The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-12
NEW BIDS AGAIN
WANTED BY CITY
COUNCIL PASSED RESOLUTION
WILL OPEN CITY HALL BIDS NEXT
SATURDAY AT NOON.


Wiped Clean and n New Start
Made-Queer Letter From Leonard
in which InsinuatiOns Are Made
Against Alderman F. NJ. oliver.
Plea for Return of Forfeit Money.
New bids for the construction of the
new City Hall have been called for,
to be opened publicly next Saturday
at noon. This was determined upon
at a special meeting of Council held
yesterday afternoon.
S. S. Leonard, to whom the contract
had been awarded, had a letter before
Council acknowledging his failure to
make bond, or a deposit, and asking
that the 1880 now deposited with the
city be returned to him.
| No action looking towards the re-
turn to Leonard of the money he has
put up was taken. The indications
are that this will be held and appro-
priated by the city if the bids sub
mitted under. the new advertisement
are not as low as the bid accepted
some time ago from Leonard.
There was little difference in the
feeling of the aldermen at the meet
ing. There was no doubt that Leon
ard had failed to make good on his
bid The only question was whether
to give the contract to the next low
est bidder on the last bids or to adj
vertise for new ones. The majority
favored this later course.
The New Call for Bids.
When the public meeting was called
the following resolution was passed:
Resolved, by the Mayor and Aldermen,
That sealed bids will be received for
the erection of a City Hall for the
city of Savannah, in accordance with
the revised plans and specifications
prepared by H. w. Witcover, architect.
Bids will be opened in public at the
Mayors Office at IL o'clock, noon, Sat
urday, March 10. Bids to be accom-
panied by certified checks for $500,
or guarantee bond, with acceptable
surety company as surety, in the sum
of $4,000, conditions as per specifica-
lions. The right is reserved to reject
any or all bids.
This was passed without opposition.
Two communications from the General
Supply and Construction Company of
New York were read, and one from
| Both of these firms are to submit bids.
| Grant Wilkins of Atlanta, who built
the new Germania Bank building, is
also to submit a bid. All three of
these firms are absolutely responsible,
and the one that puts in the lowest
bid will get the contract.
There was also letter before Coun-
ell from Contractor Leonard. The let
ter was virtually a plea to be given
| back the $500 now on deposit with
the city The letter makes personal
reference to Alderman Oliver in
rather peculiar way.
LeOnard's Letter to Council.
The letter in full is as follows: "Since
the conference between Mr.. Leonard
and your Honorable Body yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Leonard finds that he is
unable to give the bond upon the
| terms and conditions exacted.
"Mr. Leonard entered into contract,
and deposited a certified check for
$4,000 that he would execute the con-
tract with the city, in accordance with
| his bid, and would give security to
insure the completion of the building,
and has tried faithfully to do so. The
reason of his inability. however, TO
give the bond was on account of the
contract containing stipulations which
were not contemplated at the time of
the making of his bid, and especially
Article 16 was Objectionable, to the
Surety Companies, in that it allowed
the person or persons supplying labor
and materials the right of action to
bring suit against the said bond in
the name of the Mayor and Aldermen
of the City of Savannah, etc.
What Was Objected to.
"If this stipulation had not been in
the contract submitted Mr.. Leonard
would have been able to have secured
the bond, but, inasmuch as the city
has seen fit to exact new terms, and
conditions upon Mr.. Leonard's agree
ment, made at the time the check was
deposited, and he being unable to COM
ply with such terms and conditions, we
are reluctantly compelled to say that
the matter can go no further and re-
spectfully request the return of our
checks for $4,000, which the city now
has on deposit.
I'm this connection we would say
that we are reliably informed that the
original contract submitted to Council
did not contain this stipulation which
has been found so Objectionable to the
Surety Companies, but was inserted
at the instances of Alderman F. M.
Oliver, over the objection of the City
Attorney, who informed Council that
in his opinion he did not believe Mr..
Leonard would sign such contract, and
Furthermore, did not think he would
be able to secure the necessary bond
from the Surety Companies, in case
this stipulation was inserted.
IF the city will agree to the altera-
tons and amendment that we proposed
at the meeting yesterday we are will
ing to comply with our offers made
at that time, but that is the very least
we are able to do. Very respectfully,
IS. S. Leonard"
| Mixed as to Persons
The letter is little mixed as to per-
sons. All the way through Leonard is
referred 10 in the third person, and
then his name is signed to the letter.
This is probably accounted for by the
fact that the letter is written on the
paper of his attorney, and was prob
ably composed by the lawyer
The reference to Aldermen Oliver
and the intimation that he is respon-
sible for the conditions whereby Leon
ard failed, is entirely new. The letter
also refers repeatedly to $4,000 instead
of $500. This may be accounted for
on the theory that the money looks
| that big now to the parties interested