The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-23
DISTRICT COAL CONTRACT
HERRING BY CLAIMS COMMITTEE
 ON THE CARROLL PETITION.

President Whitney of Board of Educa- ton, Secretary Day, and W. F. Gilbert Questioned About the Appointment of Weigher-How n Tie Vote Was Dis- Solved-Purpose of the Hearing.
 The committee on claims last night held hearing onsseveral petitions, one of which was the petition of Anthony Carroll concerning the appointment of an inspector to weigh coal purchased for the New Haven school district. At a meeting of the committee on school buildings of the board of education held on the evening of June 20 MT. Car roll was appointed by that committee weigher of coal at & compensation of 2o cents per hour. The next day, MT. Hewlett, clerk of the board of educa- tion, sent to MT. Carroll a note inform ing him of his appointment and stating that the contract for furnishing coal to the district had been awarded to w. F. Gilbert. The note contained also the following: 'The duties of the position require you to see that the coal is thoroughly screened and correctly weighed and you will countersign each ticket; the janitors will be instructed not to receive and receipt for any load of coal for which the ticket is not coun- tersigned by you"
 At the meeting of the board of edu- cation held on the evening of June 23 the authority of the school building committee to appoint weigher of coal was called into question and the presi- dent of the board, Eli Whitney, decided that the committee had not that power. The decision of the chairman was ap- pealed from and a vote was taken which resulted in three votes in favor of sustaining the ruling of the chair, and three votes against it. After this action 1t seemed to be the opinion of the board that Mir. Carroll had not been legally appointed and when he called at the board rooms to get pencil and paper to use in his office as inspec- tor of coal, MT. Hewlett refused to give them to him, saying that he had not been appointed The next day MT Car roll reported for duty at w. F. Gilbert 8 coal yard and was there informed that he would not be permitted to weigh the coal as the contractor had been inform ed that he had not been appointed in- spector.
 MT. Carroll then requested Secretary Day of the board of education to send him a notice of the ruling of the board as to the authority of the committee on schools, and such a note was sent to him by MT. Day. stating the ruling of the president of the board mentioned above, and saying that it had been sus- tained by vote of the board.
 MT. Carroll then presented his petf- tion to the court of common council, stating the facts in the case as above related and asking that proper meas ures be taken to protect the city in the fulfilling of contracts let by it.
 When the case was opened before the committee last night the two letters, the one from Clerk Hewlett to MT. Car roll and the one from Secretary Day were presented, together with a copy of the specifications under which the con- tract for district coal was let to MT. Gilbert. These specifications were is- sued by the board of education on June last and provide among other things that the coal is Ito be screened and weighed and inspected under the direc- tion of some person to be appointed by the committee on school buildings The bond filed by the successful bidder Mr. Gilbert, specified that he must con- form in all respects to these specified tions, otherwise the contract will be null and void.
 At MT. Carroll's request last night he was allowed to have a stenographel present in his interest to take notes on the testimony. Notice of the hearing had been sent to all the members ot the board of education, to Clerk Hew- lett and to Secretary Day, but of these gentlemen only President Eli Whitney of the board and the secretary, Mir Day, were present MT. Whitney is not a member of the committee on school buildings, and no member of that con- mittee was present. MT Carroll asked to have the oath administered, but the committee decided that it did not have authority to administer the oath.
 Secretary Day was first heard. He read from the records of the board un- der date of May 27, that on motion ot MT Connor the committee on schoo buildings was authorized to advertise for bids for coal and make contracts fol supplying it for the ensuing schoo year Under date of June 20 he read o1 the appointment by the committee o1 MT. Carroll and then under date o1 June 23 of the question of the commit. tees authority being raised and the rul ing of the president and subsequent vote of the board on the appear from the ruling.
 Mr.Carroll asked: "Mr. Day, did MT Whitney let the vote go without hi: voting; that is, when there was a tit vote on the ruling of the chair?''
 MT. Day-"I didn't notice that ht voted"
 You have no other record?"
 ''I have not. MT. Hewlett made nt record of notifying you. It was an ac of courtesy on his part to notify you"
 Do you know by whose authority was notified?"
 ''No sir; do not"
 Committeeman Ma1ey-"What ha! been the custom in matters of this kind? Has the board ever had weigher?'
 "Yes, sir
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