The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-15
NO BONDSMEN FOR BoUTON.

Inc City hail COMMISSIONERS dG IueIf
meeting this morning resolved to read
vertise for bids for the construction of
the new City Hall. The plans and
specifications as amended by
Architect Broome, SO as to bring
the cost within the appropriation,
were adopted. The alteration in the
plans merely consists in cutting down the
wings of the building from 81 feet to 20
feet. by which it is claimed 100000 will be
saved. The meeting was one of the
Iiveliest the commissioners have held,
and much of its life was contributed
by ex-Finance Commissioner Joseph
Warren, who with James Roche was
present as bondsman for C. A.
Bouton & Co. Corporation Counsel Ed
wards stirred matters up by announcing,
Immediately after roll-calI, that since the
last meeting of the Board he had seen
nothing of Mr.. G. A. Bouton. who had
been awarded the contract for the build
ing of the new City Hall. Neither had
be seen anything of Mr.. Bouton's bonds
men until today.
Yesterday he sent a letter to Mr.. Roche
and Mr.. Warren, which he proceeded to
read. The letter, after setting forth the
failure of Mr.. Bouton to sign the con-
tract. said that, by the terms of their
agreements was provided thatin case the
contractors should lefuse to execute the
contracts, the bondsmen should pay any
amount which the city might be obliged
to pay any higher bidder. A painful
silence followed the reading of this let
ter, which was broken by NJ. Pearson,
who aSkad if fha cHttiDU nf bn wi
and changing the plans and specifca-
lions would affect the responsibility of
the bondsmen.
MR.. WARREN INDIGNANT.
Mr.. Edwards replied that it would
make 10 difference whatever. The speci-
fcatiops clearly gave the Board the right
to reduce or increase the plans. In this
case he thought the alterations were to
the advantage of the bondsmen, as they
relieved them OF SO much OF their respon-
sibility. Mr. Pearson said that he was
wiling to relieve the bondsmen and re.
advertise for bids. Mr.. Burke was will
ing to DO the same and go was MIR, Datz
This magnanimity was not appreciated
by Mr. Warren, who, rising TO his feet,
declared that he did not feel any re-
spohsibility at all in the matter. as it
would be clearly illegal for the Board TO
award the contracts either to the lowest
or the next lowest bidder since the plans
had been altered. He emphatically de-
ClhI0u LlaG LQe bOarQ QdQ no legal right
to cut down the plans.
II have been informed by one of the
members OF this Board" exclaimed Mr..
Warren, eXcitedly, that Bouton was not
1n this. Ii Bouton is not in 1t, who is?
am deeply interested in the building of
new City Hall. both as citizen and
taxpayer, and want to see it built by
contractor who has the confidence of the
people and not by set of jobbers"
Mr.. Edwards tried to tell Mr., Warren
that the action of the Board in altering
the plans was strictly legal, but Mr..
Waraen would not listen.
81 repeat" he exclaimed, "without
fear of contradiction. that one Of the
commissioners here told me that Bouuon
was not in it. know Mr.. Bouton to be
good con tractor, but If he is not in this
contract want to know who is"
Mr.. Datz said that the only Jason
Bouton had been awarded the contract
was the excellent bondsmen which he
produced. The commissioners did not
know him at all, but they did know his
bondsmen to be men of responsibility
and for that reason they had awarded
him the contract. The only thing that
the Board wanted, Mr.. Datz continued,
was TO have the City Hall built in a
manner which would be to the best in
terest of the city.
INVITATIONS OF FRAUD.
Mr.. Warren reiterated the statement
about what one of the Commissioners
had told him and plainly intimated that
there was fraud some where on the con-
tract. This led Mr.. Edwards to remark
contract the bondsman were in
terested it it. This started Mr.
Warren on a lengthy speech, in which
he demanded what right the Board had
to alter the plans. aud besougnt the
Board to act in the best interests Of the
t.irV- When he h pi0rn6 ho L.,
hat and coat, and, bidding the gentlemen
goodbye, started for the door, when MIR.
Edwards said:-
Just wait moment Mr.. Warren. We
had bid here backed by Messrs. Warren
aud Roche. We found that the building
could not be put up within the appropria.
tion and 80 we altered the plans, as we
had perfect right TO do under the speci-
fcations." and then MIR. Edwards read
the specifications which proved his asser-
tion. a.
Mr.. Warren still insisted that the
Board could not change the plans legally,
whereupon Mr.. Edwards remarked that
that was we'll enough for the men who
We're trying to get out of their RESPONSE
bility
"1ake that back; take that backp' ex-
claimed Mr.. Warren, II am not trying to
get out OF any responsibility. Whatever
have agreed to do. Will do"
Mr.. WARREN WITHDRAws
Mr. EdWards kept perfectly cool and
succeeded in calming Mr.. Warren. and
went on to say that the Board, finding
that they would save the city several
thousand dollars by altering the plans
cut down the wings. Mr.. Warren had
agreed to become bondsman, and he, as
Corporation Counsel. would never advise
the Commissioners to release Mr.. Warren
upon the theory that they had done
wrong in altering the plans; but upon the
theory that Mr.. Warren had been i'm
posed upon, as the Commissioners had
ben, they might be willing to release
MIN.
Mr.. Warren asked Mr.. Edwards il he.
as corporation Counsel, whea asked
privately aud not publicly, If it was
wrong TO alter the plans. would not say
yea.
In reply, Mr.. Edwards read specifica-
tions showing how the Board had author
fty to alter the plans.
Mr.. Warren still maintained that they
have no such right and left the room
Mr. Roche had nothing TO saw and the
resolution to readvertise was adopted
This course the Corporation Counsel says
does not relieve Messrs. Warren
and Roche. and a suit may be in
Bututed TO compel them to fulfill the
conditions of their agreement. Each
Commissioner denied that he had told