New Britain herald., 1923-11-20
THE PROPER SPIRIT.

The charity board is facing a situa-
ton that may well trouble its MEM
bers no matter what action it takes
in regard to awarding the contract
for the new building at the town
home Those who have talked with
the members informally feel that
they believe honestly the interests of
the city would best be served by Civ
ing the work to a concern at the head
Of which is a man in whom everyone
who knows construction and ability
has confidence.
The board has twice recommended
that the work be given this concern.
Twice the council has refused on the
avowed ground that the city would
save cash by giving the work to the
lowest bidder. The labors of the
charity board have gone for nothing.
Its members might Just as well have
made no investigations, have eXer-
eised no Judgment in the matter. All
the charity board had to do or all
any other board placed in a similar
position would have to do would be
TO open bids and then sit back till
they were all in; examine the bids
and give the contract to the lowest
bidder No investigations: no exer-
else of Judgment!
But the charity board, interested
earnestly as IL is in having the work
on the new building begun as soon
as possible in order that the older
women housed at the town home may
have proper quarters as soon AS
possible wants the contract TO be
awarded. Three courses Of action
remain open to the board, II might
recommend awarding the contract TO
the company favored by the common
council. or it might refuse to back
down from its position and do MOTH
ing, or IL might go ahead and award
the contract to the company it be-
lieyes would do the work in the most
satisfactory matter -- the concern
which il has twice recommended.
Were the board 10 adopt the latter
course there is little question but that
complications would result. There
might be litigation. The company
given the contract might hesitate to
begin the work, fearing that the con-
tract with the charity board, lacking
the approval of the council, would
not bind the city. At any rate the
building Of the structure badly needed
at the home would be delayed and a
problem would be presented within
the city that would be costly Of solu-
tion. Were the charity board to fail
10 take any action at ALL it would
be culpable. The building is needed.
Action is necessary.
There remains the one proper
course. namely to bow to the insist
ence of the common council that the
concern it favors receive the contract.
Quite probably the work will be well
done. No member Of the charity
board need feel that he has surren-
dered any principle, although he may
feel that he has recommended action
in which he does not believe. Such
action. plainly and clearly, has been
forced by the attitude Of the major
ity Of the council, whether such stand
proves right or wrong. The board, in
this matter which bears the earmarks
Of an emergency, Will be doing the
big thing, the right thing. in bowling
to the wishes Of the council, not be-
cause the board believes the council
has acted wisely or even within its
proper exercise Of power. but because
the charity board wants to see that
new building for the unfortunate
women at the town home placed
where it has long been needed-and
as quickly as possible.