The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-03-20
LOWEST BIDDER IS
UNDER BRISK FIRE
Japanese-A American Contractor Is
Questioned and No Inward
BY Supervisors

To investigate the responsibility of
W. sasaki, Japanese and citizen, low
est bidder for the contract to construct
the new 5000 building at Kaahumanu
school, the board Of supervisors last
night voted to hold a public hearing
Tuesday before awarding the contract.
Sasaki's bid entered last week, was
$24,9sO, lower by 1926 than the five
other bids which were Joseph Neves,
$26,275; Henry Fernandez, $26,750,
Pacific Engineering Company, 26,s9O;
John Walker, $4,000, and J. J.. Young,
$4,000.
Supervisor Hollinger Of the commit.
| tee on parks, Fairgrounds and schools,
to whom the bids had been referred
asked for the public hearing on Sasa-
XII s responsibility. He said:
During the last week complaints
have come tonne and the building in
spector that the lowest bidder for the
Kaahumanu school was not a respon.
sible contractor, nor, q builder of exper-
ience. ask that this board hold a
public hearing Tuesday, requesting that
the three lowest bidders be present, to
see IL they are responsible.u
Next Friend Present
Charles +. Chillingworth, president Of
the senate, who had been an interested
spectator of the meeting, then made
known the cause of his presence at the
superyisorial deliberations. He said:
81 am appearing in the interests Of
this lowest bidder, as his next friend.
He has adhered to the proper procedure,
made his bid, given his certified check
and is ready to put up his bond.
would like to know by what right the
supervisors can halt awarding of the
contract to make an investigation of
his responsibility In this case any more
than IN any other case. -
Opposition to Hollinger 8 plan devel-
oped from other quarters. Hollinger
went on to say:
cit is up to this board to see that
| the contract for this 100000 school
building goes to the right man. Citi-
zens and contractors have come TO me
protesting the award of the bid to this
lowest bidder and in fairness TO all
three of the low bidders, we should
hold an Investigation to see that they
get square deal. -
Cristy Says So
l. OupcTNiSOT ATuOlu QutnllOHtuf tue
fright of the board TO follow Hollinger q
plan and the latter replied that he had
consulted ON the right of the board
with Deputy City Attorney Cristy.
i ~ dom I care what Cristy says, q
Arnold replied, "what want to know
Is why we should make this investiga,
Zion in this case any. more thap n amy
Il other. ~ III. " ~
i Cristy stated that the board had the
right to make the investigation before
awarding any contract and could exer
else the right whenever IL chose II
look into the responsibility Of a Lowest
bidder not only as TO his financial re
sponsibility but also as to his integrity
experience and ability,
A Precedent Cited
The point was made that an investi
cation was made by the loan fund com
mission under similar circumstance
when John Wilson and the Lord YounI
company were bidders.
Hollinger stated that Allen & Robin
son and Levers & Cooke had both ad
vised him that they would not 90 oil
the bond of the Japanese and that thu
City Mill company had stated tina
they did not know the man.
Supervisor Logan endorsed Holm
ger 8 stand and Supervisor Hatch sug
gested Investigation by committe,
. without hearing. Supervisor Larsel
backed Hollinger saying; ~
"This board would be liable to ex
IRENE public eensure If we allow
stranger to come in and construct 8
important building without invest
, eating his responsibility. fIff.
. Citizen and Taxpayer MI
Senator Chillingwortk pointed GU
| that Sasaki is a citizen and remarke
that the supervisors did not investi
gate the Richie Company before
was given the Manoa improvement
work contract, adding that, aecordin
|, to common report, it was lucky tina
, the supervisors were protected by on
hundred per cent bond instead Of
fifty per cent one as Is now proposed
Supervisor Horner stated that b
saw no reason for the investigation 0
J the Japanese and Arnold wanted I'll
, entire matter referred from committe
, to the board and not part of il. Hi
plan was rejected but he declared tina
: he would move next Tuesday to hay
: the whole question of the bids referre
| back TO the board 4t