The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-19
CITY BOARD To.
.D|SCUSSPLANS
.W|THCHAMbER
History of Auditorium Under
Present Commission to Be
Reviewed in Detail at
Meeting Called at Re-
quest of Directors

QQCOt vi LII COtOt y
While signing of contract be-
tween the city and D. E. Manasco
for enclosing" of the auditorium
is being held up and is the cause of
much tension, IA months of activ-
ity on the auditorium project on the
part of the city commission will be
reviewed Friday morning at an in
quisitorial meeting, requested by
directors of the Chamber of Com
merce.
The meeting will be held at 10
o'clock in the directors room of the
Chamber of Commerce, and will be
attended by city commissioners,
Chamber of Commerce directors,
H. D. Breeding, architect for the
auditorium, and ]. w. Leroux,
president of the Atlanta Construc-
ton company, who claims to be
lowest bidder for the job awarded
Manasco. Plans, specifications and
bids will be studied infinitely, ac-
cording to agreement reached at
preliminary conference of Chamber
of Commerce directors and COM
missioners held in President d. E.
McLendon's office Thursday after
noon.
Chamber Brings Action
Intervention of the Chamber of
Commerce was indicated last week
as result of numerous complaints
that followed Immediately awarding
of-the conssaet. Commissioners W. H.
Dickson.in charge of the project. am
nounced then that he would not rush
signing of the contract, and j. ID.
Moore. president of the Chamber Of
Commerce. said the board of direc-
tors would reach a decision at their
meeting Thursday afternoon. At this
| meeting, 1t was decided, upon motion
of George. Yancey, that the directors
go in body to the city hall and re-
quest joint conference with the
commission.
Another phase of the situation de-
veloped Curing the day when Pres
ident LerouX of the Atlanta Con
structton company declared he was
morally certain" that Manasco's bid
did not include flooring system, which
would make the bid of his firm s10.-
600 lower than the estimated $4,000
margin by which he had claimed .
was better than the one accepted. He
declared emphatically, after an
nouncement had been made early in
the day that the Ford Construction
company would withdraw its protest.
that the complaint of his firm was
still on file and would remain so I'M
til the matter was settled He said
he was entitled to the contract on
three counts: First, that his bid was
the lowest by $4,000; second. that he
has made preliminary bond with the
city of $4,000. as evidence of good
faith and that he was the only con-
tractor who had done so; third that
his firm was known as construc-
tion company, had executed large
projects, while Manasco is not known
as contractor and has had no large
contract.
Moore Talks to board
The conference between Chamber
of Commerce directors and commits
sioners opened about 3:45 O'Clock. ].
d. Moore, president of the chamber,
spoke first and told commissioners
that the interest of that organiza-
ton was friendly and was intended
merely to be sure that no mistake has
been made in any step in the audi
torium matter. before it is too late
to correct it. He called upon Frank
Rushton. who then. spoke.
Mr.. Rushton said he thought it
dnSira HE that Ice TO,
defer signing of the contract until
all the complaints had been investi-
gated. He added that citizens of
Birmingham were entitled to know
not only whether the contract was
properly awarded, but that architec-
tural and engineering features of
the auditorium are satisfactory He
said the people were entitled to know
what type of construction it is to be,
what materials are to be used. and
other details that have not been made
public.
Commissioner w. B. Cloe then
asked, IF we were to wait on every
organization that desires to investi-
gate the auditorium, when would we
ever get buiding?"
President McLendon said the plans
had been thoroughly checked and
ne WOulu De glaQ Tor the directors
of the chamber to set time and
place for going over them again.
Commissioner Dickson then, smoke.
"As soon as the complaints came to
u.s. we gave out a statement to the
press in which we made 1t clear that
we would not be inclined to sign
the contract until investigation Of
the Chamber of Commerce or other
Organization had been completed.
think the chamber had right to
make such an investigation, and
while,I appreciate Mr.. Cloe's attitude
l think that this is too serious. i'm
portant and far reaching matter
not to be thoroughly understood by
all concerned. / should be delighted
to have conference such as you
suggest arranged
Chamber Meeting
The board of directors of the
Chamber of Commerce Thursday aft
ernoon heard objections to the audi
forum contract from a number Of
contractors and architects.
j. d. Moore. president of the cham
her, presided over the meeting. and
stated that It's purpose was not to
prosecute or bring charges against
anyone. but to gather the facts in the
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