Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-05-02
This paper is entered in the Post Office at Wood
bury N j., as second-cLGSs matter.


After the adjournment of Council Tues
day evening, Chairman Best characterized
the award of the contract to r. d. Wood
& Co. to furnish pump to the city as "a
$500 steal, and the only reply vouchsafed
was that sit was not the only steal"
With the truth or falsity of Mr.. Best's
assertion, or the retort, we have nothing to
say now, but we desire briefly to call atten-
ton to the insufficiency of the argument
that because in the first bidding one firm
underbid the other, that fact gave them
greater claim on the city than was enjoyed
by their competitor.
Because r. d. Wood & Co. bid lower
price for an article that the city did not
want than Henry r. Worthington did for
an article that the city had no use for, is nc
reason why, when both firms did bid for
the article that the city required, the
Woods were entitled to bonus of $500, OF
any other sum.
Both firms responded to the second invi-
tation for bids with thorough knowledge
of what was wanted; the former bids were
annulled with the consent of both parties,
and both firms submitted the price at which
they would furnish the work under the new
specifications. There is no claim that one
firm is more responsible, will furnish a
better article or will do better job than
the other; no claim of unfairness in any OF
the proceedings, and the people can but be
impressed that favoritism and prejudice
possessed the minds of majority of Council
in awarding this contract
Since the above was placed in type we
learn of a movement among citizens to
apply for a writ of certiorai to take the
award to the Supreme Court. That is the
citizens right and only recourse. Consider
ations of justice to every interest demand a
judicial determination of this remarkable
action of majority of City Council.
A friendly suit, to test the constitution
ality of the new school law, has its origin
in Jersey City. On advice of Corporation
Counsel Allan L. McDermott, City Council
has refused to appoint the Board of School
Estimate, and mandamus proceedings have
been instituted. Argument will take place
at the June term of the Supreme Court.
The attention of parents is called to the
raoant amepdmant to tho cohool lowe md or
which the amount of money received by the
school district is based upon the actual
attendance at school. Every absence from
school is therefore not only loss to the
pupil in neglected lessons, but it also adds
to the local tax that must be paid for main
tanning the school.
Having control of the common carriers
on land, and the material from which the
conveyances are largely constructed, j.
Pierpont Morgan has turned his attention
to gaining control of the water carrying
vehicles, and late reports indicate that he is
in fair way to ultimately control the car
rying trade of the Atlantic, Pacific and
Mediterranean. Then he will be ready for
the Ship Subsidy bill.
Bishop Potter recently visited Philadel-
phia, where he was indiscreet enough to
make some remarks about official corrup-
ton. Provost Harrison, of the University
of Pennsylvania, is friend of Bishop Pot
ter Therefore the Quay machine in the
Pennsylvania Legislature proposes to de-
prive the University of its appropriation.
becoming sensitive in these days, and it
will not do to criticise them unless you are
sure that your friends as well as yourself
can stand the consequences.