The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-09
Objects to Method of Awarding
Heating Contracts.
FAVORS TO ONE FIRM
SAYS Others Are Not Given OPP
pOrtunity to Bid.
Members of Board Treat His
Suggestions Lightly.


of the board was decidedly against
him, but Roudebush refused to sur
render or even retreat when he had
really been defeated.
The contest came up over the motion
of W. IL. Wilson for the board to en-
.ploy the firm of Lewis 6, Kitchen, of
Kansas City, as heating plant archi-
Etects for the new high school building.
THE plan for heating the new high
rschool and the present high school
building. that is being considered by
the board is the system of one heating
plant for the two buildings. The board
kof education found out. after spending
thousands of dollars for heating plants
that would do better as refrigerating
systems, that the cheapest plant in the
end is the best. For that reason the
board members. individually and col
lectively. decided long ago to have all
new buildings heated in the best man
ner possible and to have the heating
plants designed by experts who under
stand the business.
Mr.. Wilson moved that Lewis &
Kitchen. who have put in several good
heating plants for the board, be en-
ployed as heating engineers for the
new high school building. The price
suggested in payment was 49, per
cent of the contract price of the plant
when the contract is let. Mr. Roude-
bush thought he saw a bit of irregl-
larity. little double dealing-in other
words. a straight out and out graft
MI Roudebush remembered that Lewis
& Kitchen were the contractors who
put IN the Lowman Hill heating plant
It seems to me that people are shut
out from bidding by the actions of this
board" said Mr.. Roudebush. The de-
mand was made, when the bids were
called for, that the heating plant at
Lowman Hill be put in within 80 days
and that there should be a forfeit of
$40 paid by the contractor for each day
after the expiration of 80 days with the
plant unfinished. The provisions made
A. Impossible for any one but Lewis &
Kitchen of Kansas City to bid. Other
bidders living much further away were
barred by the 80 days clause. Instead
of the plant being in operation in 30
days 1t was 60 days after the contract
was let. l demand that Lewis &. Kitch-
en- pay the $40 a day. [ don't believe in
that kind of business on the part of the
board"
Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the building
committee, came to the rescue of Lewis
q Kitchen. THE contractors had the
heating plant installed in less than 80
days" said Wilson. Another contrac-
tor, who had the contract for putting on
the Ventilator, was the one at fault and
he was 30 days behind"
The $40 penalty was not attached to
the vent1lator contract" said Roude-
bush, and was only imposed in connec-
ton with the heating plant. It was a
scheme to keep other bidders out and
we paid too much for the plant. The
board does not give other bidders a
chance. Under the 80 day limit con-
tractors in Chicago and Cincinnati and
other eastern cities cannot compete with
the Kansas City firm"
There was nothing in. the call for
Dlds specifying the 80 day limit" said
Wilson. That was imposed after the
contract was let"
I beg to differ with you and I viii
call for the minutes of the meeting to
be read said Roudebush
Mr.. Wilder interpolated the SUCCESS
ton that 212 per cent would be a suffi-
cient fee.
Lewis & Kitchen will put REQUIRE
ments and restrictions in their plans
that will keep everyone else from bid
ding for the contract said Roudebush.
This system will keep other bidders
There are no patents on the heating
devices and anyone can bid" said ME
Wilder.
Il am told by other bidders that
Lewis and Kitchen will put in require
ments that other bidders can not carry
out" said Roudebush
expect that is true said Mr..
Wilder. There are some bidders who
can not do good work.
Superintendent Davidson poured a
little oil on the troubled water by call
ing attention to the fact that the heat
ing of the two high school buildings
would be the most important heating
problem in the city not including the
state house. I'VE have had it demon
strated that Lewis and Kitchen under
stood the requirements and can make
good plans" said Mr.. Davidson.
We need some one who understands
his business in that line the same as
an architect in planning a building .
ID said Mr.. Wilson.
~ Il move as a substitute that we call
Tor competitive plans for heating
Of h. III.
accepted We pay the next best COM
petitors in prizes,'' said Roudebush
There was no second to the motion and
the original motion to employ Lewis
and Kitchen was carried with Roude-
bush voting against it.
But Roudebush was not done. He
said that Lewis and Kitchen would re-
ceive 215 per cent on the contract price
of the plant, for preparing the plans
and that the architect who designed
the building would receive percentage
also on the price of the plant put il
the building. I'VE are getting in g
big hurry without knowing much about
what we are doing" said Roudebush.
THE contract with Lewis and Kitcher
has not been signed and will not be un
til we arrange with the architect MOI
to pay him for the work done by
Lewis and Kitchen said Mr.. Wilder
II suppose we will ask the architec
If he will please not charge us a per
centage on the cost of the heating
plant" said Roudebush.
IT move that this matter of a heatini
plant be left to Mr.. Roudebush to handl
IN the proper way said Mr.. Wilder, ad
dressing the chairman
''I object" shouted Colonel J. D. Nor
ton.
IT see that the board has its mind mad
mn said Roudebush. ct can't see VIII.
we rush things without finding out abou
them"
ut seems to me-" said Colonel Norton
''that there is a lot of unnecessary talk.
Mr. Roudebush subsidized.
The board ordered that warrants for Sc.
400 be drawn to pay the balance due o.
the lots on which the new high school vii
be erected.
on motion of c. H. Kutz the board de
cided to pay the teachers on December I