El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-03
And the Highest Retained For
Investigation.
BOND BUYERS AGENTS
Objected To the Councils Mode OF Pro-
cedure, But Their Objections We're
Unavailing And Their Checks We're
Returned-If the Three Bids Prove
Of No Value Those Who Want To
Buy Wnl Be Given Another Chance
The City Cannot Lose By Its Ac-
ton.

The city council met in adjourned
rejected all the bids accompanied by
certified checks on established banking
institutions and held for considera-
ton those three bids Offering high
premiums for the bonds, but accompa-
MED by checks with strings tied TO
them. This action met with some dis
favor from bond buyers present, but
cannot lose by the adoption of this
scheme, as new bids can be called for
if the three high ones do not turn out
to be bona fide. Sos
THE PROCEEDINGS. ;.eE
When the city council assembled
this morning all members and the
mayor ae ain retired to the clerks
Office and held q secret session lasting
q half hour. tPo
At the close of the meeting, when
the council was called to order after
the private meeting, Alderman Badger
presented the following resolutions. o..
bids made upon the bonds of the city,
now offered for sale, except those here.
matter mentioned, being In the opin-
ion of the council too low, it Is resOlv-
ed that all bids be rejected except
those made by Briggs, Todd & Co. and
Duke M. Farson, and it is resolved
that these be held open for investiga-
ton. n
WATSON PROTESTS. n
Mr.. Watson, representing Mason
Lewis & Co. asked permission to be
heard. He said the resolution passed
by the council before opening the bids
was binding and legal and that any
contract to the contrary was void. He
RI
sustain his opinion.
Judge Kemp appeared to be slightly
''riled" when he got up from his seat.
"Any number of things have been
referred to me-" he said, and II will
just dispose OF this one now. The city
in advertising for bids reserved the
right to reject any and all that mig ht
be submitted.
moreover do not think the parties
who came here to buy these bonds
have any right to interfere or NEEDLE
with the acts of this council. AS the
of the city it is your
business to sell the bonds to the best
advantage. You are the judges of how
to proceed in this matter. and any rules
adopted are not binding"
Alderman Badger moved that the |
rule adopted last night applying to
certified checks be reconsidered. So |
ordered.
The roll call resulted in q vote of I
five for the Badger resolution with
one against it. Alderman Scott voted |
NO." stating that from all he could |
learn neither of the firms submitting
the high bids was responsible. Alder
man Burton voted ''yea," but stated
hat in his opinion all bids should be
rejected.
w. D. Elroy, representing w. J.
Hayes and son, asked that their bid be
made part of the proceedings 'sjust
% let his employers know that he had
been here and submitted bid So
Mr.. Watson asked to be hea I'd again
used the council that the deposit re-
luired should be q guarantee of pur.
chase and not be accepted as part
payment for the bonds. He suggested
hat letter be written to the firms
y hose bids had been accepted asking
hem to forward an unconditional
,heck.
lie said the Duke Farson bid was a re-
ord breaker and he hoped it was bona
ide. He asked for the return of his
'heck and the mayor instructed that
Ill checks accompanying rejected bids
,e returned.
CHANCE TO BID AGAIN.
The mayor stated that if it turned
nut that the high bids were not made
n good faith all those present would
,e permitted to bid again.
Watson said he hoped the next time
lids were calleds for the advertise
nent would state explicitly just what
lind Of check would be accepted.
Oldham, of Dallas, who furnished I