Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-27
HOT FIGHT OVER
WATER CONTRACT
South AmbOy Council Passes
Resolution to Get Bids
By Special oorressondsnl.

By Special oorrcsrondeni.
SOUTH AMBOY, Aug. 27-An I'M
expected snag was struck last night
when Councilman Delaney's resolu-
Zion providing that the plans and
specifications for the new water plant
be accepted and that the city clerk
advertise for bids for the construction
OF the plant was presented to the
common council. 1t was finally pass
ed by a vote of 8 to 2.
Councilman Hackett opened up
the discussion by advising. the coun-
Gil that it was a serious proposition,
having been serious from the start
and getting more so every day. He
stated that the committee hat APP
proved of the plans were a little
previous. He said hat the people
would and were taking exception to
the councils action of awarding the
contract under the present condi-
tions. He stated that he doubted the
ability of the city engineer or any
other civil engineer to handle the
proposition alone. He suggested that
the council take the advice of the
mayor and appoint a board of water
commissioners and have this board
go over the plans and see if any i'm
provements could be made or any
money saved. He said that as a
member of the governing body of the
city he did not feel that he was in a
position to spend n quarter of a
million dollars of the city's money
and hat he felt that he knew more
about the water situation than any
Dther member of the council.
He stated that under the circum-
Jtances he would not be a party Of
adopting the resolution and author
izing the expenditure of the money.
He. however, made a proposition as
follows: That the council appoint a
board of five men to take charge of
the work, naming two men of his
choice on the board. The names he
suggested were those of Samuel New
ion, who. he said. was a purchasing
,gent in a large concern having
Bharge of purchases amounting to
over a quarter of a million dollars
per month. The other was that of
Frank Disbrow, a locomotive engi-
neer and also a civil engineer.
Councilman Stanton agreed with
Councilman Hackett when he said
that the city was at the end of Its
borrowing ability. but not MS far as
1he water account is concerned. He
pointed out that this was a separate
account and was also safe investment.
He claimed that the city would not
spend one cent on the water works
that would not be returned in evenu
from the water rents. He stated that
he was not trying to evade the may
or's recommendation. but felt that the
council could handle the situation.
He stated that there was never any
room for criticism of the city engi-
neer who had always o n his work
well and promptly. He then re-
viewed the water works from the time
it was first spoken of until the pres
ent time.
Councilman Hackett replied that
the review of the history of the test
ing had no bearing on the present
situation. He refuted the statement
that he had claimed the engineer In
efficient. but he stated there WAS al
ways some room for improvement in
everything. He accused Councilman
Hackett of bringing up past history
and claiming credit where credit be-
longed to himself for the present To-
cation of the water works, he having
advised the situation and after fruit
less test in other locations had him
self signed resolution authorizing test
on present location. He then made
the statement hat the council made
the test and they did it illegally,
whic hh ecould prove. In closing he
stated that he could name the man
who would get the contract. He Of
" PtoNS NtO AoAAAS A ~ SSAtSo
envelope and have it opened the
night the bids were offered and the
contract awarded.
Councilman Shuey stated hat he,
as a. mechanical engineer, gave the
city engineer all the credit possible.
He stated that he was a good engi-
neer, but he thought that If the work
1 ney could be saved. He said
that without a doubt enough money
could be saved by having the two
men work the problem out together
to pay an expert to go over the plans
and a W money in the end.
Councilman Kress stated that he
was in accord with the mayors pro-
posal, but he felt that If the council
was big enough to locate a good sup
ply of water they were big enough
to carry through their plans. AS far
as a mans value to the water plant
goes it would be Of no advantage to
have a purchasing agent on h board
unless he handled goods such as oils,
pipes, fittings, etc. For his informa-
ton Councilman Hackett replied that
this was Mr.. Newton's line.
Permission was given to A. T. Nc
Michaels, the city engineer. He stat
ed that his ability to handle the o n
struction work was doubted and
questioned. He stated that he vas
sure of himself from the start. He
said that he was bending every effort
and had been for the past five a
to build a water plant in this city. In
order to have a good job to his credit
he stated that he a been in confer
ence with one of the biggest mechan-
tcal engineers in the country along
this line. That he had worked with
him day after day and that the plans
now ready. He defied any man
to call him a crook and stated IL any
one insinuated as much he would pay
dearly.
The city engineer defied anyone t.
claim hat the plans were crooked
and the specifications not open to all
bidders.
The resolution was put to q vote
and Councilmen Shuey and Hackett
voted no." while the other three
councilmen voted YES"