The record-union., 1896-03-05
SUPERVISORS HAVE A TILT.
caused by One Member Advertising for
Bids for Supplies.
The Two Bids Were Rejected, and the
Board as Whole VIII Do
the Advertising.


OF the Hospital Committee, advertising
Tor bids for supplies for that institution
without consulting the other members of
the committeeor the board. There would
probably have been very little said
about it had not a member of the firm
OF l.. Ell1us & Co. persisted in critics.
Ing members of the board for rejecting
the bids submitted in response to the
advertisement.
AT the afternoon session Clerk Ham
Aton read the advertisement calling for
plds for certain County Hospital sup
plies to be opened at that time But
one bid had been received for drugs, and
two for clothing. ETC.
Supervisor Todd would like to
Know when this board made the order
calling for such bids?
Chairman Morrison-Possibly Mr..
Curtis, Chairman of the Hospital Com
mittee, can explain.
Supervisor Curtis-I directed the
Clerk to advertise 1t was done on the
recommendation of the Grand Jury and
the Superintendent of the hospital.
Supervisor Todd-Well, I don't know
that the Grand Jury is running this
board, or that it is putting up any
bends for the members.
Chairman Morrison-If you follow the
directions of outsiders, you are liaple to
have to put up bonds.
1t was decided to open the drug bid.
1t was from Fred. Kolliker and en-
braced only a few items The bid was
referred to the Contract Committee.
For clothing, ETC., for hospital pa
tients there was a bid from L. Elkus &
CO. and one from Wasserman, Davis &
Co. These were referred to the same
committee
After consultation the committee re-
ported in favor of rejecting the bids for
clothing, etc, and of accepting that for
drugs, as far as it went.
In response to a question asked by
Mr.. Elkus, Supervisor Todd stated that
the reason the bids were rejected was
that the board had not called for them
Mr.. Elkus thought that if the bids
were not formal they should not have
been considered at all. He talked at
some length, and concluded by saying
that all that his company asked was
justice.
Supervisor Jenkins said the commit
tee had simply reported in favor of re-
jecting the bids. The board had not yet
acted thereon.
Supervisor Curtis explained that, as
Chairman of the Hospital Committee,
he had the right to go into the open
market and purchase these supplies,
but he had acted on the recommended
tion of the Grand Jury and the Super
intendent of the hospital in advertis-
ing for bids. He believed in allowing
everyone a chance
Chairman Morrison thought that in
advertising for bids for any supplies it
4 49,
Supervisor Todd called attention to
the fact that the Hospital Committee
consists of four members of the board,
and he (Todd), as one of them, had the
same right as the Chairman to give or
ders for supplies. When he was Chair
man of that committee he ascertained
that for fourteen years the Elkus Com
pany had been supplying the hospital
with clothing, and for that reason he
had not given that company any or
ders, as he believed in dividing up that
patronage.
Supervisor Jenkins said there were
but two bids for clothing and dry goods,
and one of them was unsigned I'm
doubtedly Mr.. Curtis acted in good
faith, and undoubtedly all supplies
should be advertised for. The commit
tee, however, had recommended the re-
lection of the bids in justice to all con-
cerned.
Mr.. Elkus went on to criticise the ac-
ton. of the committee, which was re-
scented by Mr.. Jenkins, who said the
members of the committee had rights,
that they are responsible for their acts.
and would stand on their rights.
Chairman Morrison said the board
had only two days ago seen fit TO reject
all the bids received for printing and
books, because they were not satisfact-
-ory. The board was preparing a new
list of articles and would readvertise
for bids
Supervisor Dreman said his reason
for recommending the rejection of the
bids under discussion was that neither
the Hospital Committee nor the board
had been consulted in the matter and
had not called for bids.
Mr. Elkus said that if the board
wished to put the matter on that ground
and to readvertise for bids, he had
nothing further to say and would ask
to withdraw his company's bid.
Chairman Morrison said the bids
could not be withdrawn but that the
question before the board was on the
adoption or rejection of the commit
tees report
The roll was called, and the report of
the committee adopted by vote Of
four ayes to one no. Mr.. Curtis voting
in the negative.
OTHER BUSINESS.
William Sims appeared before the
board on behalf of Mrs. Kendrick and
asked that the road from Highland
Park to the Lower Stockton road, petit
toned for by Carl Stropel and others,
be opened Mrs. Kendrick, he said,
was willing to give the right of way
through her land. On motion of Su-
pervisor Jenkins the matter was re-
ferred to the District Attorney.
Mr.. Wilkinson of White Rock ap-
peared before the board and called at
tention to a bad place in the county
road near that place and which is in
need of repair.
The matter was referred to Supervisor
Curtis for inquiry.
On motion of Mr.. jenkins, dupli-
cate demand of T. W. Johnson OF Elk
Grove for $50 for road work was re-
jected. the same having been paid last
December. The duplicate bill was an
error.
Mrs. Stevenson's Pension.