The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Surprise Registered by Busi-
 ness Men of Birmingham at Action of City Commission
 erS--Protests Against Deal Pour Into Organization
MANASC0 PAID LICENSE IN 1922 AS REAL ESTATE MAN
Lowest Bidder on Sectional
 Project Declares He Is Ready to Make Bond When Papers Signed Dickson Discusses Complaint of Ford Company

Delay Tn Slgn1ng the contract for excavation and enclosing work on the municipal auditorium awarded D. E. Manasco, Birmingham build ing promoter. by four to one vote of the city commission Friday aft ernoon, was forecast in a statement of w. E. Dickson, city commissioner in charge of the project Saturday night.
 Commissioner Dickson announced. after veritable storm of pro test had broken throughout the city and the Chamber of Commerce had been besieged by numerous complaints touching on the legiti- macy of the award, that he would not be inclined to rush the signing of the contract" and J. D. Moore, president of the Chamber of Com merce, told The Age-Herald he be- lieved "it advisable for the com mission to hold up the signing until the chamber had opportunity to make investigation"
 City Manifests Surprise
 Surprise has been manifested in all quarters of the city that the com mission should award the contract to man who. 1t is stated, is not known as contractor and has, it is said. never handled any large projects. In- Vestigation at the city comptroller's office revealed that Menasco, to whom the city has awarded partial contract for nearly s20N.00O, paid $S.75 license last year for three months operation as real estate dealer, and that he has not paid any license this year. It is not shown that he has ever paid license as a contractor.
 Commissioner Dickson said protest had been made to him by the Ford Construction company that it was not allowed to bid on the auditorium except az a whole, but that he had asked H. D. Breeding. the architect for the auditorium. if there was foun- dation to tlis statement, and he was assured that there was not. He said he did not know whether this would affect the situation or not, but that he would probably talk with Mr. Ford again. Dickson said Breeding told him over the telephone that all con tractors were given option of bidding either on general construction or on part construction He intimated that no further investigation would be conducted into Fords charges.
 Harrison Protested Award
 Awarding of the contract was made upon motion of Commissioners Dickson, and ove- vigorous protest ice ~f1.., son, who declared the city commits sion "does not know who will build the auditorium if MT. Manasco is given the contract, and it has no as- surance that the work will be done properly" The commission overrode Commission Harrison and Dickson's motion was passed. Commissioner Dickson said later he did not know whether Manasco was a contractor or not, but that "his was the lowest bid"
 President D. E. McLendon and Com missioner Harrison left Saturday for Montgomery and other commissioners are expected to leave Monday. Sign ing of the contract will therefore be deferred lat least" Commissioners Dickson said, until the commissioners return. The Chamber of Commerce Is expected to have conducted its in. vestisation in the meantime.
 No information has been given out by Manasco as to whom he would sublet contracts for steel and brick work. Commissioner Dickson said he did not know, but that he supposed they would be let to reputable firms. He added. We will, in fact, require that, and we will also require bond from MT. Manasco."
 Steel Coufracfor
 Rumor Saturday, however, was that Manasco would let the steel construc- tion contract to the Virginia Bridge and Iron company.
 Manasco gave The Age Herald Sat urday a statement, in which he de- clared that ground work for the au- ditorium would be broken Monday week. and that he would furnish ample bond to the city. He furnished references, with request that they be called and questioned regarding his work. The names given by him were Representative Lewis Bowen, S. F. Knowles, superintendent American Express company; Roscoe Mcconnell G. R. Harsh, Sr., Leo Kaiser of Otto Marx & Co.,. W. A. Watts and Will liam NJ Leary.
 Several of the references proved to be neighbors of Manasco but they declined to speak of his business status. Only one of them said they knew him as a contractor.
 Manasco's Statement.
 Following is the statement made by Manasco to The Age Herald:
 Ground for the municipal audito- rum will be broken Monday week.
 Every dollar of my bid was GOV cred when the commission awarded the contract for the work to me Friday. l will make bond for the job when the city signs the contract for the work. The city may select