The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-25
MONASCO BID IS NOT
 LOWEST, FIGURES SHOW
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6Continued From Page one) that we could not tell what it would come to-" This intimated that the bid of the Virginia Bridge and Iron company had been ignored entirely. Dickson denied that there were two other bidders on the steel work, and said that the only figures submitted were on the pound or tonnage basis. Informat ton from another source, however was that the Ingalls Iron Works and the Nashville Bridge com pany bid on the steel work and made both pound" bids and lump sum" bids.
 When asked how the commi ssion expected to determine whether Man asco's bid was the lowest, if there was no way of ascertaining cost of the steel work, Commissioner Dick son was indefinite. When asked If Manaseo and other contractors did not bid on the basis of 763 tons of steel. he said he did not know.
 More Steel Required
 Plans for the steel work were re- checked by E. A. vanKeuren after complaint had been made by some of the bidding contractors to Com
 
 was recommendation that 37 tons be added to the steel content. This involved a difference Of approxi- mately S5.a00,, which would have had to be made in Manasco's bid as well as all others, as all bids were based on 763 tons of steel. It was declared by Mr. VanKeuren that the lighter steel frame was unsafe and made quate. Commissioner Dickson denied when asked at the time that re- checking of the steel frame was be- ing conducted.
 Manasco. whose bid was accepted, has expressed impotence at the de- lay of the city In signing the con tract He has appeared at the city frequently in the past few days and said he would like to know what Is going to be done about the mat ter" He had previously, announced his intention of breaking ground last Monday. He said Wednesday night he would appear before the commission at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon and tell the taxpayers of Birmingham why he bid on the au- ditorium contract"
 Not Surprised
 Rumors that the Chamber of Com meree would enjoin the city against further action in the auditorium matter, in view of rejection of their proposal for a 6O-day check, failed to create stir at the city hall. President McLendon said, "1 am not surprised" and other commissioners refused to comment.
 Mrs. Echols Breaks
 Mrs, Mary Echols, city commits
 .l,, was in favor of reopening the whole auditorium matter, throwing out even the architects plans if necessary after thorough rechecking. and ad vertising for new bids. Mrs. Echols voted for Dicksons motion awarding the contract to Manasco, but her statement placed her beside Commis sioner William L. Harrison, who alone voted against the motion and who cautioned the commi sson against hasty action in giving the contract to a building promoter. instead of regular contractor.
 Mrs. Echols said she was opposed to the whole auditorium project as it now stands" When questioned, she refused to say whether her change of attitude on the contract was based on any revelations resulting from the commi mission's recheck.
 Commi ssioner Dckson's absence from the city hall Wednesday is ex- pected to forestall any action ct the adjourned session of the eommis sion Thursday, resembling award of the contract to Manasco. It is said that one or two more conferences will likely ne becessary before the com mission reaches a conclusion in the matter of the bids. No conference was held Wednesday, owing to Dick sons absence. Contents of the reply of the Chamber of Commerce to the commissions counter proposal for a divulged by commissioners. who said they would await the return of Dick son before considering it or making it public.
 Conference was held during the day. however, in the office of City Attorney w. J. Wynn. It was att tended by President D. E. McLendon, Commissioner Harrison, Mr. Wynn, A. J. Hawkins, city engineer. and J. E. Spencer. Commissioners re- fused to talk after the conference, but Wynn said il" was for the pur pose of acquainting him personally with the plans and specifications.
 Letter From Leroux
 A letter. received by The Age Herald from J. w. Leroux, president of the Atlanta Construction com pany, in which he said he had writ ten President McLendon asking for immediate action on his protest which he intimated they had over looked or neglected to act upon since he was in Birmingham last week
 Excerpts from the letter follow
 q have just read with considera- ble interest one of your articles in reference to the auditorium situa- ton.
 "It will no doubt be of interest to you to know that we have not received any advices from the com mission as to what action they will take on our protest and petition filed with them on January 12, ask ing for annullment of their award to MT. Manasco, and contracting with us for the work, as per our bid, because we are the lowest bid ders. according to the commission S corrected tabulation, and we are only the standard of medicine and are merely attempting to elevate the standards of their own profession.
 He said that when the people clamor for law they should be heard.
 pr. Nalch asked him why chiro-