The Detroit times., 1911-04-12

enters into a contractA expects the
agreement TO be carried out. and does
not release the contractor on a mere
representation that the latter VIII sur
fer loss in carrying out the provisions
Of the agreement Neither does ne SN-
pect the contractor 10 reduce hiS price
when u is found that the latter IL reap
ing greater profit than was anticipated
Ii happens not infrequently that con-
tractors estimates are found 10 be on
a losing basis. but seldom has a con-
tractor the temerity 20 ask 90 De re-
leased on account OF faulty Judgment
/ am credibiy informed by the En-
gineers office that MIR. HanleN mas
within the past few years, successtully
bid on some $1,000 worth OF sewer con-
struction work. and has himself COM
pleted but $4,000 worth. or thereapouts'
the balance having been sub-let
In bidding, he had the same oppoI
tunities TO thoroughly investisate mo ~,
the conditions as others had. The IN
gtneer informs me that he had KNOW.
edge OF the borings the departmshs
made That he did not avail hlmseil OF
this data is no ones fault but ms own.
Your majority report Itself admits that
the action and conduct OF the 'epaIt-
ment OF Public Works, ana the Ntly
Engineer, in regard TO the matter was
distinctly honorable and credltable'
and this statement is upheld by the re-
port OF the minority OF the committee.
Mr.. James Hanley has no ground TOT
complaint -,
Your majority report finds that Mr.,
HAnley expended So 600 for lumber used
in the construction OF said sewer, that
this lumber had 10 be lett undergrouhu'
and that $1,000 would be tair OH oL
pensation TO Mr.. Hanley for II. rms
does not appeal 20 me, as We have noth-
ing 10 do with the amount or LUMBER
used by the contractor In oruer 70
properly construct the sewer. We might
as we'll be asked TO pay Tor the TOOLS
and machinery Used.
We city officials are expanding the
money OF the taxpayers, anu shouto
guard IL as IL II were our own. Al MI.
Hanley has lost money. II has oeeh
through his own fault The minority
report OF your committee asserts "that
there was nothing In the testimony TO
show that IL was necessary TOT NJ,
Hanley 10 lose SO much money on the
Job" Frequently the matter or proht
and loss on a contract Is decided by the
good or bad management or the work
at a small margin. With that the city
has nothing TO do. In the past. the De-
partment OF Public Works has been
compelled TO finish contracts from
which the contractors wanted release.
and has done so within the limit by
using the money retained from the con-
tractors This is one reason why secur-
ity bonds are required or the contrac-
tors-to insure the completion OF the
work.
Moreover, the second lowest bid Is
not available as the present contractor.
according TO the City Engineer, began
work at a point at which the condition
of the soil was most favorable. No one
can say how much the city would lose
by re-advertising for bids.
After a full consideration or the mat
ter | have no hesitation in saying that
the report OF the minority OF the COM
mtttee should have been adopted, In
stead Of the majority, and i so recon-
Respectfully submitted,
WM b. THOMPSON,
Mayor.
April s. 1911.
on motion OF Aid. Vernon. the vote By
which the resolution was adopted was
recon sidered. without objection;
Aid Vernon then moved that the
be referred back to the
Committee on Sewers.
AID Gilman moved that the resoiu-
ton be laid on the table.
Aid Heating moved that the resolu-
ton be adopted Notwithstanding the
veto of his Honor, the Mayor.
Aid Heating later withdrew MS mo-
ton -
The question was then put on the
motion to lay on the table. which mo-
tion prevailed.
To the Honorable the Common Council:
Gentlemen-The following Reports
OF City Officers for the week endins
April s, 1911, are respect
at,hvnitfad-