The Advocate and news., 1898-06-01
EVERY WEDNESDAY.
PRICE FIVE GENTS.

Cided by a unanimous vote Of the
Council that all bids be rejected
and that notice be given by publlca-
tiOn in the official State paper and
in the Topeka Daily Capital for each
publication OF said paper commenc-
ing Friday, June Ia, up to July 8th,
1895, that bids would be received
by the Secretary of State until IL
o'clock noon, OF July Sth, 1896, for
the work as per specifications OF
the architect In charge Of the work.
Said bids to propose for each class
OF work separately and that a check
for per cent. Of the amount OF
such bid properly certified accom-
pany each bid and that In case q
bidder proposes to perform both
classes Of work separate check
shall accompany the bid for per
cent of the amount of such sepa-
rate proposal"
The point about insufficient notice
would not seem to be we'll taken in
view of the fact that at Ieast seven
complete bids were filed and that the
law requires no advertising uC all.
Mr.. Kelly's story Of why this action
was taken Is contained in the follow
ing affidavit:
AFFIDAVIT OF j. A. KELLY.
On June TO- 1895, was a member Of
the firm OF Hallahan & Kelly, contract
ing plasterers Of Topeka, Kas. The said
firm submitted a bid to the Executive
Council on June 10, 1895, to do the pIas-
tering in the State house at Topeka
according to plans and specifications
prepared by j. G. Holland, State Archl-
tect for the sum of $6,132. After the
bids were opened in the presence Of
number Of contractors and 1t was ascer-
tained that our firm was the lowest bid
der, w. r. Sterne and Chas A Fellows
that II we would withdraw our
bid they would agree to pay us the sum
of $780, We agreed to this proposition,
but they being unable to raise this sum
OF money they then proposed that II we
would withdraw our bid that they would
agree to give us the contract to do
that plastering for 1900 more than our
bid Of $6,132. To this proposition we
agreed, and with the consent of the
Executive Council we withdrew our bid
and our certified check was returned.
The bids were all rejected at this
meeting of the Council and re-adVer-
tised, and on July 8, 1895, the contract
was let to Fellows & Vansant for the
sum Of $4,000, and according to the
agreement entered into between w. II.
SteTne and Chas. A. Fellows on June 10,
1896, the firm of Hallahan & Kelly did
the plastering for the sum Of 1882.
J. A. KELLY.
State Of Kansas, Shawnee county, So.
Personally appeared before me J. A.
Kelly, of lawful age, who, being duly
sworn, depOses and says that the fore
going statement is true.
A. p. SHREVE,
GSeal.l Notary Public.
Commission expires January 26, 1901.
The record of the Executive Council
above quoted shows that Mr. Kelly's
impression Of the facts in the matter
are quite accurate. The record OF the
second letting, found on page 374 of the
Executive Council record and dated
July s, 1895, is as follows:
"Bids had been received by the
Secretary Of State prior to IL o'clock
noon from s. II. Grosch for plaster
ing, from Bower & Martineau for
woodwork and windows, Brown &
Moses, Clark & BlacKman, Henry
Bennett, Cuthbert & Sargent and
Fellows & Vansant for both wood
work and windows and plastering,
CcCtnued on Dasea