The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-19
cRTIcIsEs I, YOUNG Mr.. HAAS
ING INSPECTOR AND THE
ELEVATOR CABS
Joint Court House and City Hall
Commission Finally Settles the
Trouble After a Pointed Dis
cussion of officials and Others.

The joint city hall and court house
squabble over the letting of the con-
tract for the two new elevator cabs
for the court house by subrogating the
award of the sub-contract for the cabs
to the Capitol City Wire works for
the sum of $685. The meeting, which
was attended by all the members of
the commission, developed a few acri-
monious discussions between the chair
man, Mayor Kiefer, and Building In
SpectOr Haas. r
Local Manager Craig, of the Eaton &
Prince company which has two cabs
in the basement that were built at Chi
cage In alleged violation of the. con-
tract. explained that since the last
meeting of the board he had been to
local firms aud asked for bids on the
new cabs. OF five concerns notified,
only two had responded with bids. and
the lowest Of these was the bid Of the
Capitol City Wire works.
The Capitol City Wire works bid
was on the basis of a duplication Of
the rejected cabs in the basement, and
since the cabs that'it was agreed to
duplicate have been neither unpacked
nor inspected by the building inspector,
this raised a very interesting point.
Manager Case, of. the company. said
that he had just returned from out of
! town and had never seen the specifica-
tons, although he was aware that they
were on file in the office of Mr.. Craig.
He bad. however. been down in the
basement and pried back the cases
containing the Chicago cabs, so that
| he was enabled to get a fair idea of
what they We're like.
Mayor Kiefer thought Mr.. Cases
+ conduct had been tNery unbusinesslike,
and perempterilyf ordered Custodian
Gerlich to summon Building Inspector
Haas. During the intermission that
followed the mayor said a number of
| unkind things about Mr.. Haas, and
when that gentleman finally appeared
the mayor reBlarked severely:
1T is pity that you cannot give us
the information that the board has a
right to ask" -
Then the building inspector explain
ed that he had never seen the Chicago
| cabs and had no idea what they
| were like, except that he presumed
they were in accordance with the spect :
| fcations. ~ $500 g.
Everybody took a hand in a general
discussion, and finally, after Mr. Case
had expressed a willingness to follow
| the specifications and the representa-
t1ve@of the Chicago firm had promised
| to unpack the sample cabs. Commits
sioner Hardick introduced a resolution.
that was passed. granting a three
weeks extension of time to allow of
the construction by the St. Paul firm.
| AS there is penalty of So a day for
completion Of the contract that has
already been running for a considerable
time, the question was raised by Com
! missioner Quehl whether the time al
lowance would have an effect on the
penalty incurred. No conclusion could
| be reached
| Secretary Drummond read a COM
munication from Comptroller McCardy
returning unapproved the allowance on
contract of $4,000 passed at the last
| meeting Of the commission.
l. The reasons assigned were:V
/ .First-The estimate Is not itimized There
| Is nothing to show by items whether n$4Oo or
! 600 worth Of labor and material have been
| furnished. ,e .'-.,.t,,,,, .,tl.{ai. !
second-It does not show that the Is Der
cent reservation Of $500 for the,-oldr elevator
! is not deducted.
!Third.The item of s4oo for+the old elevator
| Fourth-Afidavits showing that all work
and labor has been paid for. for which this
estimate is asked, have not. been filed as pro-
| ytded in contract.
Fifth-Information is respectfully solicited
as to whether the penalty for non fulillment
of the contract as to time Of completion has
been reached.
The bill upon which this criticism is based
Is dated Dec. a. and reads:
To material and labor for two hydraulic
! passenger elevators with tanks pumps pip
| ing. etc.. for St. Paul court house, as per
contract of Sept. g. 1888
| The communication was tabled
County Auditor Johnson presented a
| requisition foraa carpet for his private
| office. He did not want the Brussels
| because of. his personal comfort. but
| he felt that It was demanded by the
| dignity of the Office. The request was
| referred to the committee on supplies.