St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-23
A High Bidder Given the Con-
tract on the Face Of
the Returns.
Bolan's Attorney and Robert
Seeger Explain and Ar
que the Points.
Assemblymen Refer the Mat
ter to Gain Time--Gen-
eral Business.

him the contract. The assemblymen
handled the matter with gloves. and
after considerable discussion referred
the matter to the assembly committee
on gas with instructions to confer
with the board committee OH gas.
The question came up in its order,
and on the suggestion of Mr.. Lightner,
only the bids of Mr.. Seeger and George
Bolan were read by the clerk for con-
Sideration. After thes were read, Mr..
Doran said he understood the parties
were present to be heard, and he moved
that each side be granted the floor. e.
ID. OBren was present as attorney for
Mr.. Bolan. He said that the only ques-
ton in the case was, shall the contract
be let to the lowest responsible bidder?
Both parties were thoroughly RESPONSE
BILE. He analysed both propositions,
showing that, looked at in any light, Mr..
Bolan'S bid is very much the lower. By
awarding the contract to him instead of
to Seeger, the city would save nearly
$4,000. The only possible excuse for
giving it to Seeger was the assertion
that he proposed to do some extra work,
such as putting signs OH corner lamps.
L his extra work was not included in
the specifications nDon which the bids
were based; hence if Mr.. Seeger is
awarded the contract. it will be through
grossly unfair advantage given
him. The law requires that the
contract shall be given to the
lowest bidder, but this scheme would de-
feat the ends Of the law. Bidders can
not be expected to enter into contests
long after they learn that some one is
likely to be given the contract upon
features in his bid which the others
were excluded from bidding upon. Mr..
O'Brien said that Mr.. B0lan'S type
writer had made one blunder in his
proposition. which was making ~
candle power" out Of what should
have been ''Seventeen-candle power"
This was clerical error, the correction
of which would work prejudice to Mr..
Seeger'3 case, since, if it had said ''Sev-
enteen-candle power" or even six
teen" Mr.. Bolan's bid would be $4,000
lower than Seeger'S. The whole object
of the law was to enable the city to let
its contracts to the lowest bidders with
out working prejudice to the interests
OF other bidders. The speaker said that
MIR. Bolan would enter no complaint If
the council found it advisable to read
vertise for bids.
Seegers Plea.
Mr.. Seeger spoke in his own behalf.
He urged three points. He said that
Mr.. Bolan came i'll at the twelfth hour;
bvt he couldn't find enough material in
this for much talk; so he passed to the
next point, which was that Bolan had
omitted to state in his bid when he
would begin work. The force of this
point was difficult to see, since the
specifications require that the work
shall begin on certain date. The third
point was that Mi. BOlan knew nothing
about this business. and was
untitled to carry out the con-
tract. AS an evidence that he
knows nothing about the business Mr..
Seeger called attention to the fact that
Bolan had proposed to furnish 47-candle
power lamps. he had not merely in
serted forty-seven in figures, but also
wrote out the words ''forty-seven." He
said that he was perfectly willing that
Mr.. BOlan, should have the contract
upon his bid. for it would be utterly
impossible for him to furnish 47-candle
power lamps. 1t would be Unjust to me
to permit HIM to amend his bid and
make it '17-candle power"
1t is not possible for any one to sec
how it would be unjuS to Mr.. Seeger to
permit Bolan to correct the clerical
error. If it were corrected he would
still be, as said by Mr.. O'Brien, $4,000
below Seeger. Three years ago Nh
Seeger was about the highest
bidder for this work. His
frin In l.
and worked through the council an Or
der cancelihg all bids, and readvertis-
ing for new bids. The second time
action the city saved nearly So a lamp a
year. The lowest bid of the first lot
opened was SIT, and Mr.. Seeger took the
contract at $l4.40 year per lamp.
1t the common council thinks more of
the interests of the city than it does OF
Seeger'S interests, it Will either award
the contracts to Bolan or cancel all bids
and readvertise. The specifications in
these matters always reserve to the city
the right to reject all bids and readver-
tise. and the common council has the
charter right to do this.
Fifth ward Railway.
There was before the assembly an
ordinance, said to have been drawn by
the Fifth Ward Transfer company,
granting to that company an exclusive
thlrty-f0otStrip on the West side levee
from Annapolis street to State street,
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. strip. not eX-
elusive, along tine levee from State
street to Hyde street; also granting to
foot strip along the river shore
on this side. from the foot of Market
street to the pier of the Wa.
basha street bridge. The uraft pro
vides that the railway line shall be
completed during 1898. The ordinance
was referred to the committee on streets
without discussion.
Mr.. DOran and Aid. Franklin fought
the former ordinance of this company.
and some think they will fight this one
1t is stated on the side that the transfer
company proposed to build a bridge
across the river from Hyde street tc
some point Oh this side. 1t is also said
that the company desires to build 9
double track from the Kansas CITY rail
road bridge to Eva street; but thi.
! privilege was not inserted in the ordi-
nance.
Action Oh Routine Matters.
The old fight over the widening O.
| Seventh street, from Rosabel to Broad
way, bids fair to break out anew. |.
October the board of public works re
ported adversely upon preliminar,
order of the council for the improve
ment upon the ground that it was moi
petitioned for by interested propert,
holders. There was before the assembly
last evening the petition of B. Simon
j. H. Schumacher, Andrew Schoch an(
two other interested property holders
and new preliminary order to thu
board of public works was passed.
The Aid. Warren ordinance repealin!
the ''T'' rail ordinance was adopted
Messrs. DAILY and Van Slyke voting il
| the negative.
The assembly then passed, by tn,
same vote, its own ordinance grantin!
permission to the city railway to la,
"i'' rails on all streets, the Universit,
avenue line being excepted from tn,
provisions. The ordinance require.
that the company must pave between
its tracks and between the doubl
tracks with granite blocks.
The AID. Warren ordinance regulat
ing the speed OF street cars came UP
! and Mr.. Reardon moved that the spec,