The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-27
ACTION DELAYED
 ON AUDITORIUM
 UNTIL THURSDAY
Continued from Page One.)


 tive. based principally on the desire of the contractors to hold their crews and equipment together dur ing the summer, and against be cause there was not so much con- struction going on in the late sum mer than at other seasons. His views were concurred in by the other architects present The architects advised making an award and start ing work.
 MT. Knight of Warren & Knight drew attention to the fact that the sum voted by the citizens for the auditorium two years ago was based on the price announced that covered costs of different economic period i; that the completely equipped audi torium could have been built for the money voted at that time, but since then costs had undergone a change. None denied his statement.
 Harrison Advocates Thinking.
 Commissioner W. l.. Harrison was first to take the position of de- laying final action for a day or two. He said he did not believe the loss of two days would seriously af- feet the situation. that it was unwise to order an incomplete building and equally unwise to incur the addi- tional expense without giving the citizens a chance to express an opinion. He advocated the audi torium being thoroughly equipped ana favored building now, but be- ieved the public was entitled to consideration in the matter calling on it for the additional sum before going further
 MT. Harrison's stand grew instant approval from his fellow commis : sloners, but their sentiments and his was that action was of more impor- tance now than long delay. Presi- dent D. E. McLendon said the matter had been delayed long enough, the advice of experts was that the bids were reasonable and the demand for an auditorium was imperative.
 Commissioner Mary Echols said the city had a leeway of another usable $100.000. but to utilize it for the auditorium, as could be done, would be to deprive the city of its financial "elbow room," which she did not believe to be good business.
 Commissioner w. E. Dickson ad- vocated the completely equipped building. but was for thinking the matter over day or two and hear ing from the citizens about the ad- ditional sum necessary. Expense could be reduced. he said, if the re- movable wooden floor and few other features were eliminated, but that would leave the auditorium crippled for its greatest use.
 Cloe Wants Action Now.
 Commissioner W. E. Cloe was for awarding the contract and having had ordered an auditorium and he did not believe the citizens would hang back about an additional S100,o00 which experts said was a paramount necessity to get the right sort of plant. We have the best available advice" he said: 'it is the necessary thing to do, and, no matter what we do, we are going to be crit ;cised for it. l move we award the contract and get going"
 MT. Cloes stand and motion, for a moment, nearly carried the 'conven- tion.' The roll was called and the vote started, but on the way discus the citizens into the confidence of the discussion prevailed.
 The sentiment of the commission during the meeting. though not ex- pressed in so many words. was clearly: We commissioners are tenn the auditorium are the permanent property of he people of Birming- ham. What action we take will be irrevocable. It involves a dignified sum of money that the voters will have to put up. Let's have the citi- zens express their views before We take step that cannot be retracted. It's their town, their auditorium and their money. Waiting 4S hours will not hurt.
 Official action taken at the clos ing of the afternoon session was to hold all decisions in abeyance until an adjourned meeting to be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning. Three Mectinss Held.
 It was necessary for the commis- sion to hold three meetings Tues day. The first was that of the regu- lar weekly session, at which routine business was transacted. This meet ing was adjourned until ten minutes to noon, when the time to receive and open bids had been set.
 The council chamber of the com mission was well filled with business men when noon came. The heads were present; also the men bidding on the subsidiary contracts. The work was tackled as soon as President McLendon's gavel fell. Sec retary L. E. Gray asked if all bids were in. No one offered an addi- tional bid. The stack of sealed en- velopes on the desk were opened one by one.
 Each bid on the principal work that of building the auditorium proper, as had been provided in the plans submitted, provided for alter nate sums, the structure itself, the structure without the ceiling. the structure without the movable floor, the inclusion of a raised floor. This made necessary several sets of fig ures in each instance. The individual bids were each classed as original, and original and alternates. General Bids offered.
 General bids offered were as fol- lows:
 vitt-Fleming company,
 Chattanooga, Tenn ....... .$459, 900 Q. D. Thomas & Go. and D. E.
 Manasco :.'...... ........ AoS'faf Inglenook Construction com c pGhs G Kershaw construct,on '''
 company 42l,51s Smallman- Brice Construction
 company 4l5,o0o Day & Sachs .... ......... 4OS, 900 Smith company ............. 403, ,4S7
 The bid of the Smith company, in cluding the compounds of alternates. was several thousand dollars lower than any other original general bid offered.
 At the afternoon session the board of architects and the city commission did not go into discussion of the selection of a bid. from any angle. The city Is not bound to select the lowest bid. The matter of awarding the contract to any particular bidder was not discussed Tuesday.
 Following the receiving of the gen. eral bids, the bids on subsidiary equipment were opened. and like the others. read aloud in open meeting They were as follows:
 O O O
 subsidiary Bids.
 Alabama Supply company: Electric wiring, s43,630; heating and ventilat- ing, $54,391: plumbing. $l5,000.
 Charles W. Spangler: Gas. heating ventilatipg, plumbing, $7S.00o.
 Plumbing Service company: Plumb ing and gas, s16.2SO; heating ano yentilating, s66,000; for the award .,ln m hinr pas heating and Yentilat- :