The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-07
PASSED OVER MAYORS VETO.
TRUSTEES STAND BY CHIEF
GUTHRIE.
The City Will Have the Champion
Chemical Engine, as Origin
ally Contracted For.

The veto by Mayor Land of the con-
tract for the chemical engine, which
was published last week in the Rec
ord-UniOn," was last night overridden
by the Board of City Trustees.
When the message was read, vetoing
the contract on the ground that an en-
CINE of another kind could have been
purchased for much less money, Chief
Engineer Guthrie was called on for his
views.
He said that had he not been thor
oughly satisfied of the superiority OF
the Champion engine he should not
have advocated it, for he was a tax
payer himself and worked for the in
terest of the taxpayers. He had studied
chemical engines for the past ten years,
and had gone to the convention of Chief
Engineers at Salt Lake to find out all
he could of the best. He talked with
many Fire Chiefs and they all recon-
mended it. He paid no attention to the
talk of the agents, as he wanted no
more engines that were always in the
shop. Years ago he asked the Trus-
tees to purchase an Arnoskeag engine,
but they disregarded his advice, be-
cause another one that was offered was
$500 cheaper, and they bought it. Since
that time it had cost nearly 81 LOO for
repairs, and was generally in the shop.
The agents at that time had asked
why he wanted a big engine at $500
more, and had offered all kinds of guar
antees, but when it broke down they
said it was all the fault of the depart
ment, and their guarantees amounted
to nothing
They talk so now, and have shown
the Mayor a photograph of their en-
CINE, but showed no blue prints with
their bids. He wanted an engine that
had been thoroughly tested, as the
Chiefs told him this had. The Cham
pion and Holloway engines are in use
in big Eastern cities, but he never saw
a Racine engine, and nobody seemed
to know anything about it.
The agent for the Racine Company.
being asked, admitted that the only
engines on this coast We're those in
combination with hose wagons. There
were none in San Francisco, he said,
because the Champion was the oldest
firm, but his engine was of the same
construction.
Trustee Devine said if they were
identical, he did not want to pay 81 100
more
Trustee Dolan said that there were
letters from a number of Chief En-
gineers, all recommending the Cham
pion, and eighteen of them say the
Champion against the world
Devine said he had seen the Cham
pion and first-rate machine, but he
moved to sustain the veto. No sec
ond.
Dolan moved to pass the contract
over the veto. Tebbets seconded it,
saying that he had talked with a num-
Der of prominent citizens, who said
Chief Guthrie had been sent to Salt
Lake, and had reported on his return
that the Fire Chiefs said the Champion
was the best.
Kent said the engines look alike, but
they are about as much alike as
Brewster or California buggy and the
Eastern buggies sent here to sell. If
we get a good article, we must pay
for it The Champion Company gives
the city sixty days trial, and will re-
place it with a sixty gallon If it does
not suit. He saw no hurt to the city
in taking the engine. Mayor Land
would do the same way in his private
business He would vote to pass the
contract over the veto.
Devine said he was willing to give
new man a chance, and would vote no.
Dolan said he should vote aye, for
the board had the result of the Chief
examination and should stand by him.
Mckay said he knew nothing about
the engines, but would vote aye on
the Chiefs recommendation.
The contract was adopted over the
Mayors veto by a vote of Z, Deyine
voting no.