The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-12
LOWEST BIDS IDENTICAL
SCHOOL BOARD PUZZLED IN AWARD
ING SUPPLIES CONTRACT.
Problem Solved by Decision to Appor-
tiOn Contract Equally IL bidders
Are willing.

When the two lowest bids are exactly the
same and one bidder is local firm and the
other bidder foreign firm, can the Indian
apol.s school commissioners award the con-
tract to the local company?
This question came before the School
Board at the regular meeting last night for
the first time. The bids of II. p. Wasson &
Co. and Chicago company on forty-five
teachers desks, amounting to about $4oo.
are exactly the same. 1t was suggested by
Commissioner w. n. Taylor that. inasmuch
as the two bids are the same, the contract
should be given 10 H. P. Wasson & Co.
This plan, it seems to me, would be the
best way to settle the matter" said Com
missioner Taylor.
81 don't think the board has the power
to discriminate between the two bids said
Commissioner Charles w. Moores, who was
acting president in the absence of President
Sweeney. Il, too. would be in favor of CIV
ing the contract to the local bidder in such
case, but don't think we have the au-
thority to do So"
After considerable discussion it was de-
cided TO apportion the contract equally be-
tween the two firms If either company
does not want to take half the contract the
matter will be left in the hands of the two
bidders TO settle between themselves. This
contract, along with other contracts for
school furniture, will be awarded this morn
ing by a special meeting of the committee
on buildings and grounds
AN UNUSUAL SITUATION
Never before has the School Board had
this Identical situation to deal WITH said
Commissioner Moores, speaking of the two
bids on the teachers desks. "Once before
the three lowest bids on a certain contract
were the same and we readvertised the con-
tract, thinking there had been collusion be-
tween the three lowest bidders'
The board last night adopted Commits
sioner Taylor's amendment to the rules of
the board increasing the maximum salaries
of the teachers in the first five grades to
5000 from $575. This increase will affect about
800 teachers and will increase the annual
pay roll about $1,000. The amendment was
introduced at the last regular meeting
AT its meeting this morning the committee
on buildings and grounds will let contracts
for the following furniture and supplies:
Forty-five teachers tables, forty-five teach
ers desks 1000 folding chairs, 400 dozen
ink wells. 2,250 stationary desks and 200 ad-
Unstable desks.
Bills amounting to s26,973 were allowed last
night. Nine hundred dollars was set aside
from the building and grounds fund for the
new building appropriation. The board de-
cided to donate the use of the Shortridge
t1lgn ScnoOl assembly nall Tor renearSalS
OF the Messiah chotuses from October to
December. THE Messiah" is to be given
for charitable purposes by the Flower Mis-
sion. 1t was also decided to rent the hall
for Sunday use to the Second Chruch of
Christ, Scientist.
The report of the public librarian shows
that 219 new books were added to the libra
ry last month, bringing the total up to 101,-
753 Eighteen thousand and forty-three
books were circulated last month, against
1,695 in July 1902. Five hundred and forty
one borrowing cards were issued last month.