Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-29
7. c. NICKLIN RESIGNS
New WhatcOm'S Great 0bjeCtOr Va
Gates His Seat in a Huff
A. E. JONES TO FILL THE VOID
Dock Street Contract Re-Let to Bell &
McKaskill-Blue Canyon Fran
chise Considered

The adjourned meeting of the New
Whatcom city council was called to
order at 3 o'clock yesterday after
noon, with Mayor Miller in the chair
and all the members present.
Latta moved TO take the motion from
the table referring to the Dock street
improvement.
Nicklin: Is the affidavit of publica-
ton before the council?
Clerk: No, but the paper containing
the publication is.
Nicklin: We have no authority to
deal with this matter without further
bids. The day advertised on which
the bids would be opened and acted
upon has passed. We have already
had sufficient trouble in collecting
taxes and should move cautiously.
Latta's motion carried, Nicklin and
Blomquist voting in the negative.
Cooper moved the putting of the pre-
vious question, TO the effect that the
DluS Oh BEL ~ MckaSklll be accented,
Nicklin addressed the council, but
was called to order by the mayor, who
ruled the question as not debatable. He
then asked if the motion included
awarding the contract, and was in
formed that it did not. The motion
was then put and prevailed.
Ldkens: | wish to have the opinion
of the city attorney as to whether all the
requirements Of the law have been
piled with, and il accepting the bids
before us will invalidate the collection
assessments.
Mayor Miller: Before the city attor-
ney gives his opinion desire to change
my ruling of last meeting. The con.
tract can now be let to the lowest and
best bidder. The contract can now be
awarded. | ruled otherwise at the last
meeting in order to look up the law on
the subject.
Attorney Farnham: There IL snothinp
to prevent the accepting of the bids
and awarding the contract at this meet
ing without affecting any legal ques.
tions in the future as against the inter-
ests of the city.
The question calling for the previous
question was then carried, Blomuuist
and Nicklin voting no.
The motion was then put awarding
the contract to Bell d McKaskill, the
mayor ruling the question to be not
debatable.
Nicklin: If you put the gag law on
members Of this council, in spending
the money Of the people, then / offer
my resignation and you can fill my
place by someone else.
The mayor granted time for five
minute speeches.
Nicklin: The bid of Bell q McKas-
Kill is such as to prevent the collection
OF assessments on this improvement
The proceedings are all irregular.
Latta; All of this wrangling doesn't
amount to single thing We have
pursued the same plan as in every other
street improvement. The difficulties
referred to by Mr.. Nicklin are always
arranged for in the terms of the con.
tract.
The motion awarding the contract
was carried.
Cooper moved that the city attorney
prepare the contract and proper papers
in time to present at the next meeting
of the council. Carried.
Jenkins moved that the plans and
specifications, details and estimates of
Sanitary Engineer Miller be accepted
and adopted by the council. The mo-
ton was the occasion of an excited dis.
cussion, during which Mr.. Miller was
called and explained that he had been
promised $500 for supervising and en-
gineering the construction of the sever
work in the Champion street tunnel,
and that the plans, ETC., did not in
volve any further appropriation.
Nicklin moved an amendment that a
written contract to that effect be drawn.
Latta explained that the point was
covered in Ia resolution previously
passed by the council. The amend
ment lost, after which Nicklin moved
a second amendment, which was also