The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12
TO REJECT Alb BIDS
ALDERMEN APPROVE THE REC
CONCENTRATION OF THE COM
MITTEE ON GAS.
J. ]. PARKER'S OFFER DID IT
THE COMPANY HE REPRESENTS
AGREES TO Do THE GASOLINE
LIGHTING
LOWER THAN ANY OTHER BIDDER
Connection VIII Result In Saw
Ing to the City-Carbon Com
pany May Not Bid Again.

1t looks now as though the city
would save about $4,000 in the cost
Of it's gasoline lighting for 1898, as
compared with the current year. The
board Of aldermen at its meeting last
night approved the recommendation
of the joint committee on gas, reject
Ell the three bids for gasoline light
ing and directed the city clerk to re-
advertise for proposals. The city is
now paying 9812 cents per lamp per
month, and when the bids recently ad-
vertised for were opened the Carbon
Light &, Power Co., was found to be
the lowest bidder agreeing to do the
lighting for II cents per lamp per
month. There was some talk about
allowing an outside company to come
in and carry off the contract, especial
ly as there was only $1,000 difference
between the bid of the home concern
and the lowest bidder. AS a result of
the delay in the award of the con-
tract, eX-Assemblyman j. j. Parker
came before the joint committee on
gas, to whom the bids had been re-
ferred and proposed that if the city
SJOuAO sec III " lCcluN Cl IlSC llC WOUlu
guarantee that the concern be repre-
sented would put in a bid even lower
than had been submitted. Each of the
members OF the board of aldermen
and assembly, with one or two ex-
ceptiOns forthwith became, or at least
said go. deeply interested in getting
the Lighting done for the lowest pos
sible figure, and the plan to readver-
tise was agreed upon. The assembly
will, it is claimed, concur in the action
Of the board of aldermen at its meet
ing this evening.
All the members of the board were
present at the session last night and
Vice President Allard occupied the
chair.
The report of the joint committee on
gas was to the effect that all bids be
rejected, providing j. j. Parker would
submit bond in the sum of $4,000
that the concern he represented would,
in case of a Reimbursement, put in a
bid at figures lower than the lowest
had now submitted.
Mr.. Shepard moved the report of the
committee be accepted and adopted,
and Mr.. Stutzman seconded the mo-
tion. Mr.. Kaldunski was not in favor
of fixing things so as to give a favored
contractor another chance Mr. StutZ-
man thought the bids secured were
unreasonable. He had investigated and
satisfied himself that the work could
be done much cheaper than at the
present bids, and for this reason was in
favor of readVertisirg.
Mr.. Shepard wanted to hear the sure
ties on the bond submitted by Mr..
Parker read. The clerk stated that the
bond had been approved by the cor
poration attorney, but had not yet been
signed by that official. The sureties
on the bond We're J. B. TarboX, e. B.
Smith and ]. J. Parker
Mr.. Parker said he did not go be-
fore the committee on gas and ask
that bids be readvertised for. The firm
he represented was prepared to put in
bid and at lower figure than the
lowest bid received. He had been in
formed that if he put up a bond for
$4,000 to guarantee his proposition he
would get a chance to bid He had
submitted the bond and the sureties
were good. The name of the concern
he represented was of little moment
at this time. He was certain that if
the council should readvertise, the city
! could save money.
Corporation Attorney Markham said
the counsel had the right to reject all
bids and readvertise, but, in his opin-
ion, the council had no authority TO
accept such bond. There was no
provision under the charter by which
the council could accept the bond, and
| he had suggested that Mr. Parker
withdraw the bond and put in it's place
a certified check for a reasonable
amount.
Mr.. Parker, on the suggestion of Mr.
Markham, withdrew the bond and
handed the city clerk a certified check
on the Merchants National bank for
$500. This, he said, would be further
testimony that he was willing to make
good his proposition. The roll call on
the adoption of the report of the COM
mittee showed all of the nine mem
bers present in favor of the plan.
On motion of Mr. Sanborn the bond
furnished by Mr.. Parker was rejected
| and the certified check for 81, 500, pay
| able to the city treasurer, accepted
| With the check was the following COM
! munication:
| The accompanying cashiers check is here
with deposited with the city clerk as security
for the faithful performance of the condi-
| lions contained in a bond executed by me as
! principal, and J. B. Tarbox and E. B. Smith
! as sureties to the city of st. Paul. In case
said conditions are not fully complied with
said check is to be delivered to the city treas
! urer and the same shall be the property of
! the city of ST. Paul, but if said conditions
! be complied with, the check is to be re-
! turned to me. j. j. Parker.
| A resolution directing the city clerk