The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-09
PAVING COMMISSION PLANS TO RETAIN SI0,OOO FORFEIT POSTED
 BY PARDY ON SEWER CONTRACT
Members of Board Intimate That Contractor Would Withdraw Because His Bid is Low, While Bidder Asserts He's Ready to Go / Ahead if City Will Indem- nifty Him in Event of Rail road Claim For Damage.

Last night before the paving and sewer commission T. U. Pardy on be- half of the construction company which carries his name and which was awarded the building of he pro- posed intercepter sewer refused to sign the contract, although the mem bers of the commission despite the advice of the city attorney, stood ready to accede to his policy" Un- less MT. Pardy signs the contract on or before Tuesday night the commis- sion will declare his bid void and will endeavor to claim the $10,000 certi- fled check which he posted with his bid of $223,OSS.73 for the work. |
 President William Chew and Com missioner Dwight c. Wheeler, memz bers of the committee selected by the commission to arrange the terms of the "policy" which MT. Pardy had suggested. expressed great surprise and disappointment when he refused to sign the contract last night. After consultation with the city attorney they had decided to agree to MT. Par dy's policy and to guarantee to him that he would not be interfered with by engineers of the New Haven road, also that he would be allowed to leave part of the sheathing in his trenches after laying the sewer and that the city would protect him against any damage suits due to pos- sible shifting of the viaduct walls,
 MT. Pardy said to the commission last night that one reason for refus- ing to sign the bid was that he could not get the $90,000 bond which would be required by the Commission. The difference in the figures, MT. Pardy being about $175,000 lower than Ed ward Devoe Tompkins, Inc. the next lowest bidder, was given as the req son why bond companies refused him a bond. MT. Pardy said that after the bids were opened he had another engineer go over his figures very carefully and that the outside engi- neer was unable to find any mistakes in them if the policy" which MT. Pardy asked was agreed to by the
 President Chew said that he was much disappointed with Mr. Pardy's action.
 l He said that if the contractor found that he had made mistake he ought to gracefully acknowledge it. All humans are apt to err and MT. Chew said he did not think the commission l would attempt to hold MT. Pardys certified check had he told the com mission at once that a mistake had
 been made. He said the bid was made | by Mr.. Pardy knowing the condition under which the sewer must be laid along the railroad viaduct Under the circumstances of the bid he said there was nothing left to do but wait the five days and If MT. Pardy failed | to sign the contract the commission
 would declare his s1o,ooo certified check forfeited.
 | Commissioner Wheeler also ex~ pressed great surprise at what he termed MT. Pardy's attempt to side step the contract He said he had nc
 desire to see a contractor ruin him. self or to put him to unnecessary
 hardship but he felt that MT. Pardy
 after the bids were opened, should
 have at once told the commission
 thatA an error had been made in his I estimate.
 | At Mir. Pardy's office 1t was said
 today that the firm was still consid-
 ering the matter and that no decision
 would be made until the time limit is reached on the contract.