White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-18
HEXEM GETS CONTRACT
FOR SCHOOL O0RM|TORY

The contract for the construction
of additions and alterations generally
referred to by the public as the high
| to Andrew Hexem of Ely upon his
bid in the sum of s119,704.
In letting the contract Chairman
| Millard said that he wanted 1t dis
| tinctIy understood that the action of
/ the board was not to be in any way
construed as reflection upon Con-
tractor Reese OF Fallon, either per-
sonally or with reference to his abil-
| ity or responsibility as a contractor,
but ,on the other hand whore the
difference between the two bids was
| the comparatively small sum oi
1854 in a contract involving approx
mately $4,000, the interests of the
taxpayers of White Pine county could
best be served, and justice demanded
the awarding OF such large amount
of work to the local contractor.
| After the original plans and speci-
| fications were drawn Il was decided
to call for bids In two forms: one for
the use of metal lath In the construc-
| tion of the building, which Is termed
| for convenience the gross bid. and
another bid allowing a reduction for
the use of wood lath in place OF
metal.
The bids so submitted and consid.
cred were as follows:
T. J. Reese Of Fail.on, New, gross
1000; deduction by use of wood
lath. $3.50: net, S11s,750
| Andrew Hexem OF Ely. gross 5 22,-
25s; deduction by use of wood lath,
! 1So554. not S11Q 704
o. M. Wallace ii. of Ely, gross
SIPS, S,096; deduction by use of wood
lath. $3.672; net. s124,424.
The bid of William G. Reed oi
Salt Lake City. Utah, was not con-
sidered by the board for the reason
that the certified check called for In
the specifications did not accompany
the bid.
Chairman Ed Millard and Miss Vir-
ginia Carothers, clerk of the board,
were present at the meeting. but the
third member of the board, c. b.
Nance of Ruth, was not In attend
ance. Chairman Millard later an
nounced, however, that the Ruth
member had verbally informed him
that while unable to attend the meet
ing he was ready and willing to sane
tion any action which might be taken
by the other two members i'm the
matter.
When the bids were opened Friday
the members of tho board asked for
further time In which to consider
the matter, and recess was taken
until yesterday at noon.
When the board reconvened the
matter was opened Tor discussion,
and 1t appeared that during the re-
cess attention had been given the
matter of money available. The con-
tract as let to Hexem is for the con-
struction of the additions and alter
ations to the building, but other ex-
penses, such as the architects fee,
amounting to $4,000. of which the
sum of $4,000 has already been paid;
the equipment of the building, the
cost of a superintendent of construc-
tion and other matters incidental TO
such a contract had to be taken into
account, and this was urged by some
against the letting Of the contract to
any of the bidders, because of the
fact that the total sum would be in
excess of The s125.000 received as
the procee eds of the bonds sold under
for the work
District Attorney Charles A. Walk
er and County Treasurer Thomas A.
Bath were consulted. The district
attorney was again present at the
Saturday meeting, and as the mat
ter was opened for discussion IL ap-
peared that he did not entirely favor
the letting of the contract. In the
general conversation he said that he
had been informed by the county
treasurer that no loan would be made
or overdraft permitted. Chairman
Millard then said:
Both you and Mr.. Bath informed
me that We could make an emer-
gency loan. perfectly legitimate and
within our rights" ia which the
county's legal advised replied
II didn't say you could make it
| said | presumed a loan for furni-
ture would be an emergency loan.
That is up to the state board and no
one has any idea what the state
board will do"
The chairman said that there was
$4,000 In the fund. which he con-
sidered available for the purpose, and
asked the district attorney IL he did
not think under all the circumstances
the board would be justified in LETT
ting the contract. The answer of the
district attorney was so qualified as
TO bring from Chairman Millard the
remark that he thought in fairness
to the members of the board and the
taxpayers of White Pine county all
those interested should air their
views in the public meetings before
the board, and characterized the ac-
tions of some persons as absolutely
unfair and for which he said he was
unable TO assign reason.
Mr. Walker seems to be on the
fence" said the chairman and to this
the district attorney took exception,
asking the chairman to repeat the
question. II say you are straddling
the question:" said the chairman,
and Mr. Walker then said:
We'll. l protest against II on the
ground that it is illegal, ineXpediens
and poor business.
To this he later added that the
objection that "the building will not
he ready for actual use any quicker
by letting this contract than 1t will
| ~, sff.o until tho IaOiSiafura maQf :