The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-03

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this opportunity to carefully mark every
step of its course before advancing.
In these days of inflated contracts no in.
dividual, or body OF men, not even our all
wise joint ommittee, can be too careful.
Let every member of the joint commit.
tee keep in view the outrageous i'm
position upon the taxpayers that is now be-
ing ventilated at Pottsvlle.
1t the water works are to be constru ted
let there be no Taylor business about them
When Contractor Taylor first bid on the
new county court. house his figures were
Sl79 600 Before the structure was com
pleled Mr.. Tayl figures ran up to $3.50,
900, the difference being coaked by that
greatest of imposition upon taxpayers
called extras"
Let the joint committee bear this case in
| mind at all times and for their own safety
as we'll as the interests of the taxpayers, do
nothing that will lead to such n disgrace
iul exposure.
The HERALD states now, as it has re-
peatedly stated, that as a matter of fact the
members are as far away IN their estimates
of the cost of constructing public water
works as Mr.. Cochran seems to be to them
from his standpoint.
The joint committee laughed when they
heard that Mr. A. B. Cochran said that the
water works could not be constructed for
less than $3.50, 600. But the committee
itself has been figuring on S82 600 as the
cost price, while it is said the responsible
bids vary in figures from 500. 900 to
SlO7 600.
By all means let the joint committee, if
it awards contract, or contracts, make
the award to responsible men who will he
within easy reach of the people of Sher-
sndosh in case the terms of contract, or
! contracts, are not complied with. If re-.
sponsible contractors can be found in or
near Schuylkill county we would advise
that they be given the preference to people
| in Washington, Baltimore, New York,
Chicago, or any other distant point even
though the price may be a few hundred d
dollars more. The difference may be
saved in expense to bring defsulting con-
tractors to time in the end.
In awarding contracts to town or county
people, if there be any such bidders, the
ioint committee will then promote and put
in practice what it so frequently breaches
home industry.
And should it award contracts let the
joint committee see that there is no loop
hole by which the contractor may resort 10
any Taylorisms. Let it insist upon an
itemized contract 80 that if there is any
increased expense the committee and
people will know just what the increase is
for; and if there is any decrease on the
contract figure the COMMITTEES and people
will know what rebate they are entitled TO-,
Another suggestion we would make is
that if it is at all feasible the joint
committee award the contract to one
man o. firm. To give the cont act in
piece meal may lead TO innumerable com.
plications. For instance the man who
might receive the contract for digging
trenches might, through some unforeseen
circumstance not be able to push his work
ahead rapidly enough to meet the 10
quirements of the contractor lay
ing the pipes. In such case
there would be repeated Jars and innumer-
able complaints TO the committee and Ooun.
ell, and consequently many delays in the
work. Moreover the borough will be
much more secure in having good bond
for the whole work from one man or firm.