Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-08-28

AttGmDIS DY Alutl lloh w AAAt0AN
Wilson, oliver w. Ramsay and the
lstter's counsel at an adjourned
meeting Of the Board of Aldermen,
last night, to have an award OF seven
paving contracts made Immediately
r led to some bitter arguments. The
streets and sewers committee re-
fused to make any further report
than progress upon the Dlos' Oh
which Mr.. RamGay's was the lowest
Alderman Wilson and Alderman
John ]. Clark became sarcastic IN
scoring each other at times, ana
their arguments led to an expression
of opinions of how city contracts hao
been handled in the past. The whole
discussion about the pavements, IN
which all of the aldermen, excepting
Jobn Kutcher, and Mr. Ramsay ana
his counsel took part, surrounded
the contention as to whether the city
couId sell bonds for the street pave
ments if there should be any irregu-
larity in the award of the contract.
The Democratic aldermen seemed 10
doubt that the money would pc
forthcoming if Mr.. Ramsay was
awarded the contract should the
award afterwards be found to be n
regular. They claimed that TINS
point was now being considered py
special counsel and report was e&-
pected within few days
Mr. Ramsay presented communl-
cation at the beginning OF the meet
ing, replying to claims made by the
Hastings Paving Company that MS
hid had been irregular and that ne
had not complied with certain pro-
visions in the specifications. MT
Ramsay insisted that he did comply
with all provisions, including state
ment under oath that he had laid at
least 10000 square yards of pave
=. nent. He held that if that clause
had to be interpreted as the Hastings
4 concern would have 1T Interpreted,
NmenopoIy was inevitable and compe-
tition would be eliminated. Regard
ing the filing of samples of asphalt
block of the kind he would use, Mr..
Ramsay set forth that there was on
file two samples of the Barber AS
phalt Company's block, the kind of
which he would use. Mr.. Ramsay
stated that he had given proof of be-
ing capable of complying with all
provisions in the specifications and
even SO lultl IL hSSSo.o1iy'
In conclusion, the low bidder stat
ed that an award to him of the seven
Jobs meant a saving of approximately
$4,000 to the city and taxpayers. He
stated that the Barber block would
be used and the pavements would be
as good, if not better, than if they
cost $4,000 more.
That Mr.. Ramsay would assume
e., f1A ait tty'ct
part to sell bonds to obtain money
for the work, was claim made by
his attorney, Merritt Lane, of Jer-
sey City, in making some additions
verbally to Mr.. Ramsay's written
statement. He declared that the bid
was as of August 18. AS conditions
changed and prices of material va
ried with the times, he asked the
aldermen to make the award imme-
diately He stated he understood
there had been raised question re-
garding the validity of contract
with Mr.. Ramsay, because of the con-
tentions of the Hastings concern
that he had not complied with GER
tain provisions. The lawyer declar-
ed that all provisions had been com
piled with, that all proceedings were
I6S uldT anu NIL ldluodS WOulu s udi :
antee to take all the risk on floating
the bond issue to such an extent that
if the bonds could not be sold after
the contract had been awarded, Mr..
Ramsay would stand to the loser,
and not the city.
Mr.. Lane spoke at intervals during
the lengthy discussion. He told of
having been through Just such a case
ho aIo hot ho
issue and the contract award were
entirely separate and distinct under
takings. He declared that should
the contract award happen to be ir-
regular, it would have no bearing in
any way upon the sale of bonds.
Alderman Wilson stated that peo-
pie in his ward, the first, were grow
ing anxious about the paving ques-
tion, owing to the delay in making an
award He declared that he would
like to have the award made with
out further delay and the people in
his district felt likewise. He wanted
to know what was holding the bids in
the hands of the street committee.
Alderman Chris Jorgensen replied,
stating that the bids were in the
hands of attorneys to determine
whether or not the bidders had COM
piled with provisions of the specifi-
cations. Mr.. Wilson contended that
If the street committee and its legal
representatives were going to find
any flaws, it was high time that they
were located, the bids having been
under consideration from August IS
to 27.
Mr. Clark again held that Mr.. Will
ion was talking politics. He stated
that Mr.. Wilson would have it appear
that he was talking in the interest
of the people. when, when he was