The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1923-06-23

dickered with great skill, but the
stubborn and big-boned Jake Pfeffer
stood immoyable. In fact he gave
q very good imitation Of the Rock
Of Gibraltar wfthstanding the buf-
feting Of the waves OF the At
lantic.
Harold d. Crassweller, an able
pinch-hitter for the firm of Jacob
SON Brothers, finally became nerv-
Gus over the situation and ex-
claimed:
Give him what he wants. We
have only an hour to put In our
bid" 8
Jake Jacobson then surrendered
to the very stubborn Jake Pfeffer.
Messrs. Jacobson Brothers ac-
cepted bid in the sum of $544,O00
was an increase OF $4,000 over
the low bid that Messrs. Klippen &
Hustad first intended to submit.
That, certainly, meant very sub
stantial chunk out Of the 100000
derived from the bond issue. =
It was required that each bid
be accompanied by a certified check
for ten per cent of the bid. When
the final bids were made up, man.
Of the bidders were compelled to
go down to the bank for an addf-
tional certified check to cover the
increases in their bids. In reading tie
bids and then stating that they
were accompanied by q sufficient
check, clerk Olds called out one
sum, as If there was but one check,
instead Of mentioning two checks
and two sums, aggregating the
required amount.
This Incident is considered ex-
celient proof OF funny business
= the submission and the award
Of the bids. sss
All deliberations In connection
with the consideration and awards
OF bids were carried on In execu-
tive session, behind closed doors.
Some mighty interesting remarks
and discussions were heard through
partly opened windows and tram
son. Many contractors and direct
ors talk In loud tones of voice
when excited or peeved. 5
Director Harri wanted to award
the contract for heating and Yentil-
alton to- the Service Plumbing 81
Heating Co, headed by 3. 4. Ratl-
ito, 8 former service man and 4
very popular young citizen OF Ely
Mr.. Harri reminded the board that
1t was the common understanding
In Ely and the wishes Of the busi-
ness men that Mr.. Rautio hare.
that contract II he were within a
couple OF thousand Of dollars Of
some outside contractor. The feel
ing was that matters were juggled
by accepting the bid on specific
alton cd" as means Of shaking
out Mr.. Rautio's firm. q e
Director Harri further contended
that Mr.. Cherne's bid In behalf of
the Virginia Heating q Plumbing
Co. should be thrown out because
1t was an altered bid. He pointed
out that typewriter document
s. owed changes and notations made
with pen and ink.
"I don't think Cherne was low
at all'', the outsiders heard Mr..
Harri loudly exclaim. "I think he
comes here with an intent to de-
fraud" "
Mr.. Harri formally moved that
Cherne's bid be rejected for the
reason that it was an altered bid.
He was supported by director. Clan
.otti, but the measure was rejected
by vote OF 4 to 2. ,--..a,
Those who are interested and
who have given serious attention
to the award Of bids believe that
careful checking will show that
Messrs. Jacobson Brothers bid was
unduly high.
The new high school at Chisholm
will cost only $1,000 more than
the Ely Memorial high school, yet
checkings already made reveal costs
that indicate an excessive price for
the Ely work.
In the award of surety bonds,
the Ely State Bank, Of which di-
rector Leonard Slabodnik is cash
Ter, raked in all the policies. The
nnmission on the surety bond for
the general work was $2,040, all
of which went to director Slabod-
nik's institution.
. The members of the Ely school
board embrace DR.. Ayers, president;
William Olds, Jr.- clerk; Thomas
Harri, Frank Gianotti, A. ]. Fem,
ske and Leonard Slabodnik.
The terms of Ayres, and Fenske
expire in July. If they wish further
honors and responsibility, they
must run for reelection. 1t is ex-
pected that they will have oppo-
sition, for the former service men,
seriously talk Of putting a ticket
in the field. The soldier boys and
their friends feel confident OF sue
cess IL they carry out present plans.