The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-24

The Investigation shows that the com
/ rnittee ON Grounds and Buildings gave an
! of these bids the closest attention, anu
! the most laboriOus consideration anu 'h''
! the matter was referred TO a sup-C"ih-
| mitN.e consisting Of Messrs. GURUS Lips
II. l.. Carter and Tanner, when com
mittee reported after four sessloHs' VI
many hours that the contract LOT com
binafion light fixtures should be gwen
ia lance n. phillips or John Bowers, al
SD az for the former. and $ll lOl.O Tor lle
latter. and that the contract Tor metal
ofiica furniture should be given 10 the
Everett Waddey Company or II. NJ
Starke at the prices respectively OF go
4O714 and 81. 1881; and that the contract
for wood furniture should be gwen 10
Messrs Savage & Holms at the price
of $15,74l.2j.
your committee deem it proper TO say
that the testimony as given Justilles
them In stating that the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings seem to have given
an attention and consideration TO the
matters before them more than usually
DISPLAYED by committees having in charge
such matters, for not only were these
matters examined into as above stated,
by the members Of the subcommittee,
but three others members of the com
mittee seem 10 have attended each OF the
sessions above referred 10. and earnestly
endeavoreI 20 form the best judgment as
to the bids submitted to them. And your
committee deem IT also proper 10 call the
attention of the council to the fact that
the bidders did not simply differ in the
amount OF their bids but also submitted
different designs of the articles upon
which they hid. and that. therefore, the
committee I'm reaching IT'S decision had
not only 10 say as 10 which was the
lowest bidder ia amount, but also TO eN-
ercise their own judgment in determining
which was the most desirable work 10 be
put in the City Ha..
The Committee on Grounds and Build
ines awarded the contracts as follows:
For combination light fixtures TO Jas.
r.. Phillips for sl24'Z, being 81 5000 more
than tie bid OF John Bowers.
For metz lie office furniture, 90 the
Everett Waddey Company, al $lS.401A
being SS73.U more than the bid Of Ii. NJ
Starltc.
The Everett Wadaey Company proposed
10 furnish fixtures made by the Office
Specially Company and II. NJ. Starke
those made by the Fcntm Metallic Com
panv. ON the subject OF the relative
merits of the light fixtures represented
i'm the competition. no testimony was in
troduce8 aside from that Of some of the
excep.-fhat Of the City Engineer, who
was decidedly in favor Of accepting Mr.
Bowers bid. In the matter OF the metal
lie fixtures. the testimony other than
mar of the members Of the Grounds and
buildings Committee, was quite conflict
ing. the city Engineer preferring the Fen
ton Companys goods, and MIR Bates
the Assistant Engineer, ana MT Ander-
son. the expert. representing the clerk OF
the chancery court, both decidedly faV-
oring the ONCE Specially Company
goods. TO which the Contract was award
ed.
Your committee desires simply 10 state
these facts, without expressing an opinion
as 20 the correctness Of the decision OF
the Committee on GROUNDS and Buildings,
as they feel that that committee had
clearly the right 20 exercise their dis,
erection. and be guided by their Individual
opinions in the matter.
In this connection. however. and with
out intending 10 reflect upon the choice
OF the Grounds and Buildings Committee
In these contracts. your COMMITTEES feels