Evening journal., 1921-04-26
NOT Bidding ON
Pig in Poke
F. E. Connor Gets Contract
After Education Board
Wrangles Over Plans
TWO SETS FOR
SANITARY WORK

tary FOUNTAINS 10 De erecteu IN
Schools Nos. s, 10 and 10, and asked
Frank r. Connor, the lowest bidder
on the work. II be had bid on those
plans that stated what kind OF FIX
tures we're TO be installed in No 10
School. Mr.. Connor admitted that
he had not Oscar c. Draper pointed
to one set OF specifications he had,
which failed to state what kind Of
work was 10 be done at No. 10 School
Mr. Draper moved that inasmuch as
the bidders were estimating on differ
ent plans for the work. all bids
should be rejected and new estimates
asked for.
.Dr. Beck said that he thought
there should be no mistake as to-
what kind OF work was to be per
Termed by the successful bidder and
thought the bids should be rejected
a. Il was not fair 10 the contractors
TO have two sets OF plans.
Ifrdman Hoffman. Of the fuel and
janitors' committee. who favored
awarding the contract 10 MT. Connor,
said: The contractor was not bid
d4ng on a pig in a pake;' you want 20
have that set OF plans framed for
next year"
Walter T. Campbell said he
thought the contract should be
awarded as the plans had been ad-
rertised and II those contractors who
bid had not applied TO the engineer
ing department for information as
what to bid on It was their fault
MAY I ask a question:" Mr..
Stradley interrupted. rs the Board
proposing to reject these bids be-
cause the Board didn't know what
II wants?"
At this point II was announced
that the lowest bidder. Mr.. Conner,
who was present at the meeting.
had signihed his willingness to meet
the requirements OF the board. and
the board voted TO award him the
contract, with Mr.. Draper and Dr.
Beck. dissenting.
A motion by Mr.. Draper that 10
per cent Of the amount OF the con-
tract be retained until 80 days ar
ter completion and final acceptance
OF the work, and that the contrac-
tor be required TO furnish a bond
with a security company, was car
ried.
Dr. Beck said he proposed to refer
the two sets OF plans to City Solicitor
Huxley for an opinion. He con-
tended that no time limit was sci
forth in the specifications and thC
work could be dragged along foi
months.
Mr.. Hoffman then made a motion
that the contract for toilets in No.
School be awarded, but Shermer II
Stradley protested. saying that th'
board at the last meeting had voted
10 reject the bids because they wer'
Jumped together with estimates OF
other work.
DR.. Beck also entered a protest
against a bill for 500 submitted by
Patrick Golden, who is doing some
plastering work at No. p school on
4he grounds that he thought II wai
excessive. This bill. DIT. Beck said
calls for $50 for IS hods OF mortar
He charged the Board, he said, STAT
\ cents an hour for plsstering and %
cents an hour for labor hire.
Mr.. Draper said he was informed
that Mr.. Golden was still at worl
on the job and he raised the ques
ton as to whether the bill for sl0l
was within the limit that the boar,
could expend without advertising
for such work. DR.. Conwell Banton
chairman Of the school committee
reported that the plastering wa
about completed but that II woull
be necessary to keep repairing tn
plaster as long as the auditorium o
the school was used for basketball
games.
The bill OF william r. Campbel
n for s97 for removing snow from III
i Hish School pavement held up a
a previous meeting OF the board, wa
approved for payment, when II wa
explained by Mr.. Campbell that III
work extended over a considerabl
peg.od.
a bill OF the Truax Electric Com
" pany. also held up at the last meet
ing, was approved for payment whe
a concession was made in the priC
OF work done in the schools. but q
the suggestion Of Shermer stradle.
u DR. Banton agreed TO try to secur
IN better bids on future work.
i sThe bill called for $3.50 an hou
for electricians. John Moore,
member OF tho Board said oth'
contractors charged S1.25 an hou
for such mechanics.
Mr.. Draper made complaint ,
the filthy condition OF school cellar
and suggested that tho board insi
II that janitors whitewash the collai
during tho vacation period. Pres
dent Rommcll said that some OF n
a cellars were in a bad condition an
he felt that II the janitors will NJ
+. do the work, they should be di
missed and others hired who wi
81 keep the places clean.
Dr. Banton. chairman OF the r
81 pairs committee, reported that stel
were being taken 10 remedy ligh
NJ ing and ventilation conditions
& school. No is, complained OF
II Stradley. The school, he said,
frightfully overcrowded. and u
dark paint on the rooms and defe
(. tive lighting fixtures were large
81 responsible for the poor light'
= fooms
# The Lindsey Tucker Compai
& was awarded a contract for cambr
S and curtain fixtures for the variol
& schools. their bid being 40 cen
"a lower than that Of NJ. Megary
81 Sons Company, the only other BIZ
der.
The suggestion made by Cliffoi
81 ]. Scott. superintendent OF schoo
II that teachers who are quarantine
+ at their homes because OF contag
Gus diseases be paid for % scho