The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-19

cable for the whole committee to meet.
the matter was finally placed In the hands
OF subcommittee OF four, consisting OF
Messrs Curtis, Tanner. Carter and Epps,
who were TO report which OF the bids for
light fixtures was the best for the city
not which was the lowest priced, for the
figures read out and placed upon the
blackboard showed that-what part OF the
furniture, II any, should be put In In
metal, and whose was the best bid Tor
the city to accept In both wood and
metal.
The subcommittee met the next day
at 1 o'clock. and after session Of six
or seven hours adjourned and met again
the next day and the following, spending
nearly as much time each subsequent
day as they did on the first. allowing to
each and every bidder from one
10 two hours-no limitation be-
ing set on the time allowed
HMM which to explain his bid and en-
large upon the advantages the city would
derive from it's adoption.
Such was the interest manifested In the
matter by the members Of the committee,
that at nearly every session there were
present two or three, and sometimes
four. members Of the committee In adj
dtion 10 the subcommittee TO whom the
matter was especially referred.
on Saturday and Monday following the
receipt OF the bids the bidders were
invited to meet the City Engineer to see
what would be the cost. according TO their
bids. Of certain changes, by which, ne
thought. the total cost under each pro-
nosal might be reduced. The modified
bids were tabuiated by the Engineer and
presented to the subcommittee on Tues
day afternoon and a report was mace
to the full committee the same night,
I'm which 1t was recommended that the
committee decide between the modified
bids Of Messrs. Phillips and Bowers for
the light fixtures: that schedules y. c and
y Of the Engineer. consisting of the COM
bination filing cases. &C., should be put
IN metal and reporting the bids Of
Messrs. Savage & Holms and Preston
Kelvin for the committee to decide be-
tween as to the woodwork, and the Ev
erett Waddey Company and II. NJ Starke
as 10 the metal work.
When the question came before the
committee for adoption the Engineer re-
ported that he considered The designs Of
Messrs. Bowers and Phillips fourth and
fifth respectively in order Of merit Of
all the designs presented, and as be-
tween Messrs. Bowers and Phillips he
preferred Mr. Bowers; that he could not
ence between the goods offered by Mr..
Starke and the Everett Waddey Com
pany for If the latter were the strongest
and heaviest the first was strong enough,
and he expressed no preference as be-
tween Savage & Holms and Belvin. The
following was the vote:
For Phillips-Carter. Curtis. Epps,
Mountcaste Noble Turpin and Taylor.
For Bowers-Seay and Tanner
For the Everett Waddey Company
Carter Epps. Mouncastle, Noble. Seay
and Turoin.
For Starlle-Curtis. Tanner and Taylor.
For Savage & Holms-Carter, Noble,
Seay, Tanner. Turpin and Taylor.
For Belvin-Curtis. Epps and Mount
castle.
Now I respectfully submit, as an in
controvertible proposition, that the nine
gentlemen on that committee were just
as well qualified after the time spent
by them upon the subject. TO cast an in
telligent vote as ever any committee can
be to vote upon any subject. and that
absolutely no ground exists for criticism
Of their action beyond what has been
attempted on account of their not hav-
ing allowed their own opinions TO be gov
erned by that Of the Engineer; II this Is
what they were sent TO the Council for.
why should they go through the solemn
farce Of meeting every day for four days
and sitting far into the night in ridicu-
lous attempt TO settle wh;b the news
papers have decreed none but the Engi-
neer should be permitted to determine?
These gentlemen have taken a solemn
oath TO protect the city's interest. Are
they men Of such low repute that eight
ninths Of the committee are 20 be ac-
cused Of violating it simply because they
do not concur i'm the opinion OF the En-
eineer in a matter upon which his train
ing as an Engineer has absolutely no
bearing? They are responsible to their
constituents, and I have no doubt ooch
and every one will be able to give TO
each voter who helped to elect him to
Office a reason for the faith that Is In
him.
Ny excuse for appearing in print Is
that no imputation of improper motives
on the part of the committee can De
made without its attaching 10 me also,
as being one of the successful bidders. !
must necessarily profit by any improprie-
ty on their part in awarding this con-
tract. and TO this l cannot silently SUD
nit BY EKElA ADl'1A