The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-28
THAT SOUTH SCHOOL CONTRACT.

thafgss OF EfeJuuics IN Letting
The statement of the school board in
reply to the charges of w. w. Eldred has
called forth the following communication
from J. n. Garresty, another bidder who
was passed over:
To THE EDITOR: At the risk OF over
burdening the patience OF taxpayers in
regard To the mach-taIsed-of South school
job, l undertake Co say a word with a view
10 correct some misstatements made by
the school board I'm their reply 10 Mr..
Eldred on Saturday, | am, OF course,
aware that the complaint Of q defeated
candidate will be taken with considerable
allowance, but there is no doubt in my
mind that the school board In awarding
the South school contract acted in q most
unbusiness-gike manner. The whole pro-
ceeding vas marked with irregularity,
difficulties were constantly raised 10
frighten contractors and stampede bonds
men, and numerous circumstances eyinced
either a reprehensible lack OF forethought
or a surprising amount OF aftershought
when the relative positions of the bidders
had become known.
Ia the first place it Is not true that tn
bond was read or explained at the time il
was spoken Of fir {. IL was merely alluded
10 in the blank xhieh was read. Several
other contractors besides myself supposed
that II Mould not be different in form from
the bonds usually given by contractors on
other public works, or those OF such pub
lie officials AS treasurers Of cities. counties
etc: that is. one in which the various
bondsmen assume 8 limited liability.
When this new condition was intsriected
into the com petition after the bids had
been received aud were about 70 be
opened. Notwithstanding the fact that al
of the bidders were not present, sug-
gasled that the bidders be allowed TO
amend their bids. aud that the opening
of them be deferred until the next day.
The purpose OF the board 90 frtghten out
the financially weaker bidders Was made
manifest by the determination TO go
ahead aud open the bids. and those no
objected were told that II they did not
Ike II they could Withdraw from the COM
petition altogether.
Although the board protested 10 be in a
great hurry 20 have the work commenced
at once. they concluded 20 defer the
awarding OF the contract without giving
any reason except that they wished TO con-
salt their engineer. Had they acted IN a
fair-mlnded and busiaess-like manner
they would have awarded the contract at
once 10 the lowest bidder, whose good
faith and responsibility were atsested by =
certified check for per cent. Of his bid.
Several DAYS Of tAs tine which they
deemed 80 precious we're then consumed
IN obtaining answers % their impairment
inquiries as % how the various oatFactors
figured on the work, with the declared
expectation that several 81 the low bidders
would withdraw Il thsY should re-exam.ae
the work Was the board acting ia the
interest OF the taxpayers in thus seeking
% avoid getting the proposed work done
IS cheApiy SIS poSslhle. especially after re-
curing such high bond aud ressrving
hail Of the Pay entA the lob vas CON-
pieisd7
Al another meeting considerable time
was consumed Ca discussing the question
whether the additional signatures Of
aondsnen's wives would be sufficient 10
make she bend good one. and the propo-
sltion was advanced that even then the
board might not have good enough secnr-
uy. and that something lige io4nt mort
gage OF sheir community property would
only sugfice. Ia consequence word Was
sent 20 al she contractors TO submit By
stated time the names OF the bondsmen
they proposed 70 otfeF II awarded the con-
tract; l submitted the names Of 8 dozen
msn xho had agreed to assume = limited
LIABILITY on the bond, nothing more bslag
Asksd 81 them.
Atthe nsxs meeting. the proposed bonds
OF other contractors not proving sat4sfse-
sory, consideration q my ISIS OF proposed
hondsraen vas taken 8p Aad e vas a. tAis
meeting that ! Tor The Irsf tine learned
thas al the bondsmsa wsrs required 10
assume HHAAaA MAGNIFY AtaE as A4Ea amount
OF tha aoBd. and aso that the board, ia
string up the bonaxgasn offered BY the
various Contractors, required thAE each Of
these aondsmea, ana nat the aggregate,
shoaad De considered by them worta tae
gt4l anaGns og tAe ooa1 ia EAelF eva rlsht
sppzFaGe from community interests and
fuF&heFsnors tha&. u ale the l4H oaiy ex-
kets tao boudsUsa, he boar4 enacted
three. TIE nnAne&&l standing ef one man
alter another EzS criticised &nd IL tha
eoard NsFe gem8sng t1otto in moasy on a
personal aste 30 gFeaEeF precaataSn could
hswo been taken However, among nv
fssi % boD4sa1eH there were 4hFee men
each % waoM Las board agreed = IS Asan-
dainty good ioF tie suA .sabsiltY Aaa Sc
lsgting fAsss fhree fTosa aay llsG. aaa after
kAggang ever tAs q@esz.oa wAeGheF TIE
signatures 81 saegr H4xes sHoala Also 70
required the cen trace w&s awarded 70 ne
pr3viainS ] shonlo hare thsss shFsa men
gfssxns ~ sAs I-sssszs u tie board on tie