The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-22

Aorars had never figured closely upon the
1 contract. and were not prepared 10 submit
an estimate at his tine There was one
| tntng, however, that Nr. Gilman would
/ promise on behalf of the Morans. ard that
| WAS that II the council would delay but
| short time they would make estimate
1 not prove lower than thar Of Gahaa <
/ Byrne they would withdraw al objections
tc ne letting OF the contract All the No
/ rams asked Was simple justice.
Harris Wants Chance.
| Judge Thomas Burke. representing " ".
| Harris & Co.. was the next TO speak. He
| made an eloquent plea in the interest Of
| the contractors who, he said had been shut
/ cut from competition In the bidding by
! reason % their faith in sle csty's ADVERTISE
| ment. The Interests OF this taxpayers. he
/ said. required that the contract should be
| LEI Only after mpeeition. II was the
| largest contract IN the history Of me city.
| and SHOULD De considered the most care
| fully. IL was pcor time TO begin 10 make
/ haste. he said. Haste N such case surely
/ neaaE waste.
| But. more than all eise. said ne, the fair
| name q the city demanded that the city
| should lst the contract openly and no, 80
around the corner" with the successful bid
/ der. The charter Of the city would De yIo-
/ lated, ne said. oy any other course than
| readserIise In conclusion, Judge
| Burke outlined the Objection 20 the Original
| plans and specifications. which. ne said
| had prevented all bur bidder from COM
!
| in bid with a string to it-''a regular Ma
Mia rope
| Judge Burke was interrupted in his re-
/ marks by James. who wanted 10 know If *
| had gone to the very bidders whose bid was
! under consideration and told them that II
| Harris & Co were allowed TO handle ths
| warrants ali objections by that house TO
the letting OF the contract would be with
| drawn. Mr.. James also wanted to know
| whether tx was not a fact that Harris *
t41 r-.r%- Eu+ <ava-.
proposed under ordinance No. 1899 were not
| worth 70 cents on the dollar.
As matter OF fact. Judge Burke" con,
Harris & Co are here for is to blackmall
| the successful bdder?''
| Judge Burke replied that he had never
heard either of the charges made and ren-
| Grated his former statement. that the house
| Of Harris & Co. represented the holders of
| over s20oe,0e0 OF the bonds of Seattle and
| vas interested in seeing that the citys
| credit was not impaired by any act OF the
council.
| II. c. Barron the representative of Har-
| ris & Co, took the floor after Judge Burke
| had sat down and requested permission 10
| reply to Mr. James. Il was not true. ne
| said. that any proposition to withdraw OPP
| position had ever been made by his house to
| Gahan & Byrne but it was true. he said.
| tfat his house had stated that the proposed
warrants were not worth - cents on the
| dollar. That. said Mr. Barroll, was in his
| opinion more than they could be sold for
fused to handle such non-interest bearing
warrants AT all,
| Judge Burke then asked permission to
| hand the clerk a communication. II was
| from Harris & Co. and stated what the
| Post-InteIligencer has heretofore published
| in an interview with a representative Of
| tracing firms had been in negotiation with
| 1t regarding the financing Of the contract
| and had all been discouraged from attempt
| Ing 10 handle IT,
Cnrkeek Would hid. Too.
| VI ]. Carkeek. well known Seattle
| contractor, was the next to speak He
| stated that he was in a condition to handle
| the Cedar river contract and had intend led
| 10 put in Il bid but after talking with
| different city officials had decided that 1t
was useless to attempt 10 finance ii in view
| clause. and had therefore abandoned his
| intention lie then went on TO critscise
| the bid Of Gahan K Byrne. Tie proviso
| only meant, he said that the contractor
| reserved the right 10 refuse TO carry out
| his bid in case he saw fit TO do so after
| the opening. OF the proposals. Ii was not
| a matter Of the rights of bidders he sad.
| but of cost TO the city. 1t was his opin-
| ion that with competition the bid of Gafran
| & Byrne could be materially lowered
Gill interrupted Mr.. Carkeek to ask
| whether the latter was prepared TO make
| lower bid in case new proposals were
| asked for. Mr.. Carkeek made the same
| excuse for not answering the question as
| had been made by Mr.. Gilman for the
! Morans, that he had not looked over the
| ground any further after finding ont that
| was unable 10 submit an estimate on a mo-
| ments notice.
elise Says Hold Fast.
| II. r. elise. attorney for Gahan &
| Byrne. was the next speaker. He spoke
| fer fifteen minutes or more. the drift If
| his argument being that the new ord-
| nance did not propose 20 change the plans
| in any but an immaterial point. The cost
| 10 the city would not be more, and the
| water from Cedar river would be brought
now or never Mr elise W." Send d'fo 10 tbnk
| !1e declared that If the bd of k.s clients
| was not accepted God only knew when
| the system "oui. be built; that he him
| self would give !. up.
| At this point Mr.. elise was interrupted
| by. Mr.. Carkeek. VINO exclaimed, with con-
M elise. you have no right to make
| the statements you have made. that the
| cost to the city will not be any more II
| that bid Is accepted. You know there
| vas no competition. You know Il could
he done cheaper"
Are you willing to back I'D that state
| ret0rtel Mr.. else.
Yes" interrupted Attorney Gilman.
| quickly: that is Just what We want 10 do
| VIII you give US the opportunity. Mr..
CliSe?''
Mr. Carkeek asked The same question.
| bat both questiGners were called 10 order
| his speech lie criticised the attitude OF
| Harris Il CO. severely. saying that they
| were acting the part az the dog in the
| manger and attempting 10 defeat The bid
| Of Gahan * Byrne for the simple reason
that the latter firm WAS able TO finance me
contract without going 10 Harris * CO.
| or any other firm u bond ana warrant buy
efss 10 pawn the warrants. Gahan q,
Ryrne he continued. wee perfectly solvent
and We're ready 10 carry out the contract
j1sJ proposed by the ci{y. without any
material changes.
"N:l your firm enter into this contract
just a. Il stands here in the plans anl
specidcatonsF" again interrupted Mr.. Gu
man.
Without the proviso2" asked MI elise.
| M. Gilman nodded.
Nh. Ciise went on taking and made no
answer 20 Mr.. Giimans question. Then
Nj Gilman repeated tie question fiu; in
vain. Mr.. elise refused 70 CONSIDER II:
Nnert3t NJ. Gilman smiled a satisfied smis
! in which Ms pariisaE@ J1aea
When Air elise had finished Mu.ioou
r}It question 20 him. lie wanted TO know
whether the bid With the pCoNiso was
f5s Mr t',fke made, m ! .rfsr answer