statements
Before the Councu-Tne Holly Com,
pany WIN Not Bid again.
Bidders for public work in Savannah wi
have to get their bids in on time hereafter
That is the substance of the city council
decision yesterday afternoon in refusing
confirm the action Of the water committe
in awarding the contract for the pumps an
boilers for the new water works to II
Holly COMPANY Of Lockport, y. Y, becaus
the company's representative put in his BIZ
thirty-five minues late.
The discussion Of the time feature Of III
contract on the streets and in the MORNING
News for the past few days attracted to thi
meeting many people, who we're anxious t-
see what the city council would Do.
There were but seven members Of the
board present, Aldermen Harris, Carson,
Mills. Meldrim and Mcclure beng absent
The report Of the water committee recoh m
mending the acceptance and CONTINUATION!
of the bid OF the Holly company was reau
b BY Clerk Rebarer. Then came the protests
of John Rourke q Son and the W oFtnlns-
ton company. A resolution was oIeIea oy
Chairman Cam Of the water committees
that Mayor McDonouGh be authorlZe1 10
sign the contract and work proceed under
its prUyIsiJls
AN INQUIRY OF THE WATER COMMITTEE.
Alderman Bailey inquired Of Alderman
Cam whether the statement published III
the MORNING NEWS Tuesday to the effect
that the Holly conpaly's bid was thirty
five minutes late was correct.
The chairman of the water committee re-
piled that the statement was correct.
Alderman Bailey said he wantedi II under
stood that be didn't care in anyway TO res
tard the work Of the water committee, but.
In view Of the fact, that 1t was acknowl-
edged that the bid was late thirty-tve mln-
utes he was opposed TO the acceptance lie
offered a substitute 10 reject all bids and
advertise for new bids.
Alderman Haines seconded the motion.
Alderman Cam asked what reasons the
alderman had for offering the substitute.
Alderman Bailey replied that in the first
place il was very bad form to have ac-
cepted bid after the advertised time, and
in the second place 1t Is setting a bad pre-
cedent He reminded council that Port
warden Bakers application for reelection
had been rejected because he didn't get 1t in
on time.
Alderman Cam replied that what he
wanted 20 find out was whether there was
any other reason for the objection except
the technicality about time. win the best
interests of the city, be asked, be subserved
by the rejection!
A BAD PRECEDENT TO ESTABLISH.
Alderman Haines said he had no doubt
that the city's interest would be subserved
by the acceptance Of the Holly bid, but it IS
setting dangerous precedent to receive a
bid for public work after the time specified
In the advertisement
Alderman Cam said it was true the
Holly bid was thirty-tive minutes late, but
the water committee had asked the opinion
OF the city attorney before taking action.
After being Informed that the committee
had the right to receive the bid, he as chair
man made a statement in the presence Of
the other bidders t1at the Holly bid
was thirty-five minutes late. The only thing
said was by the representative of the
Worthington company, who remarked:
"Mr. Chairman, / supposed your commit
tee has satisfied itself as to the legality of
its action"
Alderman Cam also stated that Mr..
Lneen, representing the Holly company,
had stated to the committee that he was
under the impression that the bids were
controlled by standard time. He added that
he did not consider the objections put for
ward as valid. II the council were to refuse
to confirm the action of its committees
these bodies would be Of little use, except
to cut envelopes and do the figuring on con-
tracts.
THE CITY ATTORNEYS OPINION.
Alderman O'Brien asked for an opinion
from City Attorney Adams Mr.. Adams
advised that the fact that the bid was sent
IN after the time specified i'll the notice fur
nished no legal obstacle to its consideration,
and that council in determining las it had
the right to do whether the action OF the
committee should be confirmed, could give
the fact such weight as it might see fit to
give 1t, but there was no legal difficulty III
the way OF council, as there was none in the
way Of the committee, on account Of the
delay
Mr.. Lineen was allowed to make state
ment in behalf of the Holly bid. He reiter-
ated his statement as to his understanding
OF the time which was published in the
MORNING News several days ago. He said
the protests originated from disappointed
parties who ere not used TO securing such
lettings.
T. j. OConnor. ESQ.,, on behalf Of the
protesting bidders, replied to Mr.. Lineen.
He said 1t was not fair to the other bidders
to have received the Holly bid. Mr..
LINEN had made mistake aud ought
to suffer for it. While the action of the
committee might be legal, it was setting a
dangerous precedent. Mr.. O'Connor called
candidate for assistant chief of police and
also as Alderman Bailey had remarked q
candidate for port-warden, had been ruled
out because they did not get their applica-
tions in at the advertised time.
MR.. LINENS OFFER.
Mr. Lineen made another statement, that
he was willing to give the boiler contract 10
any Savannah concern if it would do the
work at the same price agreed upon by the
Holly company.
Mr.. Rourke made statement to the
council as to the style of boilers he had bid
on. They were to be built on the marine
plan, given the marine test and guaranteed
to evapOrate ten pounds OF water to one
pound of coal.
confirmation. He said unless it could be
shown that the Holly company had gained
an advantage over the other bidders by
being late, be couldn't see where there was
any valid objection to the confirmation.
The yeas and nays were called for on the
resolution to readvertise, and resulted as
follows:
YEAs-Aldermen Bailey, Harmon, Reid,
Haines and O'Brien.
NAYs-Aldermen Cam and Myers.
As soon as the vote was announced by
the mayor, Mr. Linesn asked for the return
of his check and proposals. The latter were
given him. but the check being in the city
treasurer's vault, could not be secured, it
being after z o'clock when the council de-
cided the matter. He requested Clerk
Rebarer to forward the check by mail.
WILL NOT BID AGAIN.
To a MORNING NEWS reporter Mr.. Lineen