The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-24

read a letter answering Mr.. Allen, to
the full board and that the letter was
Endorsed by this board-of course as be-
ing correct answer to my inquiry. But
the contents of the boards letter are at
such variance with the facts set forth
in my letter of December 10, that there
is practically no connection between the
two.
However, Mr.. Gwin stated in his let
ter that my sole contention was the COM
mission allowed the contractor and arch
| itect. which statement he knew was not
correst. My contention was and is now
that the board, in their desire to dis
criminate against the open shop contrac-
tor, and favor the closed shop contrac-
tor. had paid more, not only for the
closing of this job to the open shop
men, but had paid so per cent more
for their contractors service than was
necessary and were paying more for their
architects service than the city board
of education were paying
Mr.. Gwin says the city is also paying
their architects for their school build
ings per cent, but he failed to tell il
all and say that the per cent the city
was paying was divided up and secured
architect but also the services of two
additional experts, the per cent how
ever covering the three fees.
Mr.. Gwin seems worried lest some aver
| age laymen might think that I claimed
they could have saved 50 per cent Of the
not thought about that, but after some
thought on the matter feel sure he
has some ground. for feeling worried
I notice also that this full board SAYS
| that Evans Bros. haveI given a guaran-
tee bond protecting the county against
any increase over their cost price.
CALLS FOR BOND
Now, gentlemen of the board of reye-
nue., 1 not only challenge this statement
but I defy you individually and collec-
lively to produce a bond or COPY of bond
| or even an application for bond from any
bonding company in jefferson county,
prior to Il o'clock noon Friday, Decem-
Der q, 1917, for the protection of the
county in reference to the Bessemer
courthouse
Is it not a fact, gentlemen, that there
is an agreement between your board or
your representatives and Evans Bros,
that they would not be required to make
a bond on this job?
Mr.. Gwin says in his letter of Deem
ber 16 that he is willing that my firm
should be one of the firms to figure
on this work, makes some special re-
quirements of his, but in my 35 years
in Jefferson county I have never been
mixed up in any of the county work and
will promise now that you need not
fear an estimate from me on the Besse-
mer courthouse. The matter under dis
cussion was the letting of this court
house to closed shop firm without COM
petition, for more than the work could
have been let for, but the full board
being present they proceed to give the
public pointers on what I have been
charging for my work, and their state
rnent in this regard is almost as correct
as their statement that Evans Bros. had
given guarantee bond to protect the
county.
Mr.. Gwin also says in his letter of
December 16 I'VE wanted the courthouse
built in a reasonable time, the compile
ton of which would possibly be nine
months All right, Mr.. Gwin, that is
another strong reason why some contrac-
tors who have at some time completed
a job on time, should have at least had
a chance to have said in what time they
would complete this work, and what the
fixed cost would be, and what the charge
for their services would have been.
COMPLETION ON TIME
Why does the board, through it's pres
lident, think that Evans Bros. is the
only firm in the county who could COM
plete this building on time? From the
information obtainable it develops that
Evans Bros. have just completed a build
ing in this city of similar cost to the
Bessemer courthouse, and although the
foIr n nut In, hofo