New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-15

SPECIFICATIONS FOR A CONTRACT
ADOPTED YESTERDAY.
NEITHER TIME NOR PRICE MENTIONED. But BIDS
FOR ONE THREE FIVE AND TEN
YEAR PERIODS ASKED FOR.

NEITHER TIME NOR PRICE MENTIONED But BIDS
FOR ONE THREE. FIVE AND TEN
YEAR PERIODS ASKED FOR.
After delay of nearly year, the Board OF
Aldermen at its meeting yesterday afternoon.
adopted specifications for Il gas contract to begin
January l. 1891. The specifications attempt TO fix
neither the time nor price TO be hxed IN the con-
tract Bids are called for one. three. five and
ten year periods. Some OF the members OF the
committee though: it useless to fix the maxi
mum price. there is only one company TO bid.
and If il; did choose TO bid at all under price
fixed by the city would simply succeed III Tying
things up.
The specifications were agreed upon at the meet
ing Of the committee held in the morning. All or
the members were present except Alderman Dunn
A draft OF the specifications by sub-commt-
tee was presented. and Deputy City Works COM
missioner Fielding. Superintendent of streets
Flocken and Clerk Lansing were present on oehaii
of the City Works Department. The sub-comm'-
reported in favor OF having the city furnsn ad-
ditiona lampposs as they might be needed Mr.
F'ocken said that there were about four hundred
old posts In the corporation yards and about three
thousand capped posts in the streets. which were
available for SO ii was decided 10 permit the
city to furnish the lamppos,s. The proposition 10
havo bids for one. three and five years submitted
came from Alderman Francisco. and on sugge'-
ton from Alderman Taylor ten-year bid was
added. Aldermen Francisco. Lelch and Guilfoyle
said that they would never vote for ien-year
contract although they consented 10 have BID
submitted.
To overcome an objection which had been made
by General Jourdan president OF the Brooklyn
Union Gas Company 1t was provided that where
the City Works Department directs the laying or
now mains lamppost must be erected every II.
feet. but these lamps may be capped IL any OF
them should be found unnecessary. While ne
h.{p aa1
Board Alderman Orogge said that he thought
this provision was not in the interest OF the city.
street lamps requires that the bids shall be for
lamps Of at least twenty candle-power The follow
law that bids must include n proposition FOR sup
plying private consumers at lower rate man tne
maximum rate allowed by law, and AT srauua'cu
annual reduction In price:
Section I4-Bds must include rates to be charged
against consumers for gas supplied Tor private
buildings in the contract signed be for an
extended time. said rate to be lower than tho rate
prevailing at present for the FIRST year ana pro-
cordancc with Chapter 800 OF the Laws OF 1872.
The specifications and accompanying resolutions
directing the Commissioner Of city Works TO adj
vertise for proposals were introduced at the Board
meeting by Alderman LEIGH. the chairman Of the
committee Several OF the important sec
tions were read TWO three times at the request
of different Aldermen Alderman Oltrogge wanted
oiuS 10, h one tb former statement called FOR
bid covering nineteen years. Alderman I.eich IN.
sisted however ,ha the wording was clear lear AID I'd
h he' four periods named heTe Somehne Of
a dispute between Alderman Guilfoyle and Alder
the gas company would be under compuision 10
give gas TO private consumers at less than 81 -
Alderman Guilfoyle thought the company would
not have 20 do So and Alderman LEIGH thought
that the bid for private consumption would have
to be less than the maximum rate under the Wray
act The resolution was adopted
one provision Of the specifications IL that there
committee Alderman LEIGH endeavored TO have In
serted in the specifications that the annual reduc.
ton in the price should be at least five cents. but
Alderman Gufoyle claimed that this was an ex.
posture of the bid. and the committee took t, mat
view of it also. because they rejected Alderman
Leichs proposition.
practically passed. 1t Is the general belief how.
ever that the courts can be called upon to protect
to overcharge for the gas consumed this year.
When the bids for the various periods OF time
back to the Board Of Aldermen for selection. Sev-
eral members Of the Board said yesterday that II
one an effort would be made to have the Board re-
ject it.
plain the provisions Of the Wray gas law. he said:
The Wray gas law was passed dnrng He i bsd
had bills introduced year after TO regulate the
price of gan anG we iSuaq Se me hng M
lighting the cities. This bill was put In with the
xsd period it could arrange fair price and could
afford to sell gas good deal cheaper. So this bill
ba pl local Of Bpookyn and
buffalo power II they saw 1T. TO advertise for bids
for contracts to extend from one TO nfteen years
and then on opening the bids. to award the con-
for definite term II was not at ell manda
| themselves of 1t they could make satisfactory
| terms. . ,,, , .
THE bill provided that no such contract should be
| made unless Il provided for a progressive reduction
in the price OF gas year by year. and that the gas
should be furnished the city the first year less
| than the legal rate then prevailing In this way the
| longer the contract the cheaper would the gas
become in the contract period The bill also provided
| that any company bidding for such contract would
also have TO agree 10 sell 10 private consumers AT a
progressive reduction from year TO year though 1t
did not stpuate that the rate OF reduction should be
| the same given to the city
| npQ0EIYN EIEVATEQ nECT ply IT