The Saint Paul globe., 1903-11-10

A session extraordinary of both the
board of aldermen and the assembly
will be held this evening. They are
called at the instance of Mayor Smith,
who wants the members to reconsider
their action regarding the throwing out
of the iron lamp-post bids.
Assemblyman Van Slyke tried to
force a reconsideration by his own
body at an adjourned meeting last
night, but failed. Only six members
were present and three of them, AS
semblymen Whitcomb, Rosen and
Doran, voted against any such action.
Those who voted for it were Assembly,
men Haas, Van Slyke and Vice Presi-
dent Schurmeier.
"The council made a very bad mis-
take, and one I certainly hope 1t will
rectify, in not awarding the contract
for lamp-posts to the lowest bidder"
said Mayor Smith yesterday. "Of
course, there is sympathy with the
Cleveland Vapor company, which was
instrumental in materially lowering the
price the city pays for gasoline light
ing, but in a case of this kind sentl-
ment should have no place. Seeger
should have been made to comply with
the specification he could have been
compelled to do so under the super
vision of the city engineer. Had this
been done the city would have bought
it's lamp posts at large saving"
All yesterday afternoon was con-
sumed by the board of public works
and Corporation Attorney Michael In
preparing the new specifications which
a tn a bids
for posts, but if the councils action
for throwing out the bids is reconsider
ed this evening, there will be no need
of them.
AS an excuse for their vote those Of
the councilmen who have so far refused
to admit that they erred, back their
position with the statement that they
consider the poles of the American De-
velopment company junk. Assembly
man Whitcomb still sticks to this con-
tention and refuses to be moved by the
argument that the specifications are
the city's safeguard N- 'sr
1t leaked out yesterday that at the
star chamber session last Thursday
but for the stand of three of the mem
bers who held out, the contract for the
posts would have been awarded to the
Cleveland Vapor Light company de-
spite the fact that the American De-
V6lOpmenC company ndQ uIUerDlQ II
over $4,000. One member of the three
persisted in standing for the American
Development company, and this saved
the day, though it did not give the
lowest bidder the contract. %ss% ~
The post controversy now threatens
to involve the annual placing of con-
tracts for street illumination. To in
sure an early placing of the contract,
which goes into operation the first of
the year, specifications for the several
kinds should be on file now, but moth
ing in that line has so far been prepar-
ed. Assemblyman Van Slyke last night
at the meeting of the assembly intro
duced a resolution providing for an
immediate call for bids and specifying
Nov. 25 as the date of opening. There
was some question as to the wording
of the resolution, and it was sent to the
legal department, to be returned to
the meeting of the council tt g. even
ing.
Mr.. Van Slyke informed the assembly
that if the city wanted competition
in It's lighting it must begin early in
seeking proposals. Should the work
pass from the hands of the present
contractor to a new one, a period of
darkness would result if the matter was
left until the last. This was the case
two years ago. when many sections of
the city lighted by gasoline were in
darkness several weeks.