The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-17
REPORTERS BAR
A SECRET
SESSION
Allowance of $l,5OO for
New Isolation Hospital
Floors.

A .nonolithic floor is to be laid on the
poor asphalt floors in the new Isolation
Hospital at Soho, at a cost of $1,5OO to
the county. This was decided at a
meeting of the public buildings COM
mittee at the Court House yesterday
afternoon.
when the question of how much
should be allowed the contractors came
up. the committee voted to go into
secret session. The newspaper reporters
refused to go out of the o n the
committee finally conducted the meet
ing with them present.
Mcbride. secretary of the committee,
objected when the reporters protested
against leaving.
he architect. Herman Kreitler, said the
new patent flooring proposed was an eN-
oellent one ana that the asphalt now there
would make a good foundation Tor u. D.
Lewis Hay. of the lay Foundry and ron
Company, offered to lay the ne" hoor AT
Il cost of 1920.
County Supervisor Otterbein said the
county should not bear the extra cost and
should hold the contractors to the speeih-
cations. The old Board OF Freeholdeis
gave out the contract and allowed the poor
flooring to be laid. Something should be
done at once in the hospital matter, he
said, as the prevalence OF several cases of
smallpox created a dangerous menace.
County Counse Crane suggested that
the county should not pay additional
money for labor, but in view of the situa-
ton might pay the extra cost of the ma
terial. 1t was pointed out that the hos
pital was needed and Contractor Kreitler
stated that the workmen would be able
to finish the smallpox pavilion In ten days.
Architect Kreitler explained the great
difficulty of installing asphalt flooring in a
building, other things necessary being a
temperature of 400 degrees while the work
was in progress.
When the question of how much should
be allowed the contractors came up there
was whispering and Director Barry finally
offered a motion to go into executive ses-
sion and 1t was carried. The contractors
and others left the room, but the reporters
kept their seats.
Mr.. Chairman, I believe the motion to
go into executive session was carried, "
said Supervisor Otterbein. At the same
time he glanced at the scribes.
1T was" responded Chairman Eaton.
All the committee appeared puzzled and
the reporters kept their seats and the
remained dumb.
mr.. Chairman, I'll GO" said one OF the
reporters, but it will be under protest"
TITS a public natter said another one
of the scribes, and the trio held the fort.
Secretary McBride then rose and stated
that he sal, no reason for going into exeeu-
tive session. but he failed to see what right
the reporters had to speak at the meeting.
Il am not afraid of what l have got to
say In public" was Director Barry's next
remark.
The committee then took up the new
patent flooring question, and still appeared
at sea as to what course to pursue.
Mr. Chairman said Director Barry, II
move for a reconsideration of the motion,
and this was done.
MIR. Hay said he thought 1t more feasible
to fxNa sun. to be allowed the contractors
Instead OF ascertaining the difference in
cost of materials OF the two floors, as sug-
gested by Mr.. Crane. The patent flooring
Is made by a secret process, and its manu-
facturers might not tell the cost of mate
.ial.
The committee finally accepted his view
and decided TO recommend a $1,500 allow
ance to the contractors,