The morning call., 1894-02-18
CLOSE SCRUTINY.
The Veterans'Home Extra
Bills.
PURCHASE OF HOSE REELS.
They Are Said to Be of an Inferior
Quality.
WARDS HEAVY PLUMBING BILL.
The Disputed Bills Will Be Referred
Without Recommendation to the
Board of Directors.
PURCHASE OF HOSE REELS.
WARDS HEAVY PLUMBING BILL.

The executive committee of the board
of directors of the Veterans Home Asso-
citation had under consideration last night
the bills for extra work and materials arls-
ing from the construction of the new
building at YountvIlle.
Chairman Bennett presided and Direct
ors Arbuckle, HObbert, Stevens and Her
rick and Architect Wharf were present.
By resolution adopted at the previous
meeting of the board the executive COM
mittee was. instructed TO investigate all
bills, whether paid or unpaid. Last night
the unpaid bills were under consideration,
and some differences in prices were noted,
mainly in favor of the contractors. from
the prices prevailing in open market in
San Francisco.
Work done under contract or by resolu-
ton of the board where price was fixed
was easily passed. When it came to the
outside bills close scrutiny was made and
some interesting facts we're developed.
For instance. the purchase of hose reels.
1t has been the talk in Grand Army cir
Giles that the home has been jnbbed by the
purchase made by the buildings and
grounds committee. 1t seems the commit
tee received three BIDS ranging in price
from $3.50 to $780, The contract was
awarded at the lower figure. The success
lul DtuueI dRI6cQ W IuIuiS1 EOOu QUALIFY
of rubber, while the association desired
the best quality.
Now comes one of the unsuccessful bid
ders and offers to furnish the same reels
and the best quality of hose for $3.50.
| This led Comrade Arbuckls TO make the
pointed query whether any of the men,
bers of the committee profted by the
transaction in the way of commissions.
Chairman Herrick replied that they did
not. The hOse-reel question will be
brought up at the next meeting of the
board of directors. Some of the members
Of the board are preparing themselves for
what they claim will be an exposure of q
transaction by which the home was sup
piled with an inferior quality of hose and
| an obsolete style OF reel.
All through the evening it appeared to
! be the aim of the members of the building
and grounds committee to throw discredit
| on the plans of Architect Wharf. When
cOrnered for an explanation of the neces-
| sty of these increased and heavy expen-
| ditures the architect would be called upon
20 explain. Mr.. Wharf generally had the
| approval of the directors in the changes
made. In few minor instances he was
in fault.
The great fight Of the enemy was over
the plumbing bill. After perusing several
of the.items Director Arbuckle laid back
in his chair and sighed and said, 81 won
| dered where the surplus had gone" 1t had
developed during the reading of the items
of the bill that more mOney-fully twice
as much-was paid for labor as for NJ ate
rails. For laying 800 feet of pipe, the
trenches having been dug and the piDe fur
| niShed by the association, S24 IS was
| charged. Architect Wharf asserted that
! the usual price for laying and furnishing
! the pipe. including the digging of trenches,
! was 10 cents foot.
Another item in this bill was the charge
for 100 feet OF drainpiDe at 35 cents, S35.
| Chairman Herrick said ninety-eight feet
were laid. Architect Wharf and Commits
ssry Clark of the home measured the pipe
and could find only eighty feet, differ
ence of only 81, but still enough to ma ke
| the committee suspicious of the remainder
| of the items.
After figuring on the bill the committee
| decidsd to submit the bill TO che board Of
| directors.
On the remainder of the bills but few
! changes were made. the entire reductions
| not am bunting to 500. These are mainly
for materials lett by contractors alter COM
ple:lng their work and purchased by the
home. the. difference arising over the agree
| ments as TO price.
Governor Markham is to be written to
for an Interpretation of the Endorsement
OF July 81, 1898, signed by the board of
examiners, where it state s that in all dis
pu:es 1.-THE board" shall decide. The
members of the buildings and grounds
HOIu tHdt Wy Iu0 DOaTQ Is
meant the board of directors of the asso-
citation. but this opinion is not shared by
majority of the members.
The committee will probably submit the
disputed bills without Recommendation.
From the temper of the members as re-
Gently expressed 1t is needless to say that
MIR. Herrick will have a hard time explain
ing the hose reel and his neiChbor
Plumber Wards bills to the satisfaction
| Of the members.