The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-12

not know any Of the officers or the Pen nington Construction company, except Mir. Pennington.
 Cannot say how long our meeting at the city hall lasted. At the meeting in my office we discussed the prices to be charged for the work.
 "I discussed the matter later with C5m- missioner D. J. Smyer, Commissioner James Gillespy, Commissioner c. A. No Ian, Commissioner Chambers McAdory, and I think President Frank Y. Anderson.
 "I think l told the commission that represented the contractors, and that had undertaken to secure satisfactory bid. think the matter of bonds of the commission came up at that time, but do not remember what was said about that. Some member of the commission asked me what interest I had in the matter. Do not know whether or not I told the mem- Der of the commission that I was inter- ested in the awarding of the contract. because I expected to sell the contractors goods after they secured the contract Think went before the commission after the agreement was reached with the con tractors. So far as l know the members of the commission knew nothing of the agreement I had with the contractors.
 Think I had a conference with Major Anderson in his office. although I am not sure about this. If 1 did, the matter ! was mentioned in a casual way. Later, in the lobby of the Hotel Hillman, after I had returned from New York, met Major Anderson and he asked me if had sold the bonds.
 Said to Commissioners. Cannot say positively that had conversation with Commissioner Me- Adory. I remember having talked with Commissioner Robert Jemison. I went to see MT. Jemison sometime between June and June 20, 1902. l told him that the three contractors were the lowest bld- ders and I hoped the contract would De awarded to them, They were customers of mine. l also talked to Mr. Jenison
 about the bonds, and I possibly told him what progress I had made towards dispos- ing of them He expressed himself be- l ing anxious to see the contract for the construction of the sewer let. He tod
 me that he thought the work could be
 done at a lower price than the bid of the contractors which was offered.
 T told Commissioner Gillespy that
 thought the sanitary commission should accept the bids of the three contractors | as they were the lowest bidders. I was passing his office door when I saw him. The meeting was a casual one.
 Solicitous for Contractors. q saw MT. Smyer few days after June in his office. My recollection is that l had a conversation before and after the bids were opened in June with MT. Smyer Think I asked him if they could not give the contract to the three firms, telling him they were Birmingham men and were the lowest bidders, and should have it. Think Mir. Smyer said that the bids had been declined and could not, under the law, be re-opened. Think he was on a subcommittee of the commission, ap- pointed to pass upon the bids Under stood from MT. Smyer If they were as- sured of bids as low as the estimate of Engineer Kendrick the commission would re-advertise for bids. undertook to have the contractors bid in as near the esti- mate of the engineers as possible.
 'The commission did not entertain for a moment the proposition to reopen the bids New bids were advertised for. how ever, and the three firms I represented were again the lowest bidders
 q worked on the matter continually from June to about July l. It was just like working a trade between two busi- ness men. I would first see the commis- sioners and then MT. BurkhaIter, until a. bid of s2.32Hs per lineal floor was agreed to by the contractors All of the conces- sions were made by the contractors.
 'sWallxing talking. figuring and think ing was required in making the transac- tion. I was getting prices on material. as | expected to furnish the contractors with such material they would use.
 Understanding With Contractors.
 'I was to be paid s10. GOO for securing the contract from the commission. I had an understanding with the contractors hy which I was to furnish them with sup,