Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-01

al HLAlNH lbLD. ~. u.
been reached, and to start the mat
ter he moved hat the contract for
building a hook and ladder truck be
awarded to the lowest bidder, the
Combination Ladder company. In
remarking on the motion Mr.. Stan
ton stated the council were instruct
ed to prepare specifications which
was done and the city clerk instruct
ed to advertise for bids, there were
two bidders to construct the truck,
which We're opened at the last regu-
lar meeting and motion was made
that it be awarded to the lowest
bidder. Il was voted down." he
continued, land it was referred to
the committee who had the matter
in charge for the last few months.
| cannot see why it is not up to us
as we were elected for the people
and by the people. If there is three
hundred dollars difference on the
bids why should we not award it to
the lowest bidder. l do not think
it right to award a contract to any
particular bidder is he is not the
lowest. This man has delivered a
bOiu " Il e. liOiSdlll uOlIdIS INA
h ewould construct a truck accord
ing to specifications and if rot you
are not obliged to accept it. Now it
seems wrong in my opinion not to
award that contract to the lowest
bidder. Furthermore, l would like
to ask the city solicitor when this
matter was made a competitive af-
fair, If the contract is not awarded
to tn elowest bidder how would that
stand in a legal sense. could they en-
ter suit against the city"
Mr.. Pearse stated he did not think
they could.
Mr.. Stanton continued: Hon
estly speaking, | do not think it is
fair. l would like to satisfy the
fire committee and fire company, but
| think We have another duty to per
form, that is, to protect the inter
ests of the taxpayers. Notwith-
standing there was $500 %appropri-
ated TO rthe truck there is no reason
why We should not purchase for
three or four hundred less"
Mr.. O'Connor stated he wished to
say that every act of his had been
in the interest of the city, whether
1t was awarding contracts for hook
and ladder trucks, sewers or stand
pipes. He continued it was request
ed that a committee from the hook
and ladder company get in confer
ence with the fire committee on this
matter and they specifically request
ed a truck like the Keyport hook
and ladder company had. He stated
the representative of the Combina-
ton stated he would furnish such q
truck at a cost of 1890 and he did
not like the looks of q much lower
bid when it came down to competi-
ton. Mr.. O'Connor stated he had
particular eason for not desiring
a truck of the Combination Com
pany, sOme of which reasons if
divulged would make certain people
blush; that he thought the petition
of thirty-Seven out of forty mem
bers Of the company should be given
consideration and proposed voting
against purchasing from the Combt-
nation company. Mr.. Stanton speak
ing personally said he wished 1t
understood he had nothing to blush
about. Mr.. Manhattan also made q
like statement and continued that ii
looked to him as though someone
had something up their sleeve, that
II Mr.. O'Connor knew anything he
should come out and tell 1t. Mr..
Manhattan stated to him the prOpo-
Tsition appeared to be a saving oil
from $3.50 to $500 to the taxpayers
and he did not think we should lose
that amount when We could get
something just as good and presum-
ably better. Mr.. Stuart stated from
the examinations he had made he
felt he was working to the interests
of the taxpayers when he voted for
a SegraVe truck and that he did not
feel like ignoring the petition of the
fire company. Mr.. Stanton stated
it was all right to stand by the fire
company but 1t was necessary also
to stand by the taxpayers who con
stituted a majority of the citizens OF
the city.
The matter was finally put to vote
and resulted in Messrs. O'ConnoI
and Stuart voting against and
Slower voting for the purchase of q
hook and ladder truck from the
Combination Ladder Company.
During the remarks by the coun-
cllmen the respective representa-
yves OL INC TWO companies were
given the floor from time to time tc
explain certain points and contra
dict certain statements made by
each other. Some Of the remarks
/ by the representatives were of q
somewhat personal nature and any
thing but complimentary, while
other statements made by them In
voked much laughter by the citi-
zens present.
Mr.. Slower stated he was receiving
a great number of complaints from
residents on Bordentown avenue
about the condition Of the trolley
tracks, the result being that a num-
Der of ceilings were falling down, in
n instance a ceiling falling in a
bedroom while occupied by members
Of the family. Upon motion the
matter vas referred to the street
committee to take up with the troll
ley people.
Mr.. O'Connor moved hat the COM
mittee on fire department be direct
ed to ship back to the Eureka Hose
Company the 100 feet Of defective
hose now on hand and to demand
a like number Of feet of perfect
hose in place thereof. Carried.