The morning call., 1895-02-06
MR. BROWN'SPERIL
He May Lose the Award
Made Him.
SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
To Block Work on the New Ferry
Depot.
CONTRACTORS RAISE A ROW.
Claiming That the Small Fry Have
Been Shut Out.
SECRET INVESTIGATION In PROGRESS.
Big Storm Of Scandal Likely to Break Oh
the Heads Of the HarbOr
commissioners.
CONTRACTORS RAISE A ROW.
Claiming That the Small Fry Have
Been Shut Out.
SECRET INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.

SACRAMENTO, Feb. 5.-Will A. Page
Brown, architect, lose the $4,000 awarded
him by the San Francisco Board of Harbor
Commissioners for plans for the ferry
depot? 1t is more than probable. 1t is
within the range of possibility that even
his plans cannot be accepted, and in any
event a big scandal involving the Harbor
Commission is now brewing. Itis charged
that the board accepted Mr.. Browns plan
without giving other architects a chance
to compete. San Francisco architects are
up in arms against the board. Their pro-
tests are here and so are other protests
from plumbers, masons and mechanics,
and the investigation is now on. 1t is
secret affair, but much has been heard to-
day of the abuses and neglect of duties
with which the board is charged.
1t is claimed that the board has directly
violated the law relating to the letting of
contracts and that much OF its work is void
in consequence.
A. Page Brown was allowed $4,000 as a
progress payment. Had the board any
authority to accept his plan or make any
payment2 1t is contended that it had not
and the law is cited to sustain the conten-
ton 1t is claimed that no plans have
heen legally adopted and that all the work
must be gore over again. SuppIementing |
these statements come direct charges of
iobbery. The commissioners advertised
for a certain patented arch. This requires
the payment of a big royalty and destroys
all competition. The results of the ex-
animation Of the foundations have not
been satisfactory and another examination
will be made jointly by Governor Budd
and Professor Rising of the State Univer-
sity.
In regard to the legal aspect of the archi-
tect's plan and fee the law of 1871 is cited.
This calls for competition of bids, but the
attorney for the commissioners contends
that they have the right to act under a
special law This law cannot be found.
Unquestionably this will be thoroughly in
vestigated, as the belief here comedies with
the claim of San Francisco architects, that
they should have had the fullest and freest
competition. 1t seems now as if a general
investigation will follow.
But beyond this comes the claims of the
mechanics of San Francisco, who declare
that the advertisement for building the big
ferry depot is 50 worded that it will shut
out all small contractors and give the work
to two or three of the large firms. They
add that the law has not been complied
with in the advertisement.
The latter portion of section of articl
1924 of the Political Code, amending the
est approved March %, 1876, regulating
contracts on behalf of the State in relating
to erections and buildings, which amend
ment was approved March 81, 1891, reads
as follows:
But in the letting of contracts as provided for
in this act and in giving notice thereof the
notice shall at least state that the bids for the
furnishing OF the materials for and doing the
mason and iron work, for the furnishing of
materials for and doing the carpenter and
plaster work, and the furnishing of the ma
terials for and doing the plumbing, gas fitting
and heating work, and for the furnishing of
the materials for and doing the timing gal
vanized iron and Stating work, and for the fur
nishing of the materials for ana doing the
painting and granting work, and for the fur
nishing of materials for and doing the electric
work, will be separately received and separate
contracts for furnishing such materials and
doing such work shall be made as set out in
said notice.
That is the law on the subject and this is
the way the Harbor Commissioners com
piled with it in their advertisement:
The departments of work on the said depot
and ferry-house to consist of the necessary con-
structionaI wrought steel and cast iron work
and other iron work embodied in the specifca-
tions mason work, terra Gotta and fireproof-
ing plastering, roofing, skylights and galvan-
lied iron work, carpenter and joiners' work
and glazing, painting and plumbing and gas
fitting in accordance with the plans and speei-
fications on file in this office, to which special
reference is hereby made. Blue prints will be
furnished to intending bidders on depositing
S25, which will be repaid on returning said
blue prints to this Office after an expiration of
FIVE days from receipt thereof.
They have omitted the very points which
the law declares they must advertise and
in doing so have jeopardized their plans.
The advertisement calls for sealed bids at
or prior to o'clock on Monday, February
IL. About 800 contractors are interested in
this and they are sending in bitter pro-
tests. They claim that it is an intent on
the part of the board to favor some large
contractor and freeze out the small con-
tractors. Legal steps have already been
taken in the capital and the result is
awaited with great interest.
At the proper time after the findings |
are all in the Governor will act. Bids
under the law must be separate for fur
nlshing and building. This the advertise |
ment refrains entirely from calling for. |
There seems to be no doubt that the bids |
called for will be vitiated by this neglect of |
the board and that new bids which will |