The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-29
A LAUGHING STOCK.
So Connolly Styles
the Committee on
Public Buildings.
MUNICIPAL ECONOMISTS.
A Wrangle Over Repairing
the Public
Library.
MUNICIPAL ECONOMISTS.

The special meeting of the common
council to take concurrent action On
an additional appropriation of $4,000 for
repairs at the free public library, was
held last evening.
The report of the committee on fin
ance, recommending that the prayer CT
the petitioners be granted and with an
accompanying order, calling for an ap-
preparation Of $2500, was accepted.
But hardly had the question of the
acceptance been put than Councilman
Mcmahon was ON his feet, asking as a
matter of information. if the $25OO asked
for by the directors of the library was
in addition to the sum of $500 appro-
priated some time since for needed re-
pairs at the library. He was informed
that when the plans of the proposed
library changes were submitted they
estimated that the change would cost
$500, but that when bids were asked
on these plans, it was found that they
could not be made for the sum appro-
priated; hence the directors had asked
for a further appropriation of $250O to
cover the expense.
Councilman Mcmahon stated that he
had been informed that only two build
ers had been allowed to submit esti-
mates and he was not in favor Of any
additional appropriation unless there
was to be an honest competition. He
thought that as the mayor had recently
saved the city several thousand dollars
in the contract price of g public build
ing, the plans should be submitted to
him and also to the public buildings
committee. He said he had been in .
formed by a competent builder that the
proposed alterations could be made for
a sum within the original appropria-
ton of $550U.
President White stated that the
chairman of the board of directors of
the library had stated that sixteen
builders had submitted bids on the job
Councilman O'Leary stated that he
understood that it was for interior fur
niture, an elevator and the fitting up
of a room for the reception of the med
ical library. AS a general proposition
he was in favor of the reference of such
petitions to the committee on public
buildings, but this was a case where
tht council had absolutely no govern
ment as to the manner in which the
money appropriated should be used.
Councilman Mcmahon was still per-
sistent to delay action until the petition
had been investigated by the committee
on public buildings, and as an illustra-
ton of appropriations recently made
without such reference, cited the case
of the contract for a laundry building
for the city hospital. Plans had been
drawn, money appropriated and work
on the foundation begun when 1t was
discovered that there was not land
enough to construct the building with
out trespass on adjoining land, and a
further appropriation of $4,000 was
asked. He thought the present case
might be similar, and should have the
approval of the superintendent of pub
lie buildings.
Councilman Connolly thought that
matters requiring the expenditure Of
public money for the erection of public
buildings should be referred to the COM
mittee on public buildings. AS it is,
that committee is nothing but the
laughing stock of the council.
Councilman Mcmahon moved that the
entire subject matter under discussion
be referred to the committee on public
buildings, but the motion did not pre-
vail and the report and the accompany
ing order appropriating s25OO was
passed.
Councilman Wheeler failed in the at
tempt to have other business trans
acted.
On motion of Councilman O'Leary,
the body forthwith adjourned.