Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-06
VACUUM CLEANER
AWARD ST|RS ROW
Meeting of Building Committee
of Council Converted Into
Verbal Battle.

Inere was q lively row at the meet
ing of the public buildings committee
of the Common Council last night about
the award of a contract last Novem-
Der to Oscchwald & Murphy to place
a vacuum cleaner in the nurses home
at the City Hospital. Alderman
James p. Rogers, Democrat. of the
Fourth ward, and Alderman Charles
w. Littlefield, Republican, of the Six
tenth ward, were leading figures in
the battle, and Alderman Rogers,
Harry King, architect of the nurses
home, and Danniel Murphy, of the
cleaning firm, also figured in
the interchange of compliments.
No sooner had J. Francis Hanlon,
chairman of the committee, called 1t
to order and the minutes were read
than the question arose over the
vacuum cleaner and there was no
vacuum" in the meeting from
then on.
In November of last year a con-
tract was awarded to Oschwald &
for the placing Of a Con
nellsville or equal vacuum cleaner
In the home. Later 3 bid was put in
by the ConnellsVille people for the
same price that Oschwald g. Murphy
had bid for a "Connellsville or equal
cleaner. Mr.. Murphy declared last
night that the Arco- Wand cleaner.
which he wanted to install, was equal
to the Connellsville machine and the
discussion was on.
Mr. Rogers was In favor of having
the right of installing the Arco- Wand
given to the Oschwald-Murphy con-
Germ. Mr.. Littlefleld declared he
both bids should be thrown
out, If it could be done legally, and
said SO In emphatic terms. You
can't dictate to me-" remarked Alder
man Rogers.
I'm not trying to-" replied Alder
man Littlefield, but if these bids can
be legally thrown out, 1 think they
ought to be-"
Mr.. King was then asked by Alder
man Rogers If it was not fact that
he brought the bid of the Connells-
vile machine to the committee.
IT did not" replied Mr.. King. 81
suggested that bid be put in because
l know the work of the Connelsville
machine and think it would be the
best for this building. 1t is the ma
chine that is in use in the Sixth Pre-
1 do not know any of the work of
the other machines"
At this point Mr.. Murphy asked the
privilege of the floor as a citizen and
was granted it by Chairman Hanlon.
AS he arose he said, You tell every
thing but the truth" Mr.. King. THE
newest and finest hospital has a dry
machine, Bellevue. The u.
G. I. that controls the Public Ser
vice Corporation uses the dry ma
chimes and so do Gimbel Brothers.
am talking as citizen and l want
to be heard
L..
alities," interjected Chairman Hanlon.
vacuum machines in any of the places
Mr.. Murray refers to-" said Mr.. King.
An exchange of unimportant talk
then ensued, and Mr.. Littlefield again
stated that he thought the bids should
be thrown out, II 1t could be legally
I'VE are here to do the work of the
people who elected us. I believe we
are capable of doing it properly" said
Mr.. Rogers, land 1 do not believe that
Oschwald & Murphy or any other
firm wants to foist a lot of junk on
the city, for the paltry sum of $3.50.
They have given a bond to the city
which is an ample security. I move
the Arco- Wand machine be installed"
you are attempting to establish a
very bad precedent" said Mr.. Little
field"
The motion was seconded by Alder
man Thomas b. Curran but when the
vote was called for 1t was lost; AL
derman Scheininger, Llttleheld and
Haas voting against it.
Alderman Littlefield then moved
that both bids be thrown out but
withdrew his motion on the sugges-
ton of Alderman Scheininger that the
matter be referred to the legal de-
partment for advice. This motion
was finally carried.
Prior to the vote being taken Mr..
Murphy asked for the floor privilege,
but was not accorded it until after
the vote had been cast. He then de-
clared once more that he was acting
as a citizen and warned the members
that in his opinion the committee
would get a ''lot of bum notorlety"
by its action.
Alderman Rogers got to his feet
and started from the room to go to
another committee meeting in an
other room in the City Hall AS he
did Alderman Littlefield said: Don't
get angry"
Turning quickly, Alderman Rogers
said: You are the last man in the
world to make me angry. l wouldn't
run from you for anything"
ri could tell you a whole lot
answered Alderman Littlefield.
You couldn't tell me anything
Back to the farm for yours" sad
Alderman Rogers, and then was called
from the room by one of his friends
Hostilities broke forth afresh wher
Alderman Rogers returned from his
other meeting. He asked a question
as to what was going on and Alder
man Littleheld said: IF you were
here attending to your business and
earning your salary you would moi
have to ask"
"pm attending to my business.
had another meeting to attend which
is In session now" replied Mr.
Rogers.
The matter in question at the time
was the giving of instructions tc
Architect King to arrange for an ex.
hibit of samples of furnishings to BIZ
used In the new nurses home. Mr.
King explained that It would bt
necessary for him to make prelimi.
nary ARRANGEMENTS for the exhibition
and requested that the power be giveI
him. He intimated that there NIGH
be a possibility of some of the manu-
facturers of various kinds of furnish
ings insisting that they be paid fol
their samples.
Alderman Littlefleld had alread.
! raised an objection to any chance o
| substitute being made for a stand
ard grade of furniture, china, etc.
and Immediately said: II would taxi
| it upon myself to guarantee that al
| of the manufacturers would furnish
| their samples free of cost"
| Mr.. King then explained that h
referred particularly to the linen fc
the home. "It II necessary that TIL
linen be monogramed and tina
makes the samples of no value t
the manufacturers after they hav
been used"
HAS the city got crest?" sarcas