The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-25


which Eastwood IL buying in addi-
ton To eve new sedans for prowler
car service.
Titus Protests
Titus summed up his Indignation
in final burst:
IF the commissioner had his
mind made up in advance to buy
Dodges. ] will say he ought to
write up his specifications for the
car he wants and then Wen know
we aren't supposed to submit bids.
AS it is, we supposed this was
competitive bidding, and frankly
we wanted this business and put
in a bid low enough to get 1t.
I'VE spent some considerable
money. even gave the commits
sioner car for himself and his
men to try out. II does cost
money. Last year we were not
the low bidder. made no pro-
test. and recommended the low
bid be accepted by the city. This
time. I'm the low bidder and feel
l am entitled to the business"
MunsOn Protests
But that was close to the finish
of a long session of the board.
Munson's Bob Huffman, besides
arguing technical features of the
Oldsmobile specially favorable to
police work, charged Eastwood
had ignored entirely a promise to
accept a demonstration of the
Oldsmobile.
'Munson Motor Co. has been in
business in South Tacoma II
years" he said, land has never
yet sold unit TO the city. This
time we submitted a competitive
bid as to price. We contacted the
commissioner and were told we
would be given a fair chance to
demonstrate our car. That never
materialized. Inasmuch as our
product was competitive "a to
price, we felt we should have had
a chance to show it. at least"
Eastwood Called
Mayor Cain, Finance Commits
sioner Fawcett and Controller
Swayze. the three board members.
listened raptly to Titus-Dunlap-
Huffman discussion of technical
advantages of the Ford, Dodge and
Oldsmobile. respectively, before
they decided Eastwood should be
hearing some of it himself.
They phoned for him. Eastwood
appeared in couple of minutes
from his office across the street,
sat with the board and listened
to Gains explanation of the situa-
ton and the charges.
I'VE have had good satisfaction
with the Dodge cars in our fleet
the last couple OF years" he told
the board. I'VE found the main
tenance cost low and that with
them we could keep within our
budget.
Commissioner Explains
I'VE wanted the rest of the
fleet brought up to the same
standard. I know the cost is a
little more. but that is why I
recommended the board award the
contract TO the Dodge people"
Confronted with the Munson
charges that he wouldn't even take
demonstration of the Oldsmohile.
Eastwood denied he had promised
that.
NO he said, II felt il wouldn't
be fair to other bidders. l did
try the Ford and had some OF my
men try it-that's the only one. "
Eastwood explained that the
Ford placed at his disposal for
test purposes had been tried out
BY Capt. Tom Ross. Sergt. Glenn
Talbot and Roscoe Savage, patrol
man in charge Of the police
garage.
Mayor Questions
They were all very much in
favor of the Dodge except Talbot,
who rather liked the Ford better. &"
Eastwood said.
Mayor Cain asked him what he
personally thought of the Ford.
since il was the low bid car.
Its very good in many ways. ="
Eastwood confessed. but il feels
a certain hghtness on the road. ="
and here he vaguely suggested the
car was not quite up to police
weight standards.
Titus countered with some in
teresting facts. after quoting q
slogan that 1T takes a Ford to
catch a Ford" He showed that
Washington State patrol stand
srdizes on Fords and uses 162 of