Contracts.
Section 17
SEC. 17. Contracts. - All repair or construction of any work or public improvement, except roads or trail, involving an estimated cost of three thousand pesos or more, shall be avarded by the city engineer to the lowest responsible bidder after publication extending over a period of at least ten days. Publication in such case shall be effected by advertisement in the Official Gazette, and by posting notice at the main aitrance of the nunicipal building of the city. A plan or profile of the vrork to be done, accompanied by specifications for the performance of the same, shall, before advertisement, be placed on file in the offices of the city aigineer and of the Director of Public Works in the City of Manila, which plan, profile, and specifications shall, at all times, be opened for public inspection. Each bid shall be accompanied by a deposit, the amount and character of which shall be fixed by the city engineer and named in the advertisement. Such deposit shall be forfeited to the city if the bidder shall neglect or refuse to enter into a contract, with approved sureties, to execute the work for the price mentioned in his hid and according to the plans and specifications, in case the contract shall be awarded to him. Bonds, to be approved by the city engineer, shall be required for the faithful performance of the contracts. The city engineer, may, in his discretion, reject any and all bids, aid, if such bids are too high, may purchase the materials, hire the laborers, and supervise the work. In the repair or construction of city roads, work may be done by day labor and there need be no advertising or bidding. Public works of all kinds costing less than three thousand pesos may be undertaken either by day labor or by contract, and may be let without advertisement under such rules as may be prescribed by the city engineer. Such con tracts may be signed, on written order of the Mayor, by the city engineer.