Douglass v. Commonwealth ex rel. Senior
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 3, of Philadelphia county: Of July Term, 1884, No. 112. This was a petition by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ex relatione John R. Senior for a writ of alternative mandamus directed to William S. Douglass et al., County Commissioners, commanding them to duly schedule, examine and consider the relator’s proposal or bid to furnish' books, stationery and supplies for certain of the county offices during 1884, and to award the contract…
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Error to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 3, of Philadelphia county: Of July Term, 1884, No. 112. This was a petition by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ex relatione John R. Senior for a writ of alternative mandamus directed to William S. Douglass et al., County Commissioners, commanding them to duly schedule, examine and consider the relator’s proposal or bid to furnish' books, stationery and supplies for certain of the county offices during 1884, and to award the contract to said relator, if he proved to be the lowest bidder, or else to show cause. The petition set forth: That the County…
1Opinion of the CourtChief Justice Mercur
The Act of 23d May, 1874, directing contracts to be awarded to the “ lowest responsible bidder ” has twice been before us for construction. In each it was held that the word “responsible,” as used in the Act, applies not to pecuniary ability only, but also to judgment and skill. The duties thereby imposed on the city authorities are not merely ministerial, limited to ascertaining whose bid was the lowest, and the pecuniary responsibility of the bidder and his sureties. The Act calls for an exercise of duties and powers which are deliberate and discretionary. If the authorities act in good…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Commonwealth v. Judges of Common PleasSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1810
3Cited by20 opinions
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- State ex rel. Journal Printing Co. v. DreyerMissouri Court of Appeals · 1914
- Amer. Pavement Co. v. WagnerSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1891
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