They could decide what bonds must be
given, the character of the bonds, and
that the bondsmen should be residents
of the city, and the like, but they could
not, as councilmen acting under the
laws, simply make inquiries about a
man, and if they doubted bis responsi
bility, reject his bid. Mr. Corlett gave
way to Mr. Williams, who spoke fluent
ly and decidedly. As to whether he
was responsible upon the point of
ability, he said he had been a contractor
and engineer for thirty years. He had
been in the employ of the United States
government for several years; had put
in miles of sewers in Washington; had
had heavy contracts elsewhere; had
been three years in Denver, and his
work there had been adjudged by the
inspectors as standing 98 per cent.—
two per cent, from perfection. The
building of Denver’s sewers had been
as fine a job as bad ever been done in
the country. As to bis responsibility,
financially, he asked to have the bond
named which he must give to finish the
work.
Mr. Dyer stated that he had inquired
in Denver regarding Mr. Williams’ re
sponsibility. He had been told by
what he regarded as the best authori
ties that Mr. Williams was not respon
sible. Mr. Dyer gave some of the par
ticulars of his inquiries into Mr. Wil
liams’ professional responsibility. He
moreover said that Cheyenne had had
bad experience with Denver contract
ors, and he wished to avoid further
trouble with irresponsible men.
Mi. Williams gave an explanation of
the reports which Mr. Dyer had heard
regarding his property, and insisted
that he was as responsible as Mr. Dytr
himself, that it was a question of a
bond.
