The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-27
ROAST FOR DUGAN.
Finance Board Throws Out His
Hay and Feed Bid-Rou-
tine Business.

The Finance Commissioners had lively
wrangle last night over resolutions of
the Street and Water Board awarding
contracts for various supplies for the
coming year. Chief Engineer Ruggles
had been summoned before the Board and
in secret session he was handled without
gloves for preparing specifications which
it was alleged were favorable to those
bidders who knew what materials the
Board required and what it did not. The
Engineer replied that he acted according
TO instructions and inserted in the speci-
fications only such items as he believed
would be required by the Water Board
in properly maintaining the various
branches of the government under its
control.
E. A. Dugan was also before the Board
and he was hauled over the GOALS Mr..
Dugan explained that he bid according
to the specifications. Mr.. Dugan had re-
ceived a contract for hay, feed and SO on.
Vile & Son, unsuccessful bidders, sent a
tart letter to the Board on the subject.
They compared Mr. Dugan's prices with
theirs and charged that for one class of
goods which, they presume, will never
be used, Mr.. Dugan had charged almost
nothing while for those goods which will
be required his prices were exorbitant.
This, they alleged, was done to secure
the contract and obtain high prices for
the goods that will be ordered by the
city. Mr.. Dugan disputed the statements
and declared that mis- bid was a bona fide
one and in strict compliance with the
specifications. Subsequently the Board
concurred in the resolutions of award of
contracts to the New York Lubricating
Oil Company, w w. Farrier and Frank
J. Hall. They non-concurred in the award
to E. A. Dugan for feed w. J. Coates
for lumber and J. Sweeney for coal and
coke.
When the resolution of non-concur-
renee came up, Mr.. Midlige wanted to
know why all the contracts had not been
concurred in
Because" answered President Brauti-
gam, these men whose awards have been
ron-concurred in bid low on goods which
the city will not need nor ever call for
and excessively high on everything that
will be required The prices they ask are
higher than last year and higher than
the present market prices. For instance
in the lumber proposal. Pickets last year
cost four cents, while now they are four
times that amount and mahogany lumber
which will never be wanted is put in at
s14, when it is an utter impossibility to
buy it today for less than $50. These bid
ders know just what the city wants and
what it does not want and they bid ac-
cordingly.
The bids were all made according to
the specifications which were advertised
and it is not the fault of the bidders II
they are low The awards should be con-
Cured in said Mr.. Midlige ernphatically
..The resolution ordering these supplies
advertised for were not sent to US for
concurrence said President Brautigam.
For that reason if for no other we should
non-concur.'
$50 far as that point is concerned" re-
sponded Mr.. Midlige, you have already
said to the Street and Water Board you
have been naughty, but we forgive you.
Don't do it again.
Il do not suppose half dozen of the
low-priced articles named IN any OF the
bids will be called for said CommIis5- Ili5
sioner Simpson. THE lowest average Dig
der gets the contract but the city, Tor
what it needs, has to pay fifty times
what it is worth -
ne mail WHO OiCW Lay opSSAAiNose
is to blame, not the bidder snapped
Mr. Midlige ITO concur in some and
non-concur in the others is an injustice
which this Board should not take part
in
Messrs. Brautigam, kellers, Baiiey ana
Simpson voted to non-concur. MI MID
lige voted against them.
The Board approved the ot1clal DCnQ OF
Constable Gilligan of the Fifth ward. The
sale of the property at Jersey avenue and
Mercer street to the Free Library trustees
was confirmed.
County Collector Hugh DEgan was paid
$50 900 on account of the 1896 county taxes.
There was paid on account to the East
Jersey Water Company $4,000 for water
furnished. a.. 20
crushed stone furnished in 1896. The stone
O.Reilly sued the city but failed to re-
cover a Judgment He appealed to the
Legislature and a bill was passed author
izing the payment of the claim. 1t was
under that act that settlement was made
The preamble and resolution OF the
Street and Water Board in which that
Board claimed the right to dispose OF the
ST rectal street money Of the liquor license
fund. was received. The Commissioners
smiled and referred it to the Corporation
Counsel for an opinion.
For the last two years the Finance
Commissioners have been handling that
money and have been directing the Street
and Water Board to use it in the max
ing of certain repairs and improvements.
The fund amounts to about $125,000 an
nually.
The Board will meet again next Friday