The herald., 1897-11-04

| competitor, asserting that all the high
grade hose was good. His also was
good, he claimed, and under the circum-
stances he wanted a share of the busi-
ness and did not ask for the entire con-
tract. In regard to the statute giving
home products the benefit of all equal
competition he asserted that as each
of the bids had been made by a we'll
known business firm, the board could
not afford to override the interests OF
home merchants and in awarding part
Of the contract to several of the bidders
industry right here at home would be
properly protected. Mr.. Russell's
speech was brief, but what he said about
local merchants seemed to impress the
commissioners.
LYING UNDER MISAPPREHENSIO
Mr.. Furrey, of the w. G. Furrey COM
pany, appeared for his bid Of rs cents
for Dragon hose. He stated that he had
sold more hose here than all the others
put together and that he had never
sold the city an inferior article. He then
introduced Mr.. Chase representing the
New York Betting company. The latter
made one of the most interesting speech
es Of the session and stated that he was
going to tell the whole truth as to
prices. He said that there was not a
brand Of hose there which had not at
some time been sold at a lower price
than that at which it is now offered.
The bid might be made out at 80 cents,
but there were many ways Of reducing
a bid by allowing discounts or paying
for services which never were rendered.
Referring to the charge made by Mr..
Bowers that the Dragon brand was
a third-class article and was sold as
such in the east, Mr.. Chase said: when
the gentleman makes that assertion he
is simply lying" and, after a long pause,
he added, under misapprehension or
suffering from distorted imagina-
tion."
This closed the fight so far as the
speeches were concerned and the board
went into executive session in the may
or's Office. After remaining there half
an hour they returned to the waiting
agents and announced that they would
render their decision at special meet
ing to be held this morning at 10 o'clock.
In the meantime the members Of the
board have been acting upon Mr.. Chap
mans suggestion and have been maxi
ing personal examination of the con-
dition of the various brands purchased
by the city within the past three years
Their report will be based upon the re-
suit of that examination.
ROUTINE BUSINESS
Before hearing the arguments of the
hose agents the board Of fire commits
sioners disposed Of all the other busi-
ness which had accumulated during the
week. The first matter considered was
the petition of M. S. Kornblum for per-
mission to operate q steam boiler in a
| dye house at 815 East Washington
street. This was before the commission
last week and action had been deferred
until the members could visit the place
and ascertain the wishes of the neigh
bors. The matter was not debated and
motion that the petition be denied was
adopted.
| In the matter of the petition of Miller
& Young for permission to operate an
| oil well In the Cottage Home tract action
was deferred until the next meeting as
objections have been made by the prop
erty owners of that vicinity to the
granting Of the petition.
/ Chief Moore reported that while the
| No. 8 engine was responding to an alarm
Of fire portion of the stack of the en-
| gine had Leen knocked on by striking