Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-21

l the High school is the same as was Ill the Park hotel that blew up in Hart l ford some years ago. If the public | knew how some of the schools are l heated they would learn of some start ling facts. I stand for Daly and Bar 1 low, and I will stand by them until am convinced they are not competent. The mayor: "Gentlemen: there is no discretion left Us in this matter. l We advertised to the world at large for bids and according to the charter the lowest man must get the contracts. | That's all there's to it.
 Commissioner Cowel1 then quoted l the erection of the court house on Lea venworth street as an instance in | which the contract was not given to | the lowest bidder.
 Commissioner Hayes recalled an in- stance of some years ago in which | there was competition between local and New Haven contractors for build- ing a public building in New Haven. | The local men were S10,OOO lower l than the New Haven men and yet their bids were thrown out. At sec ond call for bids Waterbury contrac- | tors were SG,000 lower than the New Haven men. and yet they were not | given the contract This seemed to nettle the mayor. for with wonderful
 warmth and vigor he turned toward
 the last speaker and said:
 And that is to the everlasting dis grace of the city of New Haven. | Prominent men have told me all about that They said they advertised for the lowest bidder and yet they turned them down. If they had restricted the bids to New Haven it would be an- other thing. Even to this very day
 men said that it,is a disgrace to New ! Haven
 Commissioner Hayes: ''We've had | great experience with contractors from
 various parts of the country. We
 were given gilt edge securities that the | heating apparatus in the (here he men, | toned a few local schools would last
 for years. vet we find they have to be
 taken out long before the expiration of
 the gilt edged security. and others will
 soon follow.", Then. with increased
 warmth. he continued: ''W'e are deal
 ing with responsible men when we
 are dealing with Mir Daly or AIr Bar
 low. I propose that before any con-
 tract is given the contractor shall give
 a guarantee of three or five years that
 his work shall be sufficient 10 what is
 expected of it. As public servant" :"
 the speaker was very emphatic and
 warm now, Gas a public servant.
 propose to look after the taxpayer
 first. last and all the time. Local con-
 tractors would rather remove a defi-
 cient system put up by them rather
 than that it should give any bother.
 The Driggs and High schools are un-
 satisfactorily heated and, by the way,
 I have two children in the High school.
 The teacher complains of the cold,
 and many of them have been made i'll
 on account of insufficient heat. To | fl 4nn In 1n Nitr ,x.bI slP n
 compelled to wear shawls when they
 leo-n thnir. rocr"~'
 The mayor: "Why not restrict bids
 to local contractorsT'
 Commissioner Goodenough. who was remarkably silent up to this, here
 iumDed up and began to speak. What
 he said was lost in the commotion that
 followed. for Commissioners McDon-
 aid and Hayes literally jumped on him
 for taking the specifications out of
 the office the morning after the con- tracts were awarded and making per
 sonal use of them.
 "Gentlemen." put in the mayor. "thls
 is all irregular. all irregular. We ca''
 not compromise with the charter and
 I will not sign any contract for either Mir Barlow or MT Daily. or anyone else,
 unless he Is the lowest bidder" Commissioner Cowell held the board had something to say in matters of this kind and that it was not all left
 with the charter.
 The mayor replied that in the first
 place the committee on hygiene and
 schools did not advertise for bids, and
 thereby did not conform to the char fer. To this Commissioner Tilmartin
 said he informed the local architects
 ftn 1ot fin, bo fro6 6r
 journals. He thought this was suffi- , cient. Commissioner Mcdonald re. . marked with quiet dignity. though
 with tone of being offended in his voice. that he voted for the man whom he thought was the lowest bidder, talk ing everything into consideration. Nc one. he said. had the right to construe his motives by anonymous letters in the public press limiting at iobbery sThere was no jobbery that I knew of; if there was. and from the way ,, read the anonymous letter the author ,, of that letter knew something about
 it. I have read the charter and I be lieve it gives us the right to exercise f our best judgment. I am sorry this f came out, very sorry"
 Commissioner Goodenouch, the sus s pected author of the letter in question  : martin cried Shame! Shame." t Commissioner Mcdonald. turning tt : Commissioner Kilmartin. That's ex :. actly what people said to me. Twas } in the papers, "Yes," put in Commissioner Hayes 2 E "and was written by q member of thi; ! | board"
 Commissioner Goodenough rose tt n defend himself, but slight attention n | was paid to him. Commissioner
 Hayes then read section seven of tht , charter, which. from his interpretation ! gave the board considerable power il } transacting matters like that in ques l tion. Commissioner Mcdonald repeat 2 ed his motion. amending the minutes 9 so that they should include the figures 7 of the contracts awarded to Messrs f Daily and Barlow.
 9 Commissioner Goodenough theI . arose and caused the sensation of tht .