The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-12-01

last IL We are gums ~ Saw -4tSA-os
let Us do it in right and honorable
way"
Alderman Spreyer then said that ne
had shown a way by which there could
be large saving. He also said that
there was a difference of $4.5S7 between
the highest and lowest bidder.
Alderman Wheeler was the next
speaker and he said that a number of
the members had voted against the
New Haven Gas Light company at the
last meeting on account of the corpor-
alton counsers opinion, but that now,
as the local company had fulfilled all
the requirements, those members might
! wish to change their vote. The speak
er also referred to the officers of the
company in the highest terms, saying
that they were men of honor and integ-
rity and are classed as some of this
city's most representative citizens. He
said they had showed their honesty in
not guaranteeing to give the full sixty
candle-power light until they were sure
that it would be possible to do so.
Alderman Minor then asked that
when the report was voted on it be
voted on in three sections, each section
separately III 1CSOLudhGS " Tic thACS
recommendations.
Alderman Hosley was the next speak
er. He said that other members of the
board had changed their opinions, and
he thought that he was entitled to the
same privilege. He further said that
whatever he had done had been in ac-
| cordance with what he thought was in
the best interest of the citizens and the
city. a.: .-.....-.......
Alderman Elliott spoke next and said
that the lowest figures did not repre-
sent the lowest bidder, which should be
considered, but that consideration
should be given to the lowest respon-
sible bidder. He thought that the COM
mittee had been negligent in their re-
port, because they had failed to state
the conditions of the various lights Of
| fered and had not reported on the re-
| sponsibility of each and every bidder.
| Continuing, he said that he favored
home industry as much as any one, but
as the city had seen fit to advertise for
bids he did not see how honorably the
! board could do, otherwise than to give
every bidder a fair chance. He further
said that the recommendations offered
were contradictory, and that the board
could not wipe all the bids off the. slate
and then say that they would award
| any of them. Said the speaker: eve
| have no offers to consider. Perhaps we
may assume that the New Haven COM
pany may accept the contract as an of
| fer, but the American Lighting compa-
| ny will not. The only fair thing to do
| is to give the contract to TIE lowest
bidder or to wipe out all the bids. I
object most heartily to the report. I
am not willing that this contract should
be awarded to the New Haven Gas
Light company at a sacrifice to the
citys honor" s-
! Alderman Hosley then made an
amendment that in place of awarding
the naphtha contract to the American
company the word Offer be used.
Alderman Bracken said that it did
not look very well for the city to be
obliged to offer its contracts, He said
that it might have to pay to give them
away next.
The amendment was then voted on in
reference to substituting the Cleveland
/ Vapor company in place of the New
Haven company. An aye and nay vote
was taken, which resulted in a vote of
i IS against to 2 in favor. The two mem
/ bers voting in favor were Aldermen
| Spreyer and Bracken. s.s.
! 1t was then voted to reject all the bids
by vote OF Is to /. Elliott voting
against this. H..
l Alderman Minor then said that the
board had the power to do what they
wished and he asked that the corpora
/ tion counsels opinion proving this be
read. When this was done he presented
1 the following communication to the
/ board which he said would save them
/ 50 on every lamp: - ..,.-.. ..
1 IT., Nov. 30. 1903
Board of Aldermen: r.. ~.
/ Gentlemen: We hereby propose to
Hight and maintain the incondescent gas
lamps in accordance with the specifica-
lions for a term of three years for the
sum Of s24 per lamp per year.
/ &> Respectfully,
The American Lighting Co.,
/ by Stanley Casswell, President.
Alderman Spreyer moved that for the
honor of the city that the committee
report and recommendation be laid on
/ Lie IdDlSs
| Alderman Bracken thought that as
| the committee had not seen the last Of
fer of the American Lighting company
lit was not fair to them to consider it
Ithen. .,str E-. ~.
| Alderman Elliott asked that the COM
munication be ereceived but on motion
| this was denied.
/ A vote was then taken to substitute
the American Lighting company for the
/ New Haven Gas company and this was
defeated by vote of Is to 8. Those who
voted in favorof the substitution were
| Aldermen Chadwick, Minor and Elliott.
! The contract was then awarded to the
New Haven Gas company by a vote of
IL to 5. Those voting against the award
/ We're Aldermen Chadwick, Minor, Sprey-
er, Elliott and Bracken.
| The entire board then voted to award
the naphtha contract to the, American
company except Aldermen Elliott and
Bracken, and Alderman Minor, who did
mot vote.
| The board after voting to close the
city hall at 1 o'clock on Saturdays adj
Ijourned.
4