New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-01
CAUSE OF SCHOOL DELAYS
TIE System rs BLAMED.
Superirtendcrt Snyder Says Regata-
t;ons Pre1cnt Rushing Buildings.


Same ~ the officials Of the city Department
%, rsuoafion declare that the responsibility TOT
-. ,,ovv erection OF school buildings lies with
-. ..,r,,tor. and regulations 70 which the
,~,-rr,i.,ee on Buildings OF the Board OF lou
,s,,on must conform. They deny that the com
,,i.+ee has showed lack 81 energy.
..Ir ms, orlrfon the foundation OK tho troupie
a.. she -ecessitv v.!sich we are under 20 accept
che lowest bidders 81 letting the contracts Iot
schools" said C. y. J. Snyder, Superihlelloe
~ school Buildings. Experience shows 1h4'
contractors differ very materially IN the lAC''i-
lies with which they can obtain materials anu
pro-apt service o. their sub-contractors' result
frg in one man being able 10 complete MS "oi =
much more speedily than others.
suppose we could 80 to some one OF these
large contractors and say:
.. Here. want you TO build such and such a
school for as
I'VE could get our schools erected within ten
or twelve months The cost would be cohslo-
orablv more. such contractor would Only
work AZ a 10 per cent advance on the costs
and would make no prior contract OF course
there might be delays. even at that. We cannot
stop strikes.
ONLY THE LOWEST BIDS ACCEPTED.
AS each OF our awards is now made abso-
lrtelv 10 the lowest bidder, IL is unreasonable
"a suppose that contractors VIII figure TOT o'heI
thsr mill delivery. for. were IL otherwise d
bidder would not stand any chance of being the
lowest bidder.
Another condition that delays Is the result OF
she clause in our proposals which reads;
aY1o hid or estimate shall be accepted for
contract awarded 10 any person who is In ar
years 10 the corporation upon debt or contract
or who is a defaulter as surety or otherwise
anon any obligation 10 the corporation
TT aupesrs that a contractor who has not lived
,,- "a his contract time through no fault OF the
hoard should fan within the prohibition OF TINS
clause. and II so. then the way would be clear
10 refuse an award Of contracts TO those persons
who are now and have been performing work
FOR this board. but who do not live up 10 the
contract requirements as 10 time
.sTbe principal reason for this is that IN order
"a meet the sharp competition and obtain a
contract al the very low prices which have pre-
vailed a bidder shops around 10 obtain BIDS
fror eub-contractors. using the lowest hid in
making I'D his own figure. without taking cue
rrecaution 10 ascertain the parties iaciilues
for doing the work promptly and intelllgently-
TT s results in endless delays, as he failngs
OF the sub-contractors are not discovered until
she building is ready for that particular part OF
the work. when IN the event Of total failure
the shopping process is again resorted TO- as
the contractor has not enough margin in the
work 10 employ higher priced ana more prompt
and efficient sub-contractors-
"schoolhouses have been completed within the
contract time, and ! am Of the opinion that the
contracts are reasonable as TO time, and that
some legal means should be found TO obtain
contractors who differ materially IN methods
from some OF those who are now holding con-
tracts with the board The fact that we secure
low bids does not. in my opinion in any way
counterbalance the deprivation OF educational
facilities Tor the school children"
CANNOT CHANGE CONTRACTS.
a deputy superintendent OF the Department
81 Buildings. who has frequently acted as super
intendent and is thoroughly familiar with the
conditions. said:
Two conditions are largely responsible for the
The Board of Education must abide strictly BY
ne terms Of ats contracts, 10 matter what grounds
An ordinary person OF company is not 50 bound.
The other condition is the inability q the depart
.s5i6 nO M ~ 20 ot.sI - ~ NE caTrt
collect damages for delays in the work. this has
been decided often.
When a company finds that building which It
has under way viii be delayed because some ma
teral demanded is not temporarily ohtainable. u
may order its contractor 10 choose some suDsu-
tute at considerably higher rate and continue
with the work ASSN. ~ Val pa ~ larse sums
10 exert every effort 10 complete his undertaking
a. possible when the company has thus placed
a premium upon rapid work. 81 has the legal right
20 collect hQudatod damages. as they are called.
Tor the nou-fulnl rncut of contract ana delays.
The Board OF Education has no privilege 10 put
n premium on the rapid completion OF school
buildings. Consequently. the contractors have no
incentive 20 complete their contracts before they
date fixed. especially since they know that they
will forfeit nothing BY delays. Further the board
lRs no power 20 help along the work, after the
specifications are drawn and the contracts signed,
hy authorizing changes which would entail greater
OUTLAWS Of money
There IL a feeling among the officials OF the
Board OF Education that the Board OF Estimate
and Advertisements could make it possible for
the school contracts 10 be let 20 the best rather
than 20 the lowest bidders. and thus rapidly DO
away with the necessity OF having more than sew
enty-hve thousand children in part times classes.
Several months ago the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment made the purchase Of pianos
from the best rather than from the lowest bid
bers possible. and Il Is believed that this plan
could be extended IN the present emergency.
Although the Corporation Counsel decided two
years ago that the board had no right 10 offer
premiums for "a pid work many believe that this
opportunity for swift work is not Yet entirely
lost. and that some way might be found TO
rake H. with the consequent right TO collect
liQuidated damages, possible.
-s-