The record-union., 1899-08-25


on the ground.
Then jenkins broke loose again. He
said that according to the agents state
nlent the vault could not be finished for
eight months and that as a matter OF
urgency for the safekeeping of the coin
to be taken in this fall it would be a
failure
There is absolutely no competition
in this matter" continued jenkins
.and it is our duty to the people who
send us here to get the best article at
the lowest figure. We generally see
Gastin and West together, and it would
be no surprise to me to learn that the
companies they represent have combin-
ed on this proposition. The proper
method is to first adopt plans and
specifications-ge our surveyor or hire
an expert, to draw them up-and then
advertise for bids and let the contract
to the lowest responsible bidder. That
is the method provided by law / don't
like paying out SS05l on a single bid
without giving other bidders a chance
AS matter of fact West put in a bid
this morning, which is said to be toe
late or something. don't know whether
together or not, but 1 do know we see
them together all the time, and I dc
know that it is our duty to adopt plans
and specifications and then advertise
for bids. We swore to do things ac-
cording to law when we took office and
the people will demand that we do so
This isn't a case of emergency and we
all know it. West, Gillis said, under
stood that he was expected to file plans
and specifications with the committee
and it looks. to me as though he and
Gastin were working together and only
one bid was intended
Gillis said that West understood the
plans and specifications were to be re-
ferred to an expert. and should have
got his in on time if he wanted it con
sidered
Mclaughlin said that West, or his
firm, had had sufficient opportunity tc
prepare plans and specifications, anc
that it looked as if they didn't want the
job.
I'm glad'' continued Mclaughlin
''to hear Jenkins take a stand in favor
of competition, for L never heard hin
declare himself that way before
We've tried to ADVERTISE said Cur
tbs, "and we found that all the bidders
combined. 1 think it would be a waste
of time to advertise now, and I don't
believe we could get the safe a cen1
cheaper by doing so. I don't believe the
bid of either firm would be as low as
the one now in"
Jenkins agreed that West had hat
plenty of time to send in plans anC
specifications. and considered that {
clincher for his argument that the tive
firms were in collusion respecting the
bid. In reply to Curtis. he said if bids
advertised for proved to be higher they
need not be accepted. He knew of only
one case where the county had ha(
work done which was not properly ad
vertised for, and that should have been
He referred, he said, to $4,000 spen
in repairing the Twelfth street bridge
and said the same would have beer
advertised for except for the fact thaf
it was impossible to tell just what wa:
wanted. That he said was the only
instance he recalled in eight years.
Then, as Jenkins subsided, Chairman
Curtis ordered the roll called. and tht
motion, adopting the plans and specifi
cations presented by and accepting the
bid of Herrin, Hall & Marvin, was car.
ried, Curtis. Gillis and Mclaughlin vot-
ing aye; jenkins coming in with an EN-
phatic mol"
Then Jenkins wanted to know about
the contract which was to follow the
acceptance Of the bid, and he wanted
to thoroughly understand the motion
just carried.
He was informed that it was usua
for the District Attorney to draw the
contract, and the clerk for his infor.
nation, read the motion upon which
the vote had just been taken. He sup
posed there was no need of haste.
Mr.. Gastin. the bid of whose firm hat
been accepted, interposed at this point
and said he saw no reason for deferring
the matter. He thought the contrac
could be drawn UP and signed by tht
Chairman in twenty minutes.
Then Clerk Gallup wanted to know
what was to be done with the bid O.
the Diebold Safe and Vault Company
which had been received and duly filed
| though it still remained unopened
Gillis moved that the bid be returned
to Mr.. West, the vault company's rep
resentative. for the reason that it haC
not been filed with the Building Com
mittee in time for action by that body
He doubted. however. whether the mo
tion was ecessary-whether, in no
/ coming from the committee, it was no
/ improperly before the board and hat
no business there.
Jenkins suggested that inasmuch a.
the bid of the other company had beer
accepted that the bid be opened in or
der to settle his suspicion that tn,
companies were acting together. and t,
find whether or not the bids were iden
tical aud that only one bid was in
tended.
Mr. West wanted to know from Gilli
what he was expected to bid on.
Why" replied Gillis. ION a first-clas
job"
"A first-class job" sighed Jenkins
and then the motion returning to MI
West his bid was carried. and a shor
intermission was taken to allow tim
to draw up the proposed contract
| In few minutes the contract ap
/ peared. and after it had been read, Nc
Laughlin moved that it be adopted
and the motion was carried-AYas. Cur
/ tbs, Mclaughlin and Gillis; no, jenkins
THE next time jenkins buys a, thous
and dollar wagon" said Gillis, Will
Chairman Curtis was affixing his sigma
| ture to the contract. I'VE will see that i
/ is advertised for"
THAT wagon" retorted Jenkins. "wa
bought by me last spring. for use il
my district, and was authorized by tn
unanimous vote of every member pres