The morning call., 1894-06-07
Oscar Lewis.
AN INSINUATION RESENTED.
The Irate Commissioner Wanted
to Fight.
HOW HE ANSWERED INSULT.
The City and County Attorneys
Emphatic Denial of Charge of
Having Been Fixed.
AN INSINUATION RESENTED.
low HE ANSWERED INSULT.

| OD0 Ol tUb lDOSb 6AClllIS 6pISO0eS IlhU
ever happened in the history of the City
| Hall Commission took place al the meeting
of that body yesterday morning.
Never before has the dignity of this trio
of staid officials, representing the very
head aud front of the municipal govern
ment. been so disturbed. The scene was
unexpected, and the violence of those en-
! gagged Ia it came like a thunder-clap on
clear day. There was blow struck, oaths
were exchanged and an attempt made to
draw a weapon. The fact that one of the
| leading actors was one of the Commission
ers only added to the excitement aud in-
terest. City aud County Attorney Cres-
well WAS one of those actors, the other
! being Contractor Oscar Lewis.
The row took place over the question of
! steel blooms. Yesterday was the day set
| by the Commissioners to hear the mooted
| question as TO whether blooms were raw
material or manufactured articles. OCon-
| nor & Lewis, who have the contract for
the construction of the dome. claim that
! steel blooms are raw material, and need
not be made in California, a. called for in
the specifications, which requires ali arti-
! cles used in construction 10 he made in
| California if they can be produced or man
ufacturPd in this State.
! Inc comm lsSlO06I6 Child LDaL blooms
are manufactured article. that all other
/ bidders calculated on being compelled to
! have them made in this State, and that
/ the specifications should be enforced in
| this res pect
IfO'Connell & Lewis are allowed to OBJ
tain their blooms-sbout 1000 tOns-from
! the East, they will make cOnSlderabl bic
mere money on their contract, as the
| blooms can be made ard bought much
more cheapiY in the East
Yesterday was the day set for hearing
J the matter, and the Commissioners had
/ Instructed the architect to prepare a report
! on the subject. When the Commissioners
met that official handed in the following
| report:
| 1 find that work thereon is virtually sus-
| pended and that steel TO be used as part OF said
| structure has Oeen rolled at the JudSOn Mills
| from imported blooms.
| In accordance with the condition OF the con-
! tract made and entered into by and between
your honorable board and Messrs. O'COnnell &
| Lewis providing for the construction of said
| dome. all material 10 be used must be produced
or manufactured. If possible in the State OF
California. Clause p, page AZ, OF said contract
| contains the following:
| 'AlI materials mentioned in this specifca-
| lion shall be manufactured in the State OF Cali
| fornia, aud all labor necessary IN the manufac-
/ lure of said materi Is and all labor nee Ssary
! in The erection and completion of the work
| herein mentioned shall be performed by resi-
/ dents OF The State or California.
mo Chinaman or Monaghan shall be EN-
| ployed IN the factory. mill foundry. workshop,
! or by the firm company or person doing any
| of tile Work bid ana contracted for.
These provisions do not apply 10 such mate
| rial as cannot be produced or manufactured IN
! this State"
| A. sIeni blooms can be manufactured In this
Staie and California labor empiOyed thereon, 1t
Is contrary TO the provisions and intent of the
said contract 10 manufacture them elsewhere.
| Respectfully, FRANK L. SHEA, Architect.
| Architect Shea also submitted the fol-
! lowing estimate upon the amount of
! money necessary for the entire completion
! of the new City Hall:
The com letiOn OF interior OF rotunda and
adjoining unfinished rooms, 100000; the re-
! pairing Of plumbing ana drainage In the sub
! basement. $4,000; the placing of an electric
! lghf, ventilation and steamheatinc plant,
! 100000; The removal of present temporary
roof consisting OF corrugated iron covering and
/ wooden supports, and replacing { he same with
| permanent roof OF treprOof construction. which
| above mentioned Work will necessilate the car
! Tying up of all unfinished interior brick walls,
together with all venIllating t1ues, etc, when
| now stop at attic floor line TO a pOiut above TOP
! of proposed new roof line. $3.50 900. Total,
! S3t4,O00. Respectfully, FRANK I. SHEA.
| Alter the reading of the reports AttOr-
! ney Stafford asked the commission to place
| al official construction on the Sp7citica-
! tions. He cOntended that as blooms were
| not structural material IL did not matter
| where they were made.
This brought up the resolution intro
| duced by Commissioner CTeSwell at the
superin tendent OF construction 10 see that
no steel blooms be used, except they be
| manufactured in this State.
II was at this stage of the proceedings
! that Oscar Lewis. the contractor, Joined in
| the debate, to which he soon gave very
acrimonious quality.
de claimed that If the commission per-
sisted in its ruling he would be com peIled
to cancel his contract with the JudsOn Iron
Works.
"YOu will force me-" he said, "to do
| Indirectly what you dare not do dire city,"
This remark drew the attention of every
| body in the room t. Lewis, who was
! flushed, nervous aud excited. Every b ody
! looked at Lewis and then at the Commits
siOners.
! You will force me-" continued Lewis.
! 80 cancel my contract with the Judson
| Iron Works, and throw all nv work into
! the hands OF the Pacific Rolling Mills,
| which has monopoly. This Is a Job TO
| force me to get my materials from one
| firm"
Mayor Ebert cautioned Lewis to be
careful in his charges. saying that he
should not abuse the Commissioners with
out proofs. or he would not be allowed to
! speak.
We'll. don't know whether can or
not" retorted Lewis. Iii you knew the
inside history of this whole matter you
| would"
What is the inside history OF this whole
matter" demanded Mayor Ebert. sternly.
Out with IL, or you cannot go any
! further"
Newer mind" said Lewis
Out with it, say" in terrupted Com
missioner Creswell. "Out with 1t, and tell
what you know right now"
We'll. know that Commissioner Cres-
| well is very close TO the Atlas Iron Works,
and TO Patrick Noble" said Lewis.
| CresweIl admitted that Superintendent
| Noble was very warm friend OF his,
! Contractor Lewis went on, while Cres-
! we'll keUt his eyes glued on the speaker.
! Lewis said That the Atlas Iron Works. in
! which Mr.. Cresswell is a stakeholder. had
| bid on portion of the dome work He in
| simulated that CreSwelI was Influenced
against him, and was partial 10 the rolling
| mills.
| The Commissioner explained that he
| owned 1000 shares Of the Atlas Iron Works.
which he had bought at delinquent sale
| for 500.
when these bids were in" said Mr..
Creswell, Il asked Mr.. Lewis if he in
! tended To give any part OF that work 10
the Atlas Works, and you will remem Der
! | told you, Mr.. Lewis, and you members
| Of the board, that If any contract was to
be Jet wanted to know it, so that could
| give away or sell my stock"
Commissioners Creswell went on and
accused Lewis with sending friends to him
! TO award the contract to O'Connel q