The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-11
]. E. D0NELS0N SAYS HE
 USED RUSE TO "TRY OUT'
 0'NElLL ON PAYING BIDS
tCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5.)

->~>-~~~-~~-~--------~--~--- tract to the lowest bidder. About this time MT ONeill came to me and made me the proposition that he, or rather his family, owned 125 feet frontage on Sixth avenue, between Fourteenth and Twen- tieth streets, and that if the Southern Bit ulithic company would pave in front of this property free of charge that he would use his influence to get the above company the contract l put him off in order to consult with my company in the matter and we decided after due de- liberation, not to circulate counter pe- tition for bitulithic on Sixth avenue, but to put in very low bid on asphalt. Then, Alderman O'Neill insisting that we give him something definite I personally, in order to see what was what and try F him out. entered into a written agreement with him that in case the contract for paving Sixth avenue from Fourteenth to Twentieth streets with bitulithic be awarded to the Southern Bitulithic com pany I would take care of the assess ment of the 125 feet owned by his fam ily that is, pay the assessment which would have been between $G00 and $7OO. l then signed and gave him a written agreement to that effect
 Tt would have been impossible for the city to award us a contract for bitulithic under the petition filed, at a higher price lildH dSpHHlt, we naNllC ueclueu 10 put in very low bid on asphalt, believing that we had a chance to get the contract for asphalt, and knowing that we had no chance to get contract for btuithic on account of the difference in the cost of material. If you remember, We bid on asphalt at some 5 or 40 cents per square yard lower than the bid on bitulithic, our bid on asphalt being made in the name of the Nashville Roofing and Paw ing company, one of our sub-companies, was accepted and contract awarded us for asphalt. I then in conversation with MT. ONeill, called his attention to the fact that our agreement would not hold good, as l had stipulated that we would take care of the assessment in caseethe contract was awarded to us for bitulithic. He argued and insisted that we should take care of the assessment anyway, but l told him that the cost of installing a plant to do the work would eat up all the profits. and, therefore, could not af- ford to pay the assessment. He still in sisted it was written agreement between us. I called his attention to the fact that the agreement named bitulithic.
 Contract Was AnnulIed.
 ''You will remember that some two weeks later Mir. O'Neill appeared before the street committee and stated that his constituents did not wish Sixth avenue paved at that time, and as alderman from the Second ward. he wished the contract cancelled. At his request the contract was cancelled by the city of Birming ham.
 "In your first question to me you stated that you are beginning ap investigation into the relations of the city of B4rming ham with the Southern Bitulithic Paving company l have come here at your re- quest and have answered the questions which you have put to me. Now. in be- half of the Southern Bitulithic company, I want to say that we not only welcome. but invite an open investigation of our affairs with the city of Birmingham to the fullest extent. We will take pleasure in allowing any committee to thorough ly inspect our books and records and will assist in every manner in which we can in bringing out all of the facts in regard to this matter. We are perfectly willing tS submit to you the organization of our company from the beginning and every person that owns or has owned, stock in the same, and, in fact give you any information and assistance that we can"
 Mr. O'Neill- Enters Denial.
 MT. O'Neirs reply to Donelson's charges was as follows:
 Tn the matter of the alleged charges against Alderman John W. ONeill on hea ring before the committee.
 "The answer of John w. ONei1i to