The age-herald., 1900-05-03
CONTRACT AWARDED TO FABRIC COMPANY City Council Ignores Protests of
 Local Dealers. THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS Americus, Ga, Offered Same Hose at GA Cents-Agent Makes Explanation
 A Lively Session = Other
 Business Transacted
TIE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS

The city council last night awarded the Fabric Fire Hose company of New York the contract for 4,OOO feet of fire hose at 80 cents per foot against the protest of the May and Thomas Hardware company and the Milner and Kettig company, both of whom submitted bids to supply the same amount of hose at 70 cents per foot.
 The contract was awarded to the New York company on the recommendation of the fire committee and the vote awarding it was unaSmous. The report of the commit tee and the fact that lower bids for hose represented to be equally as good if not better had been submitted, gave rise to a lengthy discussion in which almost every alderman present, ". H. Kettig, president of the Milner and Kettig company, Mir Hebert of the Fabric Fire Hose company and Chief Mnllin of the fire department participated.
 Summed Publicity Alderman Da1y, a member of the fire committee, felt agrieved that the action of the fire committee in recommending the acceptance of the Fabric Fire Hose con- pany's bid had been published in the Age Herald and stated that there was an inti- nation of fraud in the publication. He
 
 and denounced the intimation as without foundation. MT. Kettig denied any inten- ton to reflect on any member of the con- mittee or any one else and stated that there was charge of fraud or intentional wrong.
 colloquy between MT Kettig and Chief Mullln came near resulting, in personal encounter, but spectators came between the two men and prevented them getting to- eether. The difficulty grew out of the statement made by MT. Kettig that Chief Mullin had never recommended fire hose handled by local concern. This state- ment the chief branded as false, whereupon MT Kettig who had sat down jumped up from the chair he was occupying, at the same time remarking that he would not submit to any reflections upon his charac- ter, and started towards the chief In the noise and excitement of the moment fur ther remarks could not be understood By islanders stepped between the men and prevented them coming together.
 Mayor Drenuen Absent
 Mayor Drennen was not present at the meeting of the council on account of ill- ness, and Alderman Thach presided The following members of the board were pres ent: Aldermen Lynagh, Wheeler, Ram bow, Camp, Kerr Mcknight, Williams, McAnally, Graham, Moore and Jones' Chairman Jones of the fire department and water committee submitted the report Of his committee recommending the pur- chase of 4600 feet of fire nose from the Fabric Fire Hose company at 80 cents per foot. and moved the adoption of the re- port
 The following were the bids submitted to the committee and on which it acted when the recommendation was made:
 The Fabric Fire Hose company, B. B. woven at 50 cents per foot; guarantee for four years
 Also, A. A. woven at 65 cents per foot four year. guarantee.
 Also Keystone treated, at 80 cents per foot; five years guarantee
 May x Thomas Hardware company, Dragon woven at 80 cents per foot; five years guarantee.
 Milner & Kettig company, Peerless wo- ven at 70 cents per foot; four years guar antee.
 Also, Surprise woven at 70 cents per foot; four years guarantee.
 Penn Rubber company, Medoc woven, at v cents per foot; four years guarantee. Baker Fabric Hose company, woven, at 50 cents per foot; four years guarantee.
 The Protest
 MT. Kettig requested the clerk to read the following protest:
 Birmingham, Ala, May g. 1900. ''To the Hon. Mayor and Board of Alder
 men, Birmingham, Ala:
 Gentlemen-We, the undersigned mer- chants in the city of Birmingham, having fire hose for sale, noticed the following advertisement in the local papers, in heavy black type:
 "'BIDS WANTED.'"
 Sealed proposals will be. received at the office of the chief of the fire department until 12 o'clock noon. Monday, April 30, 19oO for furnishing the city 40OO feet of hose.
 Right is reserved to reject any and all bids.
 HARRY JONES, Chairman Fire Department and Water Service Committed :" Relieving that the above advertisement was inserted for the sole purpose of invit- ing competition, so that the city of Birm- ingham could purchase it's fire hose to the best possible advantage, and acting in good | faith, and in perfect confidence that jus | tice would be done to all parties, we sub | mitted proposals to your fire and water