The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-06
INSIDE ON THE
TAX BOOK AWARD
Why Bains Vas Awarded Contract
Over Hewitt.
The LATTER HAD TWO BIDS
One for $4,000 and Another for
$4,000.
COMMITTEE DIDN'T SEE THEM
Thought That Both Bids Were the
Same-Pearce Moved to Accept
Baine's Because He Was
Out of Work
COMMITTEE DIDN'T SEE THEM

making the city tax record book for the
year 1899 to Tom Baine at $500 has been the
subject of adverse criticism arising from
the fact that is was alleged that a bid at
$500 was submitted by Frank Hewitt, Jr
At the meeting of the city council some
time ago the finance committee was author
lied to contract for a tax record book at
a price not to exceed $500 This book is
made up annually from the county tax
records and is used by the city tax asses
scr and tax collector in systematizing the
work of assessing and collecting city
taxes.
Camp Got a Patent
Several years ago County Auditor A. J.
Camp, who was at the time connected with
the city government, patented a system of
"blacking'' to be used in the record book
which is said to greatly facilitate the
work of the assessor.
This system has been used In several of
the books, but was not required in the
specifications made out for this years
record, which called for book not to 'in-
fringe on the Camp system"
Some days after the meeting of the city
council a meeting of the finance committee
was held and the contract awarded to Mr..
Baine as above stated.
The first intimauon the public had that
Mr.. Hewitt had put in bid at a lower
figure developed at the meeting of the city
council on last Wednesday night, when
Alderman Mcknight asked for a report
from the committee. In the absence of
Chairman Gray, Alderman Pearee report
ed that the contract had been awarded to
AToT- ,i,71,t
stated that he had been informed that Mr..
Hewitt had submitted bid at 500.
Said No Bids Were Submitted
In reply to this, Mr.. Pearce stated that
there were no bids submitted to the meet
ing of the committee, but that it was un-
derstood that there were two bids at the
same figures, and that the contract was
awarded to Mr.. Eaine.
Mr.. Hewitt was seen yesterday at the
court house and when asked by an Age
Herald reporter If he had submitted a bid
to make the city tax record book, said
Eyes, 1 submitted a bid in writing to
Henry B. Gray, chairman of the finance
committee, in which 1 offered to make the
book according to specifications without
the Camp system for $500, or with the
Camp system at $500, and l was somewhat
surprised when L heard that the contract
had been awarded to Mr.. Baine at 5000, hav-
ing been also informed that the Camp sys-
TEN was not required.
1.-THE book is compiled from records in
the county tax assessors office, with which
1 am thoroughly familiar, and my bid was
bona fide. l am willing to make the book
for Mr. Baine at 800, giving him the op
portunity to pocket the s10O difference, as
1 will make it for the city at the same
figures"
Mr.. Hewitt made no criticism of the
award, and stated that he had only men,
toned the fact of his having put in a bid
to few personal friends.
Knew Nothing of Hewitt's Bid
Alderman Pearce a member of tie
finance committee stated that he knew
nothing of Mr.. Hewitt's bid of $780,
81 came into the committee meeting"
said Mr.. Pearce, after the matter had been
taken up, and understood that there were
two bids at the same figures. Mayor Ev-
ans was in the chair, and Mr.. Kerr moved
that the contract DO awarded to Mr. Hew
lit AS a substitute 1 moved that it be
awarded to Mr.. Baine. which was seconded
by Mr.. Gray, and carried.
"My only object in wanting to give the
contract to Mr.. Baine was the fact that
he needed work. while Mr.. Hewitt had a
good position, and l am always in favor
of helping the fellow who is down. If MIR.
Hewitt's bid for the same work had been
one cent less would have voted to give It
to him"