Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-26
Council Should Have Right to Con-
slider Bids.

StoSt SsNSs
"The best proposal received for the
paving of East Market street." said
Councilman Fiebeger today, "most ia
vOrable to the residents of that street
because for ten years it insured the
smoothest possible roadway, best Tor
the city because it held the city free
Of all expense 10 maintain, was the
sheet asphalt bid Of the Gilsonitc
company of st. Louis, rated for from
100000 to 100000.
"The proposal of this company, base
on ten-year guarantee, was $685.
505.O5. The McGowan bid on block
asphalt, with only fve-year guaran-
tee, was $92, ,6S3.O2. Thus for only
$012.O3 more than the McGowan bid,
under contract with the Gilsonite COM
pany perfect roadway could have peen
secured and maintained for ten
years. The Gilonite bid was
accompanied by certified check Of
81 900 as a guarantee that the contract
would be properly executed. This bid
was declared Irregular and thrown
out before the other bids were reported
to the Council SO that Council had no
opportunity TO consider it.
"Tf the Council shall be neld equally
responsible with the Commissioners.
all bids should be opened before a
board, composed of Council committee
and Commissioners. AS 1t is at pres
ent, in accordance with the present
Akron state law, the Commissioners
are the only Board present at the open
ing of the bids, and, as was the case
on East Market street, declared The
Gilsonite bid irregular, and later de-
clared irregular and threw out all bids
below the Wildes and NIcCourt bids,
leaving only these bids to be voted up,
ON by the Council
"rhe Council might have rejected
these bids as referred to it by the
Board and delayed the work. l ack'
nowledge that I made a mistake IN
voting to award this contract aud
should have supported Mr.. Pauls mi
nority report but acting on the infor
matoin then at hand, voted to accept
the committees report.
"The Committee of Fifty, the East
Market street attorneys and the cltl
zens Of Akron know In what particu
lar their local government is lame and
it is within their power to correct the
existing evils IL they choose. A citi
zens' movement should be undertaken
at once looking to the amendment OF
the Commissioner law so-called un
der which Akron Is governed. The
amendment should provide among 9th
er thing for the election Of the Com
missioners by popular vote; and the
discretion of the Council In the mat
ter Of concurring in contracts shoult
be extended. This will go to the very
root of the trouble Of which the peo
pie are now complaining.
Does any one think that the Com
missioners would have exposed them
selves to censure In any matter affect
ingg the public interests had any of tn
Commissioners been before the peopl
for reelection this spring. You pa.
them well to take care OF your interest
but you have no control over their act
and cannot at the ballot box expires
; your approval or disapproval. Hence
they are independent Of you.
II do not want to be understood a
, criticizing the personnel OF the presen
Board OF Commissioners. regar
| them as being more than ordinaril
capable, being contractors and fami
! lar with all branches Of city worl
: lii the future the people cannot OK
lpcct 10 have more capable men upo