Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-11-05
CONTRACTOR HAS
TO ACCEPT LOW
SCAVENGER BID
Board of Works Majority Votes
GiIIigan Must Stand BY
Own Offer.
FIRM LIKELY TO LOSE
$25o,ooo ON CONTRACT
0iIlen Charge of Deal" on City
job Stirs Members of
Department.


After a lively interchange of words
at the Board Of Works meeting yester-
day between Commissioner Charles P.
Glllen and Hugh F. Gilligan, presi-
dent of the Newark Paving Company,
fhe latter concern was awarded the
contract for the collection of garbage
and ashes. When the final vote was
taken President Patrick II. Ryan and
Commissioners Albert II. Biertuempfel
voted to release the Newark Paving
Company from the obligation. Com
mlssioners Arthur r. Denman, Gillen
and William Tries, jr.. voted in favor
Of awarding the contract to the low
est bidder.
It was, perhaps, the attack made
by Commissioner Gillen on Hugh Gill
ligan that brought the matter to an
issue after it had slumbered peace
fully for two weeks. During the
meeting of the finance committee Mr.
Gilligan, as president cf the Newark
Paving Company, appeared before
the commissioners and requested that
he "be let out"
II feel, inasmuch as we made the
bid at such a ridiculously low figure,
We SldflQ 10 iOcC 1IQtt tWCAitJ INV ~
thirty per cent" said Mr.. Gilligan.
When we bid so low we thought the
time was right. We were not familiar
with the business of gathering gar
bage and ashes, and we would ask the
board to let us out. We are Willing
to stand the cost of advertising and
any other expense. We figured we
would go on with the work with
some additional equipment, but we
found and were told that we could
not work longer than eight hours
which makes the day too short to
collect the garbage. OF course. II
we are compelled to take it, we will
go on and slave for the city OF New
ark for the next five years
AT this point Commissioner Giiien
began to ask a series of very perth
nent questions.
have to ABIDE BY the eight hour iaWss
asked Mr.. Gillen.
'sYes, but / knew it was never lived
up to. In the past and during the
nfesent CONTRACT 1t was not reeog-
sflized. and III we could work under the
same conditions we might be able to
break even,'' replied the contractor. =
yes, but you were confronted with
the same law in your paving contracts
with the city. Why didn't you come
here week ago and state TO the
board that you did not want to ac-
rept the contract?' continued Com
missioner Gillen.
aAt that time I had not realized
that matters were SO bad" answered
Gilligan.
Then Commissioner Gillen said that
If the contract was not awarded and
aS result new bids had to be adver-
tised 1t would bring the final award
close to the end of the year. He said
he had urged that the contract be
awarded six months ago, SO that men
who did not possess equipment could
have a chance to bid and If success
full purchase their apparatus.
GilIeD Intimates Deal.
Furthermore, | want to say" said
Commissioner Gillen, addressing Ills
remarks to Gilligan and the members
of the board that l have heard re-
ports that you were to back out and
that you were to receive $4,000, while
two or three other contractors were
10 split and the money divided. OF
course, couldn't go into court of
law and prove this, but have my in
formation from man who has been
in the game and who is responsible.
1t is not usual for contractors to back
although some time ago we let down
contractor who was either crazy or
out of his head. Surely we know that
you are neither crazy nor out of your
head, Mr.. Gilligan."
did you have any object in waiting
until after election was over? You
went into it with your eyes open; why
have you changed your mind since3''
asked Commissioner Gillen.
"I have been told since that We
could only work eight hours. This re-
duction in the hours Of labor in itself
is an increase of thirty-three per
cent. replied the contractor.
Did you make a statement that IL
a certain Commissioner was elected
YOU would draw out?" asked Mr.. Gill
Ten.
mot Afraid of ANY Commissioned
mo, sir; did not. Furthermore,
am not afraid of any commissioner
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