Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-26

Allowed-The Routine Bus mess
Transacted.
The recommendation of the Commit
tee on Health that the contract for re-
moving garbage be awarded to Chas.
Becker provoked an acrimonious and
lengthy discussion in Council, at the
regular meeting held last night. There
was a number of bidders, and the offer
of Mr.. Becker was the highest. The
other bidders, and their friends, com
pletely filled the lobby in the Second
Branch.
When the resolution providing for
accepting the contract of Chas. Becker
was read by the Clerk, Mr. Bickerton
moved to accept Mr.. J. w. McCracken' S
bid of 10,596.96 Mr.. Elliott took the
floor to support the resolution, and
read from memoranda, that Mr. Clark,
who was garbage collector in 1893, col
lected 1856 loads and delivered at the
crematOry; Mr.. Becker. the incumbent
i'm 1888, collected and delivered 6,U23
loads
Mr.. Hahne said Mr. McCracken was
responsible as we'll as Mr.. Becker. The
/ latter made a good officer, but T. w'5
not true that there were no complaints.
He urged that it was inconsls,eu, 20
advertise for bids, and then accept the
highest.
Mr.. WaterhOuse moved to insert the
name of MIR. Coffee, the lowest bidder,
stating that the acceptance of his bid
would save the city over $4,000, and he
could give as good bond as any other
bidder The chair ruled the amend
ment out of order.
Mr. Hamilton threw a little light on
the legal phase of the matter. He
stated that the breaking of the seals
on the bids was a recognition of the
legal rights of bidders, and if the low
est bidder could fulfill the terms of the
/ agreement, Council was legally bound
TO accept it, Mr. Campbell said he had
taken "a day OFF" to investigate the
bids and bidders. and had arrived at the
conclusion that the Committee should
have done one of two things-take the
lowest bidder, or reject the lowest and
take the best He ventilated the rec
ord of the lowest bidder, asserting that
he was recently fined and sent to the
wOrkhOuse, and that he, some time ago
had trouble with the Board of Public
Works. lie disposed of Mr.. Clark with
the statement that he was repeatedly
fined for failure TO perform his duty
/ notwithstanding the work was not
more than half as heavy at that time
He eulOgiZed Mr.. Becker for his faith
/ ful performance of duty, and asserted
I that the work could not be done for
less than his bid. The average bid. eX-
Guiding Mr.. Coffee'S. was $l1.30O which
was $50 per month less than that of
Mr. Becker. He argued that it would
be folly to turn down Mr. Becker
+ The amendment substituting the
name of Mr.. McCracken for that of Mr.
/ Becker was defeated, ayes 10, noes y
Mr.. Hamilton moved to substitute
the name and the bid of Thomas COT
fee. Lost. He then moved to subtsi-
tute Al. Bentley and 50 400. Lost Mr.
WaterhOuse moved TO substitute John
Coffee. Lost. Dr.. Taylor moved to
substitute G. F. Naber. and bid OF
S1O243. Lost. ayes. Il; noes, H.
At this point, Mr.. Britt took the
floor. stated that the medium bidders
are all honorable men, and Council
should practice economy in making
contracts. He compared the revenues
of the city to a pyramid and the eX-
penses TO an inverted pyramid, the
one increasing. the other decreasing.
"A man who would move to accept the
highest bid. is as much use TO the body
polite as a blind gut to the man
Mr. Frew inquired if he was in order
to reply to Mr.. BIRTHS eloquence, and
Mr.. Britt retorted that he had no OBJ
ectiOn TO Mir. FTeW's "Jongue-tied elO-
quence
Mr. Waterhouse moved to accept the
bid of Jacob Conrad, S10.550 Lost.
DIR. Taylor explained the manner in
which the committee proceeded in con-
sidering the bids A motion was made
10 substitute VIM. Carney and his bid.
Lost, ayes. 10; noes. L.
Further debate was cut off by a call
for the original resolution. which was
carried. The vote resulted: Ayes,
T MeSsrs. Arndt. Bachman. Bender,
Campbell Elliott, Frew. Hamilton
Potter Taylor. Uselton, Uttermohlen,
Wells, Mr. President-13; noes. Messrs.
Britt. Hahne, Hess. Kern, Retzer,
Waterhouse, Wendell, Williams, Wills
g. The resolution required a two
thirds vote. which was not secured,
and therefore goes over until the next
meeting.
Another resolution from the Health
I. Committee, providing for the reserva-
ton of a portion of money due the
garbage collector. as a guarantee fund,
and stipulated that no less than twelve