Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-21

City Dads Will Do the Sore ening
IAN Interesting Situation
:, Council.
Some Z has blundered-either the
city council or the contractors to whom
was awarded the big job of screening
and hauling about Is 900 yards of cinders
Tor the sewage disposal plant-and as u
result the city Will pay 1925 for the priv
i'ege of releasing the contractors from
the fulfllment of a contract awarded.
by the city, but which the firm refused
stc sign after they had made prepara
tons to proceed withthe work. Both the.
special sewage committee and the con-
tractors, 1t seems, are somewhat to
.balme-the former for not furnishing
definite specifications and insisting on
work proceeded, and the latter for fail
IRE to insist on the SAME items
Several weeks ago the council received
lids for screening and hauling to the
sewage plant the necessary cinders With
which to line the twelve large filter beds
the most expensive item in connection
with the sewage plant. Ellie & Dunn
were the lowest bidders and the council
awarded them the contract. The firm
al once made preparations to proceed
with the work, but after screening
plant was erected at the glucose works,
where a large part Of the material will
bic procured the sewage committee pre-
sented a contract for Ellie & Dunn's
signature. 1t was in the drawing up of
this document that the hitch occurred,
the contractors insisting they had been
assured by the mayor and other mem
Eers of the sewage committee that the
Lenders would be delivered to their
screening plant. located sixty or seventy
fleet from the boiler rooms of the glu-
scose factory Both the committee and
the glucose people deny making any
I,srch promise ard all efforts to reach an
agreement failed. An adjourned meet
Ing of the council was held Saturday
might to decide on ascourse of action. All
1.-The members We're present and it was
concluded to settle the question at once
| The question came up on the report oil
| AIR. Benson, Of the special committee
lsappolnted to investigate the whole mat
tier, contract and ALL He said they had
lattempted to secure trackage privileges
lat the packing house. with the idea OF
Ihauling the glucose cnd-rs to that
|groint. and had failed. They had also
|Sobtaincd figures on the cost of building
IA roll screening plant, including an ele.
yator, which would entail an expense Of
less than $500. Mr.. Benson also reported
That no compromise could be effected
4 With Iclzie &, Dunn, and that the firm
plant erected at the glucose works is no
ladequate to the demands. The contrac
/ tars' lowest offer to compromise, throw
]sup the contract and turn their Screening
i plant over to the city was $3.50. The.
lclaim TO have been to the additional ex
pense of shipping in forty head of horses
| and having them sharp shod for tn,
work. their whole expense being abou
$500. Mr.. Fisher thought if the contrac
sftors had Numbered they ought to beaS
a portion of the expense and he though
A $3.50 a liberal sum. Finally the council
Il voted to offer them $500. the city to TAX
4 the lumber screens and material AMI
4 Call il square. Mr.. Fisher was the onl,
I one voting against this proposition. Thi
II cffer was at once presented to the con
tractors and was refused but after eau
cusing for an hour the matter was com
slsrromised at 1928. Messrs. Kreutzer ant
4 Fisher voting against.
Il The council will now proceed to erec
a screening plant of its own, using sucl
4 OF the material of the Ellie & Dun
" plant as 1t can, and will let theacontrac
J for hauling the screened cinders to TIL
sewage plant. Bids will be received at
! meeting to be held "Wednesday evening
and an effort will be made to have til
4 specifications so plain that neither cit
nor contractor can misunderstood re
I garding just what is wanted. Mayo
Il Fierce says compromise with Ellie
} Dunn would not have been entered int
had not the council the assurance tina
4 a much lower bid would be received an
q saving finally be made. This remain
Ito be seen, but 1t is hoped that Nj
Pierce is. correct In his conjecture.
I While in caucus the council discusse
the proposed change from belted to
directly connected generator for tn
electric power plant. and in the ope
VI session that followed peculiar situa
ton developed. On motion to appoin
) n committee to consult With the S
\ Louis Electrical Supply Company re
! earding the change Messrs. Kreutzel
J Fisher and Kirby asked to be excuse
from voting, because, while they posi-
5 bly, may favor the change. a vote for
would be an open acknowledgements o
4 their part of the validity of the contrac
with the st. Louis company. DIR. Ha,
Ills demanded an aye and nay vote an
on the roll call the three councime
who had asked to be excused voted n,
The committee was then appointed. an
consists of Messrs BENSON, Harris an
Henry. the mayor evidently wishing |
compliment Messrs. Benson and Henr
flor their acknowledgement that til
mayor had won in the contention cor
corning the electric plant.
A CITIZENS SUGGESTION.
siayoralty Question A Practic.
Unity of Action n eces
sary.
Editor es-Republican: see
6 Saturdays issue of your paper that ID
n kGetz announces himself 2. candidate 4,
2 mayor, and sets forth his platforr
,,rft1e ,al1 IL, fy,racfinv