Evening journal., 1891-01-14

/
last year Lelion Collins's bid for the
Second district, north of Sixth and east
Of Market streets, showed an increase OF
$665 "a over last years contract price.
The bid OF Thomas Pagan for the Third
district, south OF Sixth, west OF Market.
was not increased. Last year It was in
creased several hundred dollars over 1888
and 1850. ard he did not have the hardi-
hood to increase it. He medeit up, how
( ever. in his bid for the Fourth district
north OF Sixth and west Of Market. His
increase In contract price over last year
was 81. .0SI55
As soon as these bids were read Mr.
Coyle arose hastily aud moved that fur
ther consideration Of the bids be post
poned for one week. His motion wa.
adopted Afterwards there was consid
cradle whispering among Dr. Shortldge,
James G. Van Trump and Hugh Nc
Connell.
The board net last evening as usual
and awarded the contracts as above
stated.
Ths Republicans held a caucus short
time ago, and as suspicious had been
aroused Il was thought that this meeting
was TO ind some way to settle the diff
Guilty and 70 decide to whom to give the
1 GtAAs. ACTS.
II IL alleged that when the contracts
were given to these bidders, the spaces
| for the amounts Of the bids were entirely
J blank and that these spaces were after
wards filed in by the ring to suit the
members Of iJ
When the bid with the firm name Of
| Jester & Mcdaniel as bondsmen was read
last evening, objection was inade 10 Il
| but this was overruled. as the president
said the contractor would probably FIX
that all right
| But few minutes was spent in de-
eidlng TO whom TO award the contract.
and the whele transaction was OF such
suspicious nature as to support the fore
going statements
Secretary Lee took the bids to CITY
Solicitor lyman few davs ago to make
( himself certain Of the legality Of the one
containing the names Of Jester 4 Nc.
| Daniel as h1udsmen Monday afternoon
Executive Officer Mcconnell cane 10 the
secretaIy's Office and demanded the bids.
saying that President Wales wanted
them, Mr. Lee told him that Mr. Lyman
had them. and Mcdonnell said he would
go up there and get them. He did
not see the solicitor, however,
aud yesterday morning he again came to
Mr.. Lee and demanded the bids, saying
that DR. Wales wanted them Mr.. Lee
said be could not give them to him, as
the city solicitor st'll held them McCon.
nell then said he would get them from Mr..
Lyman Mr. Lee told him to do so, bit
Mr Conne. WAS again unsuccessful He
gave as a reason why Dr. Wales wanted
the bids, was to LOOK over and compare
them
as Mcconnell had been twice unsuc
cessful IN attempting to get the bids. Mr
Lee went to Mr. Lyman Office and Sc
cured them.
As he went TO the office he saw McCon-
nell follow him on the other side of the
street aud wait for him az the corner.
Mcconnell waited here until Mr.. Lee
came out.
When the secretary had reached the
corner Mcdonnell came up to him and
demanded the bids. Mr. Lee refused 10
give then TO him, as he said he would
deliver them TO no one but President
Wales
He took them to Dr. Wales house, and
when girl came to the door he gave ber
the bids with instructions to give them
to the president
As soon as Mr. Lee left, Mcconnell
came up aud took the package from the
girl, carrying II away with him. This.
in itself, was a very suspicious eircum-
stance. as he at first declared that he
wanted the bids for Dr Wales,
Probable Deal.
It is asserted that a deal has been
made whereby Mcdonnell got these men
the contract for a large consideration
1t Is eaid that the matter will be called
TO the attention OF City Council and an
Investigation demanded.
Instances showing the rulings of the
star chamber are many. One OF them
wss the case Of colored man of the
Diamond State Iron Works He was
recommended By George W. Todd, super
intendent OF the Diamond State Iron
Company, one of the best and most
prominent citizens of Wilmington. he
also had personal letters from Influential
men. BE bid 81 $50 for the irst district.
Fred. Winchester, however. secured the
contract for 81, $50, although he had no
such influential recommendations
John + Johnson bid for the second dis
trict aud his price was ST. ESQ He had
the contract for two years under the
Democratic board and the Republican
board be gave the best satisfaction
l. Collins the other bidder for this dis
trict bid 81, l75 OF S4eJ more than John-
son lie however got the c)utraet
E e Cruublish also had a contract
before for One year aud gave the
utmost satisfaction dis bid was S3 200
Thomas Fagsn, the other bidder. bid
50, sos So or $808 35 more than Clum.
biish, yet be was awarded the contract.
So it is with all the districts, the same
state Of things being shown 10 all Of
them.
The bids last evening were read 10
blank none Of the sureties being read
When any member Of the board wished
to know the surety nc asked Mr. Lee,
not Mr. Coyle who was reading the bids,
which was very singular
Thomas Brennan and Hugh Ward. Jr.,
srs visiting friends in Germantown,
Pa