Document 71mw3zGXx3RwXELYV3GeGQv78

Pipe Purchase Plan Defended THE NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN. fridjy, Oct. 20. 1967 \ li Waterworks Director rLAJNurrd EXHIBIT CT"13c Bv FRANK RITTER Robert L. Lawrence Jr.. Metro waterworks director. . said yesterday he can "find t Defends Pipe Buying no fault'' with purchase urac* " (Continued From Page One) tices which have resulted in ; one company supplying prac- * Metro buys a superior grade ticaily all Metro's iron water pipe the past five years. When asked bv a member of Metro Council s purchasing committee why the James B. Clow & Sons Co. consistently bids low on iron pipe m Nashville. Lawrence replied: of pipe, Lawrence said. - Only about 20Te of the cities and other pipe-users across Uie uaUuu use the socalled "superior" type of pipe now used in Nashville. The other 807c have turned to another, cheaper grade of pipe. "] SAY THAT is good He knows of no way, question. But when 1 make LawTence said, that the city comparisons, looking at what can save money on its water other cities arc pa;, mg. 1 see pipe purchases. "If there was nothing wrong--unless there any way." he said. "I would is widespread collusion over - already have done it." Lie whole country. . .Lawrence spoke at length "There is nothing to indicate ; about why he thinks the type to me that collusion exists of pipe purchased by Metro between the pipe suppliers. . is superior, explaining that it There is nothing v:e emud is thicker and meets federal dispute or find fault with at specifications. ail.'' FIGURES released last The waterworks director nigh: by the waterworks di added that if anyone suspects rector. however, show that the collusion ir: patierr.- o; bid- . dmg on -mumcipa' tro' pmc. he should couiisuh vuh liic ' S. mstnci auornrv ceirera! 1 acoui :t. eignt-mcn pipe (in diameter) purchased by Metro is only one-hundredth of an inch thicker than cheaper brands. "This one-hunrireth of an DIKING \ length-- and inch is important," Lawrence frequently neated session uc- said. "We have rocky soil fore tne counci; comr.uLee. here in Nashville and it can Headed b' Councxmar. Janies make quite a hit of differ J. Lu Perm a Lawncnct inaae tJlCSC diiClusui Cj ence." A few minutes later, Coun Metro is paying more for iron v.-atcr pine l:.,v. such cities as Memplur. C'arksvtlie. - cilman Paul Blankenship pointed out that Lawrence's figures snow' that Metro is buying six-inch pipe which is r .o. Tg:-,!'. . r.nr < i. in bn.. * uiic liundit'Ui u; an men T;.: 5. nnu < inc.niv; ! ` smaller" in thickness man ``meaner brand "HOW CAN you argue. "There's something wrong Blankenship asked, "that it s with this cast iron business. better to buy the more ex I'm not saying it's wrong irom pensive brand of pipe because your (Lawrence's) standpoint, it's stronger and then turn but something is wrong. around and buy another brand "1 say that if thk purchas that's not as thick as the ing committee can save the cheaper brand, but costs taxpayers a million dollars more?" over a 10-year period ir. pipe "The thing is," Lawrence purchases, then we ought to replied, "that it!s not an exact do it." thing." LAURENCE replied: "I'd According to information un be perfectly willing to save." covered last August bv THE "I thir.k we ought to go to NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN, the district attorney." Griffin the Clow company, of Bir added, "and ask him to in mingham. has received more vestigate this. I don't under than $2 million in business stand this." from Metro in the past five "Well." Lawrence replied, years. In 1966. for example, "I don't understand a lot of Clow bid on 40 different con things mvself. 1 don't under tracts and was awarded 39. stand why my son is still a In August, it was reported prisoner of war in North Viet that Metro had awarded 12 nam and why I haven't heard bids for S600.0(>0 in iron water from him." pine. Clow was low bidder (Lawrence's son. Command on all 12. er William Porter Lawrence, But although Ciow consisP was shot down in June while ently is Jow bidder on iron leading .a combat mission of pipe contracts in Nashville planes from the aircraft ear and Knoxville, the t*.S. Pipe ner Constellation. He was list and Foundrv Co.--Clow's com ed as missing and presumed petitor--regularly is low bid captured.i der- on the same pipe in Chat AT THE beginning of last tanooga and Memphis. night's meeting. Lawrence "IF THERE'S any collu was asked by Councilman sion," Lawrence told the com Martin Garrett why Metro is mittee. "then it's something criticized for paying more for for the federal government to piDe than other southern look into. They nnvo a respon cities. sibility in this area." "It's iust not true," Law- Councilman Frank orimn renee replied. "I have a tab repuca Ida: he think;, collu ulation here. I went to con sion rna\ exist and added: siderable trouble to get it. If shows we're not payir more." The "tabulations," howove: showed that Metro was pm ing more in 19 out of 20 r stances. involving figure Lawrence said he colleen: from six cities. The director explained the Metro purchases succnr grade pine -- the type whic *'\\c have been using for ih past 49 years." He added: "IT'S BETTER to be mor cautious with somethin, you've had success with tba: go another type of pipe. \V might change iater, but l'n not convinced the other pipi would do the job. "We arc just a little more conservative, perhaps. Dm were not quick to change cverytime somebody comes along and says they've got a better product. "It's just d question o: judgment and I'm exercizing my judgment." Griffin replied that he car. understand why Lawrence would dciond purchase of tho more expensive brand of pipe, but added: "If you've been doing this one way for 40 years, there is about a 987* chance you're doing it wrong." After hearing from Law rence the committee voted unanimously to write to other pipe suppliers throughout the country to determine if Metro could purchase the water pipe cheaper elsewhere. V- *