The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-27
CITY HALL CONTRACTS.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
HAS BEGUN ITS WORK.
They Held q Meeting Last Evcning-CoI-
oneI Cutshaw Makes . Statement.
Some witnesses Absent.

AT a meeting OF the special committee
appointed to investigate the recent City
Hall contracts. held in the Council Cham
Der Last evening at 8 o'clock, the follow
Ing members Of the committee were pres
ent: Messrs. Mann (chairman). Allen.
Vaughan, Murphy. Guigon. White, Gum,
and Reeve. Also City Engineer Cutshaw'
City Attorney c. V. Meredith, X. NJ
Taylor, chairman OF the Grounds and
Buildings Committee; Messrs. Epps, Seay,
Carter, Noble, Mountcastle and rCrpin,
OF the Grounds and Buildings Committee.
and Messrs. Preston Belvin and Everett
Waddey. two Of the bidders for the re-
cent City Hall contracts.
G. b. Saunders, who was appointed
yesterday by the subcommittee TO record
the proceedings Of the committee, acted
as stenographer.
Mr. White moved that the original adj
vertisements for bids be read, so as to
give the committee some idea OF what
specifications were named. This was car
ried, and the advertisements were read
by Mr.. Bates
In consequence of the absence OF Mr.. G.
Werner, who was detained at home by
sickness, Mr.. Guigon stated that he saw
at the meeting. as he thought it would
be best for the committee to ask the
former a number Of questions before any
statement from Mr.. Belvin in regard 10
the contracts would be of any assistance
in the investigation. BY request OF Mt.
Belvin, he was accordingly excused for
the evening.
Mr.. Murphy then moved that the origi-
mai bids, before they had been modified,
be severally read before the committee,
so as to give them some basis TO start
on.
After reading the original resolution
IN reference to appointing an inyestiga-
ting committee. as passed by the Council
and concurred in by the Board Of Alder
men. was read, Mr.. GuigOn stated that
he thought It best for the City Attorney
10 give the committee the benefit Of his
advice i'm this investigation. He put
this in the form Of motion, which was
carried, as also was the motion as made
by Mr.. Murphy.
A lively discussion then arose @et|een
Mr. Murphy and Mr.. Guigon as 20 what
plan Of action the committee had best
begin with the latter holding that the
committee was virtually in the dark as
TO the situation, and that an explanatory
statement from the City Engineer would
serve TO give them a basis for action,
while Mr.. Murphy was opposed to this,
advocating the plan Of having the differ
ent bids read and compared as to prices
and then have the City Engineer offer
some explanation why the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings decided as they
did in the awarding OF the contracts.
The City Attorney suggested that the
different bids be compared, since there
were three different articles on which
contracts were awarded.
1t was shown by the figures, as read
by Mr.. Bates, that Mr.. Phillips was the
lowest original bidder for fixtures, ac-
cording to specifications and schedule, and
that Savage q HOlms were the lowest
original bidders, according TO specitica-
lions. for the wood work, and that II. NJ.
Starke was the lowest original bidder.
according 10 Specifications and schedule
for the metallic presses, &c, Mr. Starke's
bid being SIS. 1881. The several bids, how
ever, underwent a number Of modifca-
lions. according to a variety Of conditions
in reference to the number of special
additions, conveniences, &c, &c.
Colonel Cutshaw was then called upon
to make a statement showing why the
lowest bidders in the case OF metallic
presses and electric fixtures were not
awarded the contracts.
lie stated that the bids were very In
tricate, as the bidders were allowed 10
make their offers partially for wood work
and partially for metal or all of each.
After the various bids had been made out
according TO numerous conditions as 10
ornamentation, quality Of goods, &c, they
were referred TO a subcommittee, who,
together with the City Engineer, had
gone over each one separately. The ques-
ton to be decided was what was the
best line OF goods for that particular
propose? When the various designs were
gone over and several notifications made.
Mr.. Bowers bid was lower than that Of
Mr.. Phillips.
The subcommittee referred the matter
back TO the general committee. A COM
mittee consisting OF Messrs. Epps Cur
It's and Mountcastle. went North 10 ex-
anime the various styles Of files used,
and were in favor Of metallic rather than
wooden files Finally the subcommittee
made a close examination ,of all the bids.
with the assistance of the City Engineer.
They recommended TO the general COM
mittee 10 award the contracts TO either
Savage & Holms or Preston Belyin for
furniture; Everett Waddey or II. NJ.
Starke for metallic presses; John Bowers
or j. T.. Phillips for electric fixtures. The
City Engineer conferred with the COM
mittee. and stated that I'm his opinion
lntle Was lldCntdlig no AiiiNiNhNN W
tween the higher and the lower bids;
that Everett Waddey's bid was about
$500 more than II. NJ. Starke's and that
J. T.. Phillips bid was considerably more
than Josn Bowers, yet the articles were
Of little or no difference as TO value. 5ev-
eral of the committee. stated the Engi-
neer. differed with him. and held that
Everett Waddeys were a better line or
goods. II saw no reason why the gen
tlemen couldn't differ with me If they
saw fit" said Colonel Cutshaw. but so
far as / could see, Mr.. Starke's bid filled
the Specifications as well as Mr.. Nad-
dey's."
The City Engineer then stated that II
the committee wished further explana-
ton ne thought il no more than matter
Of courtesy to the Committee on GROUNDS
and Buildings TO ask those gentlemen 10
be present and speak for themselves.
Mr.. Guigon then offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopt
ed:
Whereas. It appears that the Commit
tee on Grounds and Buildings and the
other persons invited TO be present and
take part in the Investigations OF the
committee have not received formal
notice of this committees action. There
fore be IL
''Resolved. That the sergeant-at-arms
be directed 10 serve on the Grounds and
Buildings Committee and on each OF the
persons and firms named in resolution No.
g. passed at the last meeting of this com
mittee, a copy Of said resolution"
In