Evening journal., 1914-06-24
Voices objection
TO Steel Contract
Arthur w. Carpenter Again
Writes of Award to the
Belmont Company
HAS SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE DETAILS

Arthur ". Carpenter Of No. All
West Second street, has written an
other letter. defending the objections
he makes to the award OF the contrac
for structural steel for the new cits
and county building TO the Belmont
Iron Works, when he claims the biz
OF the American Bridge Company
which has a plant at Edge Moor, was
the lower bidder. Mr.. Carpenter IL
his new letter says.
To the Editor OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL:
Sir. In asking for information on a
public matter having to do with the ex-
cess expenditure Of public moneys, am
through the columns Of the daily press,
informed that ! have aroused the ire Of
the Joint Building Commission, and that
they are indignant; hence / am sup
posed 70 be squelched, as likewise each
and every other person or persons who
may desire TO know some Of the ins
and outs of things. Now, | may know
whereof | speak regarding this matter,
and | may not. Who knowsg This
shutting of Of public discussion is be-
coming worn threadbare, and Is surely
going TO be harder TO do as time goes
On and the public becomes enlightened
as they are bound 70 do, Let us be
more frank, open and above board.
Deserve praise and you will get it un-
stintingly, otherwise you must expect
the people TO use the lever (which they
do not yet fully know how to).
Now regarding these bids. There are
two of which we speak. The Belmont
and the American Bridge. They were
al first unlike, ! admit, but at q confer
ence Of the commission and the repre-
sentative Of the American Bridge Com
pany | understand all obstacles were
removed and IL appeared a foregone con
elusion that they would get the con
tract. But now the penalty clause is
Inserted. And Just here let me ask
Did this clause exist prior TO this and
from the beginning, and will all the
contractors throughout the work be
under a penaltyi
The loss Of the contract as well as
lhe chance Ia save the peoples money
hinges here. The excess expenditure IL
here made necessary. You state it
amounts TO several hundred dollars IL
il not instead several thousand? The
representative naturally refused TO be
bound by this penalty clause for many
reasons, among which and probably the
principal one was the fact that the
drawings We're or are to be made by a
New York Arm OF architects and will be
in their possession. He foresaw that
his company could be delayed in obtain
ing access 70 them sufficiently 20 affect
their fulfilling their contract.
Is the contract now signedl If so,
what is the date thereoni
II Is Belmont now under penalty II
so. how muchY win they get bonus
for completing in shorter length Of
time than contract calls fori If SO,
how muchy
II Belmont substitutes any other ma
terial than that specified win the com
mission detect it? Standard beams
are heavier than Bethlehem, are they
not or are theyg Was not the exca-
waiting contract let 70 the highest bid.
der
Your paper states, Mr.. Editor, that
of Edge Moor. Now that's Just where
the commission let an excellent chance
to get solid with the people slip from
them. It was entirely within their
power tif they are in earnest about
spending your dollars at homel They
could have stipulated that the work
be done at home by home men and it
would have been done and could.
cite 70 YOU an instance 20 bear me
out. When John Wanamaker adver-
tised for bids for the erection Of that
splendid store OF his in Philadelphia,
it was specified that the work must be
done by local contractors as far as pos
sible. The American Bridge Company
secured the contract and in spite OF
their pencoyd Manayunk plant being
Then oyerrun with work II was there
fabricated So strictly were the re-
quirements followed that all that got
sway was a smokestack which was too
hot for them 20 handle. Hence it was
sent to Edge Moor to be fabricated.
If Edge Moor is not local plant.
then many other plants here in this
vicinity are not, for the reason that
they have passed into the control of
outside parties. But, aside from the
directing heads, then all plants are
local by reason OF the permanent To-
cation of the employers thereof who
bNA PANRNAt9 anu VIM ha3 tdAtSg hiiQ
as much as they are permitted (and
volunteer) to take part in our gov
ernment.
This Is a city Of mechanics. The
products OF their skill form some of
the wonders, not only Of this country,
but of the world. This is boosting
Wilmington with a vengeance. But
this continual thing Of leaving us
stranded after boosting when it's
within our power to prevent IL, needs
readjusting.
I make no attempt, nor have ! any
intention to hold anyone up to ridi-
cule in asking these questions. The
answering l am sure is due the pub
lie I have a standing invitation to
visit the Commission, and there per-
use these documents. but / can't ac-
cept II isn't broad enough, so
take the liberty to invite the public
to scan the columns OF the press
within the next few days for our an
ticipating answer.
Take US into your confidence. Since
we have been asked to assist you all |
In boosting Wilmington, and lest we
forget Buy at home. Yours very
truly,
ARTHUR w. CARPENTER
Ala West Second street.
June % a. VIII. Del. |
IMPROVING FIRE TRUCK
The Delaware Fire Companv bsla =
eDeciai rnpptinu lae4 49, Aa