The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-28

the city of Birmingham, we remain very
respectfully,
"E. c. BOWMAN & Co.
IN. B.-Should your honorable board
see fit to decline our withdrawal we stand
ready and will gladly proceed with the
work at our bid"
Architects Statement.
The following letter was then read:
wv. M. Drennen, President of Board,
City.
Dear sir-After the bids were opened
on the high school buildings. Mr.. Bowman
demanded of US to know where his check
was, stating that he had handed 1t over
to our Mr.. Breeding with his bid. We
informed him that we knew nothing of
1t, and upon his insisting that we must
have 1t, we made a serch for it. in his
presence. and found an envelope of the
Birmingham Trust and Savings company
which was not addressed or marked in
any way. and in this was a check from
that institution.
1--WE did not know this envelope was
in our office, and do not think we are
responsible for it's failure to reach this
board Respectfully.
BREEDING & WHILEDIN.'
1.-THE communication of Bowman & Co.
was delivered to me by Mr.. Bowman in
person this forenoon" said Mayor Dren-
men. IT requested him to attend this
meeting, and he said that he would try
to do so.''
Eli P. Smith: "I see Mr.. Breeding
here. Suppose we hear from him.
H. D. Breeding: 'If 1t is the desire of
the board to make an investigation, I
would not care to make a statement
without Mr.. Bowman and his attorney
being present.
M. ]. Gregg: IT do not think that this
is in the nature of an investigation"
Mr.. Breeding: Some five or six bids
were presented. with checks, in other
envelopes. Last Saturday number of
contractors were in my office, and as
the clock struck ~ I announced that we
would go to the city hall to attend the
meeting of the board. gathered up
all of the papers in sight and brought
them here with me. have no recol-
lection of Mr.. Bowman saying anything
to me with reference to his check being
in a separate envelope. However, If the
DOdId QtSitS " dOOCpb LIS 0lShNAo w al
will make no objection to the state
ment he made in his proposition and
admit that I did,
Eli P. Smith: IF it was overlooked it
was an accident?"
Mr.. Breeding: ut was"
ELI P. Smith; did the mention of GER
titled checks by Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Gray
at the meeting Saturday refresh your
memory"
Mr.. Breeding: ut did not"
Eli P. Smith: WHO presented the bid
of Tetherow, which also did not contain
a check?'
Mr.. Breeding: TT was ]. B. Carr, his
associate, or young man who was with
him."
Eli P. Smith :"There was no check with
fis bid?"
Mr.. Breeding: mo, sir"
Rather Complicated.
TT seems that the matter is rather
complicated" said Eli p Smith, "and in
my opinion we should proceed with eau
ton. In my opinion we should re-advertise
for bids"
Mr.. Gregg: 1T seems to me that we
should let the matter rest where it is.
We have had fair and square competi-
ton, and Mr.. Bowman seems to have
been at fault l desire to say that | saw
the proposition from Mr.. Bowman at II
o'clock and am quite sure that it did
not have the postscript. All of the bids
seem to be close. and l am Informed that
IL you would pick out eleven bids, add
them together and divide by twelve you
would get 100000, or about that and in
my opinion that is remarkable. l do not
think that it would be irregular to award
the contract or rather to let our award
stand"
James j. Smith: Il do not see how
any of the contractors could possibly
think that the board of education did not
Get right. We acted last Saturday on the
light that was before us. However, there
have been new developments recently, and
we have more light on the matter This
is matter of some three or four ,..ou-
sand dollars, and that is a big item.
think that 1t would be a fair proposition
TO ascertain if Mr.. Stockmar would ac-
cept the contract at the bid of Mr.. Bow
ran. which was much less than his.
Mr. Gregg Il think that if there is any
reconsideration we should readvertse for
bids Another thing of Importance is
that we have scarcely quorum present.
and this matter should be considered by
a full board"
Eli P. Smith, There is only one other