The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-20
GOULD HAS PAVING MATTER
 LAID ON TABLE
Street Committee Brings in Resolution Conferring Action in Making
 Contract.
Thirteen Ont of B Aldermen Decide That They Wish Views of City Attor. ney Before Adopting Measure - RMnrray Declares Wyckoffs Were Lowest Bidders.

The Street committee brought in a resolution last night, at the meeting of the Common Council. which in effect, by its passage, would confirm the de- cision of the committee in awarding the contract for wood block pavement : on Main street to the United States Wood Preserving Company. The reso- 1ution was laid upon the table. upon motion made by Alderman Gould. who gave as his reason for making the mo- tfon, that he desired to know the req sans why the city attorney, who was said to be the author of the measure, desired it.
 It appeared that there were a num- Der of aldermen present who believed that the contract should have been awarded to Silliman & Godfrey. upon cern.
 Alderman John McMurray thought the contract ought to have been award ed to the lowest bidder. He adduced facts to show. that the Wyckoff Com pany was by a large figure the lowest bidder. If the contract was not to be given to the lowest bidder. he thought it should have gone to the local bid ders.
 . The Street committee has full power . to make the contract and Alderman Hartley. chairman of the Street com mittee informed the board that he would sign it this week. It is doubt ful, however, if he does so until the council have considered the resolution already referred to.
 In view of the fact that Silliman & Godfrey have brought suit against the city for 5000 damages because the committee changed its mind after awarding them the contract the reso- lution was offered by four members of the Street committee in order to heal up any legal loop holes that might be found in the case by the attorney for the other side.
 Alderman John M. Griffin did not sign the report. Chairman Hartley said that the resolution was one which the city attorney had asked the com mittee to present as it would give the city a little better chance in the courts" He said he did not think there was much danger of the case coming to trial and that the city at torney had also stated that he did not believe the matter would ever be tried out
 Alderman McMurray said that as long as the matter was being discuss ed he wanted to say that he could see where it was going to be SS26 cheaper for the street railroad and the city to- getf1er by turning down the Silliman & Godfrey. But he could not see why when they were s4,125 cheaper than the Us s. Wood Preserving Co.
 Alderman Hartley said that the Wyckof Go. wanted to fill the order under their own specifications and not . the city's. He said a failure of that company to meet the specifications of the city was the cause of the trouble in the letting of the Fairfield avenue contract. He did not want a repetition of that trouble. He added that the .Wycl1off people had eliminated from their bid tke mention of any guarantee and that it was required of the other bidders.
 Alderman Mahoney said that he did not think that the contract should have gone to the U. S. Wood Preserv- ing Go. after it had furnished so many warped blocks for the pavings of Bank street that the city had to borrow some : Wyckoff blocks from Silliman & God