Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-25
CITY LABORERS ASKING FOR WORK
Commissioners Of Public Works Board Had Bot Discussion on
Whether Contract Should GO 10 Local Man or Out
Of Town Contractor.

whether we could get It in either
place. We made a low bid and
saved the city $4,000 or $4,000
and we are prepared to go ahead
and carry out our contract II you
give us the job"
Then Edward McManus stepped
before the footlights and Informed
the meeting that somebody had an
option on that dirt, but he didn't
care to say who he was.
why didn't you get hold of that
dirt?" inquired the mayor, s.Oh,
l don't know" replied Mr. McManus.
Il suppose | could, but didn't and
that's where I was lame. I thought
| would have to go long distance
! for dirt, but later ON discovered
that 1t is almost at your hand"
Mr. Dennison: 'Tt seems to me
that so long as Blakeslee put in the
lowest bid he should have the con-
tract. I shouldn't consider it fair
to do anything else"
Mr. Scully: Were not here in
the interest of Blakeslee or any
other contractor, but to do what is
best for the city of Waterbury. IL
we are satisfied that the best inter-
ests OF Waterbury will be served
by rejecting all the bids, 1t is our
duty to do that. The advertisement
stated that the board reserved the
| right to reject any and all bids and
in case we should so decide, nobody
will be in position to say that it
was an afterthought or snap iudg-
ment."
Mr. Dennison: Here is a report,
signed by Mr. Cairns and Mr. Kilduff
stating that it is for the best inter-
ests OF the city to let this contract
to the lowest bidder, and If we had
nothing else to build upon but their
recommendation, it seems to me
that we ought to be governed by it,
Mr. Scully: at is a matter for
this board to pass upon. ] know it
has been so in the past that the
engineer and superintendent of
streets dictated the work OF this
board, but as far as I'm concerned,
while I'm here, whether that be a
month, year, or two years, neither
the engineer nor the superintend-
ent of streets will run things except
In 80 far as l think they are right
Mr. Dennison: 'You don't want an
engineer at all, them"
Mr. Scully: 1.-THE work of the en-
gineer consists of making maps and
profiles for new streets and so forth,
preparing estimates for such work
as the boards have decided to take
up, giving advice from time to time
regarding what he thinks ought to
be done, but whether it shall be
taken up at all or not, who'll do it,
and whether the work shall be per-
formed by the day or by contract,
are things the engineer has nothing
to do with. He is not employed for
that purpose. If this board is MOTH
ing more than body of FIVE figure
heads or nonentities / don't see
what we are here for. My own per-
sonal opinion of this is that It
should be handled by the street de-
partment. I'm not specially inter-
ested in any contractor. While it is
true that I should prefer to have
the job go to local man, yet l am
not worrying about the contractors.
They will take care of themselves.
McManus. Altman and all the con-
tractors, are rich and wouldn't want
for anything il they never got
another contract
Daniel T. Altman submitted
proposition to do the job for less
than the New Haven firm and EN-
ploy local labor. II was accom-
panied by a bond OF $500. Ed
ward McManus also came forward
with proposition. Communica-
tons were read from the Waterbury
Business Mems association and the
Brooklyn Improvement society.
urging the employment Of local la
Dor. Commissioner Lawlor remark
ed that nothing was said in the ALL
man proposition regarding the price
OF labor. He wanted that to be not
less than Is cents an hour. Mr. ALL
man was willing to do this. He said
he never paid less.
Then as II not to be outdone by
the local firms, Mr. Blakeslee sub
mited a communication stating that
he intends to employ Waterbury la
Dor as far as practicable.
After a good deal of discussion
as to what was bset to do the mat
ter was finally referred to the
street committee for Investigation
and report. This committee con-
sists of Commissioners Scully and
Walker.