The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-25
BIDDERS REFUSE
TO ACCEPT BONDS
Marx and Company of Birmingham
VIII Not Purchase Esoanbia
County Toad Bonds.

Featured by the refusal or Marx and
Company Of Birmingham to pay over
to Bscambia county the purchase price
of the s1.921. 900 agreed upon for the
million dollar bond issue for Escam-
bia county roads, the meeting OF the
county commissioners yesterday &C.
cupied the better part OF the day,
N. Marx and w. s Watkins. rep
resentatives Of tho Birmingham bond
house, appeared before tho board at
the session a letter from the bond
house, written by Mr.. watkinh under
date OF January IS, was read, which
frankly stated that Marx and Com
pany asked for the return of the 500
900 check, which had been deposited
with tho county commissioners on De-
cember IL. as an evidence of good
faith in the bond transaction, mas
much as, according TO the letter ''un-
der the contract. the bonds should have
been delivered not later than January
II, 1922"
Mr.. Watkins, who was in Pensacola
in December and acted for Marx and
company in the bidding and details in
the board, stating that he took the
ground that in such matters as in
yolved the purchase Of the bonds, time
was the essence Of the contract. He
called attention to the fact that the
contract entered into with Escambia
county stated that bidders for the
bonds would be required to take and
pay for the bonds sold to him within
thirty days after such bonds were
awarded by the board of county COM
| missloners, and that if such n con-
| tract was binding on his company, it
WIS equally so on the county COM
missioners. Mr.. watkins stated that
at the time the bid was made the mar
ket was good, but that each days de-
lay made the conditions moro doubt
full.
Mr.. Marx stated that he had had cx-
perience in the bond business Of twen-
ty-five years, and was not acting in
bad faith, in asking for the return of
the check. He said that he did not
wish to work hardship on Escambia
county or on his house. and IL the
board wished to meet him on any sane
grounds he would be glad to meet
them He said that he came before
the board in the very best spirit, and
regretted the unfortunate circum-
stances.
Il Pope Reese, county attorney,
speaking for the county commission
ers said that he appreciated the po-
sition of the bond house repr esenta
tives, but that Mr.. Watkins knew at
the time the bid was made and before
that time. that the bonds had not been
printed, but was assured that matters
would he expedited as far as possible.
Mr.. Reese said that the transaction
was made in good faith. and the mat
ter was thoroughly understood by Mr.,
Watkins.
In reference to the matter OF the
printing of the bonds, Mr.. Reese called
attention TO the fact that after the
contract was let to Mr.. Jeudevine Of
the Mayes Printing Company, Mr.
Watkins took UP the matter of print
ing the Londs with the birmingham
office and that then when 1t was dem
onstrated that the matter must be
handled by Mr.. Jeudevine, he took the
matter up with Mr.. Jeudevine, and on
the suggestion OF Mr. Watkins certain
changes were made, which Mr.. Jeude-
vine claimed had been the cause of
some delay in printing the bonds.
MIR. Reese reminded the hearers that
at the time of the bidding Mr.. Watkins
was high man, and wanted to make
correction Of $4,000 IN his bid, which
was refused by The county commits
sloncrs He further stated that in the
Escambia county bonds, he felt tina
Marx and Company had a big bargain
That the credit OF the county is high
He said that he had advised the board
to hold the bond company to its con
tract.
Mr. Watkins asked for a few min
utes more time. He said he wished to
disagree with MIR. Reese as to any
changes he had made in the engrav-
ing OF the bonds, as he had made no
special requests.
1t was stated after the meeting that
the change which had been mentioned
was in the way in which the bonds
were to be bound, and the coupons at
tached.
Mr.. Marx said: 1T IS mighty easy
to make a decision. What we want to
do Is 70 arrange tho matter to the sat
isfaction of the county and to our
selves. Litigation does not pay.
would suggest that you take ample
time to consider. We can go away
ana come back"
Commissioner Soderlind, who acted