The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-19
CITY HALL CONTRACTS.
THE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS COM
MITTEE HAVE MUCH TO SAY
In Explanation Of Their Former Action In
Awarding tho Contracts for tho Fur
niturc-Othcr Business.

Noble and Turpin.
While the minutes of the last meeting
were read. where the contracts for the
gas fixtures and furniture for the new
City Hall were awarded, Mr.. Epps an
nounced that he had voted in favor of
awarding the contracts of the furniture
to Mr.. Preston Belvin in preference to
Messrs. Savage & fioms, and the record
was changed accordingly.
Mr.. Epps read the report of the last
meeting, when the contracts were award
ed as published in The Times. The ;e-
port closed with the following: Messrs.
Epps Noble, Seay, Mountcastle and Car
ter voted the bids to the successful men.
He said the article made It appear in
the eyes OF the public that the five mem
bers named had combined to give out the
contracts while Mr.. Seay voted for one
successful bidder. Mr.. Epps for two and
Messrs. Carter. Noble, and Turpin for ali
three. 1t would look to the public Is
If something crooked had been done. He
wanted to be quoted right, and vas
willing TO take an oath then and there
that he voted for what ne thought TO be
right and for the best interests OF the city.
He voted for the three highest men. and
was willing to stand by his action.
Mr.. Carter stated that he had no apology
TO make to anybody for his conduct and
vote, and he was only responsible to his
constituents. There had been great
cry raised in the daily papers, and the
reason for II seemed TO have been the
heinous offense that the majority Of the
committee had differed with the City
EnPineer
The criticism OF the press had been
harsh. TO say the least: il had been UNI
70 bo
cords and meetings 10 keep themselves
posted The day when he could not ex-
ercise his judgment withouts being
whipped by the public press that day
was he willing to be relegated to the
bounds OF obscurity.
Mr.. Mountcastle said he had no apollo
gy to make. He had the right to his
opinion. and expected to exercise it and
not to move one peg. He voted con-
scientiously for what he thought to be
right.
Mr. Noble then offered the following.
which was adopted
Whereas some of the papers Of the
city of Richmond have seen fit to CEN
sure this committee; that we have been
assailed and unjustly; that we request
them. and anyone who has the welfare
/ of the city at heart TO meet and investi-
! gate, that the fault, II any. may be
! placed where ii properly belongs We
have no friends to reward or enemies to
| punish
Mr. Carter spoke against the resolu-
ton Thinking that digniied silence was
preferable. The papers had the last
say, anyhow. and should be treated ex-
actly as they had treated the committee
namely, with contempt
Mr.. Noble wanted to have an investi-
ing" he said you won't find anyone
to invade your room. They would find
that too many things would have to be
investigated and they would prefer to
| bury them"
| Mr. Taylor regretted the absence OF
| Colonel Cutshaw. and stated that for the
first time I'm his life he had been called
a pIunderer. AS long as he held office
4 and was member Of that committee he
would vote for what he thought to be
| right He would vote with Colonel Cut
shaw when he thought him TO be right,
but nothing would move him when he
thought the Engineer to be wrong. If
they had made many errors. how many
errors had Colonel Cutshaw made In
putting up the building? If he was in
fallible. and If he was to rule the COM
mittee. the sooner the members got out
the better II would be He thought the
bids for gas fixtures should have never
been modified, then Phillips would have
been 800 lower than Bowers. and re-
ceiVed the contract without any trouble.
Never before had any charge been
brought against him. and IT was only
done at this time because he differed with
Colonel Cutshaw. whose preference was
Cassidy. Son & Co.. while their bid was
5000 higher than that Of Mr.. Phillips.
h,1 40 a I
he wished to appeal to them to stand
firm. He would resign first or lose his
right arm before he would take back
step. Some of the best men had been
driven out of the ouncil for they could
not stand the vilifications. He did not
think that at the next election any OF
the old members would be willing 10 be
candidates.
Bids were opened for the furnishing OF
ice to the various public buildings during
the coming summer.
Bids were submitted by Mr.. }. Daly
Home Ice Company. Mrs. Jane hlhg'
Transparent Ice Company. Richmond Ice
Company. Crystal Ice Company. All
hids were at the rate Of 40 cents per
hundred pounds. $4,000
ON motion of Mr.. Turpin. II was decided
10 award the contract by lot, ana the
chairman drew the name OF Mr.. j. Daly'
who was the lucky bidder.
Tbe chairman was instructed to sign
the contract for the furniture. light nX-
trree.and metallic book cases for the new
CITY Hall. when approved by the Clty
Attorney. ,, ~,
bids were opened for the furnishing oil
flowers for Monroe Park as follows;
Toler &, Co, So: Z. J. Crawford, S'4.",
r p German, $3.50. or $40 II planted
after June list The contract was award
ed to Messrs. Toler e. Co.
A communication was received from
Mr. William Gibson. superintendent oil
the new CITY Hall. in regard 10 the petl-
tion Of the carpenters in that building foi
an increase Of their pay. MT Gibson
recommended that the pay of the carpen-
tors he rated. and limit be fixed by the
committee. :,
Mr. Carter moved that the paper be
referred back TO Mr.. Gibson, with lnstruc-
tions TO rate the carpenters and TX theii
wages per day as he in his judgment
NAV think best for the interest or the
CITY. and report back to the committee.
Mr.. Tanner thought 1t was rather 10,
late TO ask any change, whlch "ouIo
hardly bring about any reduction re
therefore moved as a substitute that ths
.at,,ion for an increase be rejected. This
was agreed TO- -. c,raoy
hill divine services were going on IN
the church OF the Sacred Heart. dis
turhance was raised in the lobby by MT
| nan Turner keeper OF GamDles hlli
park who had to be elected. lie, tnere-
fore moved that a committee OF three
no apnointed to investigate the matter al
on aarlv date The motion was carried