New Britain herald., 1916-09-16
COMMUNICATED.
SCHOOL BOARD ATTACKED,
MT. Kelsey Believes He Has Been Dis c11minated Against in Favor of
 Boston Concern

New Britain, Conn.,, Sept. 16, 1916. Citizens and Tax Payers of the City Of New Britain:
 It IS time to place a conservator over your school board, as they are glVlng your money away, which the following will prove to you, rent and tax payers alike
 The school board, as individuals I respect as private citizens, but, as public servants, I take the liberty to cr1tlc1se their extravaganza of the peoples money, as follows: Heating and ventilating bids received as fol- lows: Stone & Underhill, of Boston, awarded the contract, at their bid of s11,287; Martin J. Kelly, city, bid $11, 900. Difference in MT. Kelly's favor s2S7 which has been given away by your school board which you and I placed in public office by our votes, with the same excuse that the work could not be done by a local tax payer for s11, 900, in their esti nation of mathematics. The Boston contractor can do the work for s2S7 above my bid.
 This Boston contractor has to pay all transportation for his men and tools, pay the out of-town mems
 
 job, and pay a foreman on the job at all time during construction, which I could give my personal attention with considerable less expense, as a liberty and justice-loving citizen.
 I enter my protest through the pub lie press against the discrimination shown bv your school board towards a citizen and tax payer who was partly responsible for their election to pub lie office of confidence and trust.
 I compiled with all the school boards red tape, which cost me time and money, as follows:
 Copy of bid as furnished August 25, 1916:
 "Gentlemen: I propose to furnish necessary labor and materials to in stall the heating and ventilating for the new Burritt school building in ac- cordance with plans and specifications or equivalent for the sum of $11,OOO.
 Hoping my proposal may have your favorable consideration, I am
 Very truly yours,
 MARTIN J. KELLY.
 Above quotation was accompanied by a certified check, as required.
 The school board have a clause iu their specifications, if declared legal, which gives the board the right to confscate the lowest bidders certified check, providing he did not want to enter into a contract with the school board, which means, if l should De awarded the contract and did not mean to enter into a contract, they were at liberty to confiscate any part or my certified check they see fit.
 The Boston contractor, according to 1,oc tn f1rr~ iSn for 35 per cent of the contract just the same as I was ready to do which gave the city ample protection s.s it. ia customary not to pay over 80 per cent. on the work done as the work progresses which leaves the city a margin of safety
 The school board did not have the courtesy to give me 9 hearing re- garding being equipped to handle the job They did not want tn give me a chance to prove to them and the taxpayers that I was equipped to do the job as specified.
 If the school board thought that the job could not be done for s11,- 000.00, why not give a. citizen and taxpayer the preference an I give me the $11,2S7.00.
 We hear so much about patronizing home industry. The school board might be big men now but thcy had to start small the same as I do and could not afford to get a deal the same as they gave me on the heating and ventilation on the new Burritt school where my estimate was sa ring the taxpayers s2S7.0O
 This is no crying act These are the facts in part of the extravaganza and dis ~rimination of your school board towards tax paying citizens of which l will say more latar.
 Respectfully yours.
 MARTIN J. KELLY