Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-01
ube Jnoepenoent
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER |, 1899.
LETTING OF ELECTRIC CONTRACT.

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the warmest discussions on a NUM-
cipal matter that the citizens have
experienced since the town began.
Early in the proceedings, the In
dependent took hand in the mat
ter, when the mayor and a majority
of the aldermen were in favor of
municipal ownership and when it
seemed that nothing but municipal
ownership would be entertained.
The mayor was pronounced in favor
of city ownership and at one meet
ing of the council openly avowed
that he would never allow the CITY
to enter into a ten-year contract. He
was convinced that The city should
and could own and operate the cleo
trio plant. For several weeks the
Independent labored on this issue
and not only proved TO the people
that the city could not consistently
purchase the plant at this time and
that it was doubtful if there could be
saving, even if it could do 50, but
the independents argument Won
over the mayor and practically ev-
ery member of the council. Its
suggestion to open the matter to
competitive bidding was finally
adopted. The council decided to
ask for sealed bids. Three bids
were furnished, one ~ the Nj. w.
Simons Electric Light and Power
plant, one by Wn. EVERY, and one
by the Famous company of Chicago.
The bids were all reasonable, the
acceptance of any one of which
would have been good contract on
the part of the city.
But here another point was raised.
in which the Independent took a
decided stand, and it is proud of its
course. 1t was not question of ex-
pediency for the benefit of the city,
for the city was secure in the &C
ceptance of either bid. All were
low bids and each bidder would
have cheerfully made notifications
to suit the wishes of the council,
had the council given the opportun-
ity to all. This it did not do. From
start to finish, it favored the Famous
company. 1t, first of all, appropri-
ated $50 to pay for plans and speci-
cations for bidders to base their fig
ures upon, and strange as it may
seem, employed a representative of
the Famous company to draw up
those plans, wholly at variance with
every principle of fairness.
Next, when the bids were sub
mitted, the representative of the
Famous company was invited to
doctor his bid to meet the require
ments of the council, but neither of
the other bidders were given sim
liar opportunity Notwithstanding the
fact that they stood ready to do SO
and only asked fair and honorable
considerations fact to be placed
on an equal footing with the Fa-
nous company. This the majority
of the council refused.
So far as the public was concerned
and so far as the Independent was
concerned, the matter was consider
ed ended when the council decided
to grant the contract to the lowest
bidder. The municipal ownership
"bug-aboo" was out of the way and
the best interests of the city were
guaranteed.
But when the council commenced
its unjust, unfair treatment of MIR.
Simons and Mr.. Everly, the indie
pendent took up their cause in the
interest of "fair play" and "square
dealing" During this discussion, the
interests of the city were not in
volved. Its rights hal been guar
anteed when the sealed bids were
opened. Thencefor,h, it was simply
contest to determine whether right
conduct should prevail over wrong
whether or not our municipal gov
eminent could afford to resort to any
procedure that failed to appeal to the
consciences of men who believe i'm