The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-23
Open Evenings Until Christmas.
FL, IS and Is Newark Avenue, Through to 6 Montgomery st, !. G.

the committee made an of the
number of pianos which would he re-
CURED to properly, equip the new schools,
The number decided on was ter. This.
with the approval of the Mayor, was
afterward increased to fifteen. The queS-
ton of advertising for bids was consid-
concluded that i was for the best inter-
ests of the city not to advertise. espe-
ciai1y as competition could be secured
without it. The reasons which appealed
to the committee appear to have ~
First-The provision of the law regard
ing advertisement which. requires that a
contract be awarded to the lowest bidder.
This committee cannot here enter into a
discussion of this law, or attempt to CON
that the Furniture Committee construed
this provision TO bind this Board to the
purchase of the piano which would be
offered at the lowest price, without re-
gard to durability, tone, or any otner Tea
| ture which would go to make up the
quality of a piano, In TINS viewIne coms
\ mittee felt that the city might find itself
in a few months with a number OF pianos
| which were worthless, solely because of
| stri6D compliance with the law.
Secondly-The Furniture Committee, in
discussing the construction OF the law,
were influenced by the fear that, If their
understanding OF the law was = aonad ln -
| to the dealer who offered the lowest price.
| experts would have to be employed to
| advise the committee as to the qualities
| of the pianos submitted. They concluded
that it would be Impossible to SECURE an
impartial expert. or one VINO would NOT pc
| predisposed in favor of some particular
| make of piano, every musician having
his own favorite Instrument.
Thirdly-There was competition. Mr..
higgins stated that he had received visits
from representatives of MI. Holmes, II.
f. Eiss, Mathushek & Son.. and Morgan
Sons, in addition to those OIL Busn q GeIts.
All. with the exception or MessFs Elss
and Morgan. were referred by him to the
chairman of the committee, Mr. quinn,
and requested to Gall again. me repres-
-4z*sr 80 Mr. TTIrc aa1la( IN ASK HRiaKZ
because of his absence from W ana
Morgan & Sons had only se~eond-haild
pianos to offer. Thereafter MI. Miggins
says, he heard only from Mr.. Turtle, the
representative of Bush Il Gerts, He
came to the committee with recommends
tons; submitted a ian u sorn nor W thst ne be
price was too high, that the Mayor "ould
not approve 1t.
said that, after correspondence with his
| house. he was authorized to offer the
piano for $3.50. This was at first refused,
but upon his agreeing to keep the pianos
cepted, and arrangements were MADE 10
| purchase the pianos separately. A separ7
ate claim was presented to this Board for
| each piano. The favor delayed signing
the warrants for the pianos until he and
the committee Were assured that the
pianos were of good quality and IN proper
| order. The Furniture Committee en-
| ployed a Mr.. Hoehl, piano tuner, to ex-
anime the pianos and report upon their
1 QtidillS II ~
tuned and examined the pianos in some
of the schools, and was satisfactory to the
| committee and the Mayor. Upon his re-
porting to the Mayor and to the COM
mittee, the warrants were signed.
This closes the testimony Of the Furni-
ture Committee.
cure a number of experts who would tes-
tify to the relative values of the pianos
procured and those of other houses, but.
with one exception, has been unable to-
do so. While they would talk with per-
feet to individual members of
the committee, they desired their state
ments to be treated as confidential out of
| professional courtesy 10 their brothers in
trade, and would not publicly express an
opinion.
We have to report that we find and con-
| clude as follows:-
First. that the city of Jersey City. in
| purchasing the pianos for the new public
unreasonable by men Of standing In the
piano trade. also that though by bargain
ing and sharp competition a price. say $50
lower, might nave been secured. there
would have been a consequent risk Of OBJ
tanning an inferior instrument. We be-
lieve. however, that the dealer made an
excellent bargain, but 1t evidently Is not
seriously questioned by frst-class houses
in the piano trade. The committee also
secured the piano in Chicago for $3.50, he
obtained 1T at a dealers figures. as is
evident by the letter Of Messrs. Bush &
Gerts, appended hereto. Otherwise, the
transaction is inexplicable and IS so re-
! garded by Mr.. Dressler and all persons
Of experience who have been consulted.
Second. that in purchasing the pianos
without previous advertising, the Furni-
ture Committee acted IN the honest exer-
/ for the taxpayers Of the city the best re-
turn for their money.
There was no discussion about ii. ana
With q unanimous vote it was adopted.
| far as Mr.. Holmes is concnrned His