The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-23
WAGE NEAR Tie
OVER BIDS ON
ASPHALT
EXPERT PROCTOR AND AGENT ).
j. FLOOD ALMOST COME TO
BLOWs-LATTE BACKED HARD
BY AID. FRElWALD.

IN which verbal TRUSTS ofttmes
seemed about TO bc exchanged for
rhysical ones. the streets committee,
Monday noon, gave up trying to make
up its collective mind as 20 what 10
do with the bids for furnishing
asphalt for the municipal plant. \
report will be made. Tuesday even
ing, and the test vote taken would
seem to indicate that the committee
may recommend throwing out the
present bids and Inviting new pro-
posals from the asphalt companies.
Notions To readvertise for bids and
to concur In the recommendations OF
Commissioner Haarer, awarding the
contracts. were both lost In the COM
mittee session.
There were originally four bidders.
three OF these for California refined
asphalt, and the other. the Barber
Asphalt Paving Co, for natural South
American asphalt The Acme and
Obispo California asphalts were recon-
mended BY Asphalt Exper. Proctor
and Commissioner Haarer as being
cheaper than the Maltha brand, the
third California product while the
Barber company also got slice Of
the contract
Aid. Freiwald made a fight TO have
the bid OF J. !. Flood for Maltha
asphalt considered.
He Is no longer ~ be considered
since he has withdrawn his check"
SAID Haarer, and the committee
agreed that Flood was out of the run
IL. "a
however, for Expert Proctor was called
before the committee andoQuizzed as
70 the merits Of the different asphslts.
He told the aldermen that he had re-
iected only the dearest asphalt,
making contracts with two California
firms because their prices were almost
identical and he was-tneFe- certain OF
prompt delivery with two competing
sources OF supply.
The session soon became battle
OF personalities between Proctor. on
one hand, and Aid Freiwald and Con.
tractor Flood on the ether.
Would you give ns lower price IL
we readvertised?" asked Freiwald OF
Flood.
IL would" said Flood
THAT Is not a fair way" interrupt
ed Proctor. These other bidders
have come here and bid fairly. show
Ing their hands. II you'd not be fair
now. after this man has had chance
TO see their figures. to let him bid
again.
we saved 81 900 on sand bid
last year by readyert;sing," said Fret
valid.
why didn't you bid lower the irsi
time?" asked Proctor OF Flood.
That's NV own business retorted
the contractor.
Flood started 10 ask Proctor ques'
tons as to an alteration they had
had on the street. Then he refused
To go further with bis questions. leav-
! ing an insinuation as 10 Proctors con
duct
Speak up and he a man." Proctor
told him. III YOU have anything to
say come out with IT,"
Finish il up roared Aid. Gilman
savagely at Flood. Don't start some
thing and then stop"
| YES. go ahead with your questions
no one can come in here and cast
reflections in that way" said the usu
! ally peaeable Aid. Owen with some
heat
II -c-eloped that Flood was contend
| ing that the recommendations as TO
asphalt contracts was made before
the analyses were obtained. This
Haarer and Proctor vigorously deny.
Flood finally produced letter
which Proctor had written 10 G. w
I.amson. California oil man. saying
that California asphalt could he used
for all purposes II properly prepared
and laid.
This man Lamson wrote me that
he was not going 20 use this letter
against me. and I told him he could
! use il any time he wanted to- ex'
planned Proctor. lie wrote me that
he would not bid in this market while
the present administration is In con.
\ troll. and that goes for the aldermen
as we'll as for the department. OF pub
f, lie works
Are vou afraid 10 readvertise %
as to save the city some more money!
0ueried Flood sarcs stically.
1T il time 10 begin work and | want
asphalt to work with" answered Proc
/ Tor "ReadvertisiuR would delay mat
/ tors and cost the city money. IT'S my
pavcments that an; laying. am hel
responsible for them. For six years
have made good ara shall continue
/ 10 do so If things are run on an honor
able basis. am tho expert: why
don't YOU accept my recommendation
/ II developed at one stage Of the
session that a list Of streets which
Proctor had given TO Flood was in
! AID Freivald's Office.
/ The matter was Anallv taken under
advisement on the showing that Proc
tor has II quantity Of surfacine
asphalt ON hand which he could use
~ onco n ncceSsarv. although he ex
planned that he desired the Califo~ni'
asphal' FOR n lower course and needed