The record-union., 1899-03-03
"A DOOR OPENED FOR PECULA-
:. TON

There was reported to the Senate
yesterday a bill from the Committee
on County Government a substitute
for Senate bill 3OS. concerning the gov
eminent Of counties. that radically. rev.
plutionarily rips up the original bill
and introduces some amazing PROPOSE
tions concerning county work done
under Supervision of the Boards of
Supervisors
One of these propositions is of such
Importance that we invite especial at
tention to it. Section 20 Of the present
law, and of the bill as originally in
troduced, provides that Supervisors are
empowered to lay out and construct
maintain and repair roads, bitches for
drainage and the like, chutes, wharves
and bridges. But that if a bridge, wharf
or chute is to cost for construction over
SOC the board must prepare plans
and specifications, ETC., and advertise
for bids to be based thereon.
The committee bill raises the $500 to
$500, and substitutes for the word
must" the words may In their dis
erection advertise for bids" accom-
panied by plans, strain sheets, working
details. ETC., and upon the day so adj
vertised, may adopt plans and let the
contract for the construction of the
work in conformity with the plans"
No bond is required of the contractor,
but under the present law he is re-
quired to give sufficient bond and it
must be approved.
Thus 1t will be seen that the proposed
nluended.law throws down the bars and
permits the Boards of Supervisors to
Join with contractors and loot the coun-
ty treasury, with no safeguards in the
interests of the people whatever, and
throws the panoply of legality around
business man would tolerate in private
concern of similar magnitude.
Under the law as it stands, when the
Supervisors are to order such work
they must adopt plans, specifications,
strain sheets, etc. and advertise for
bids; all people desiring to bid are to
have opportunity to do so and the sue
cessful bidder must give bond for
faithful performance. Under the pro-
posed law as advertised by the COM
mittee bill, we are to return to an old
system, condemned of all the people,
and as full of opportunity for rascality
as an egg is of meat, namely, the bid
ders are to accompany their bids with
pare plans and require bidders to bid
according to them. But the present re-
<uuirement Of a bond for faithful per-
formance is omitted. Worse than all,
the Boards of Supervisors are allowed
to adopt plans and accept bids upon
the very,day upon which they advertise
Thus not one of the people will have
an opportunity or time to examine the
offers, pass upon or protest against
them
The existing laws regarding road
matters in this State are sufficiently
conflicting. obscure and involved, not
to say absolutely contradictory, and
already allow road and other county
work to be done without the ordinary
safeguards which are thrown around
all other public work. We submit that
We're funds for jail, a Courthouse, or a
hospital to be expended as road funds
are allowed to- be used, there would re-
suit scandals which would set the whole
State by the ears, and raise storm
of indignant protest.
But these amendments are evidently
drafted with a clear and present pur-
pose to make connivance and fraud
more easy. Indeed, if one wanted to
frame a law for looting public funds
he could scarcely construct an Act
which would afford him broader oppor-
tunity.
Can any one possibly offer explana-
ton why the present provision for Civ
ing q bond for the faithful performance
Of work on county bridges, chutes,
wharves and shipping facilities. is
stricken out? Is the provision retained
somewhere else in the 210 pages Of the