Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-09-28
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.

4
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
The contract tystem is one of the most fruit
sources of corrupt and extrayagant expendi-
ture fri
At distance, and to those who are not ac-
quainted with the operations Of government,
it appears to he very honest, fair, and economi-
cal to put up the government wants to the low
est bidder that gives satisfactory security for
the faithful performance of his contract. But
this system, which presents such fair appear
ance is the most extravagant that the govern
ment could possibly adopt.
No matter what branch of the government
supplies we consider whether machinery for
steamships or pork for the army, or beans for
navy, the contract system imposes heavy bur-
dens upon the treasury and inflicts great detri-
ment on the public interests, and great hard
ships to those in public employment, whom
the government is bound to support and
sustain. 3t
These remarks may appear to be strange
and unsupported by those who reside at dis
lance from the seat of government and who do
not understand the practical working of the
contract system, which presents such a fair out
side appearance.
In the first place it is a very rare event for
thegoyernment to issue advertisements, inviting
proposals for the supply of any one article. The
advertisements almost invariably invite propo-
sails to furnish the government with several diff
ferent articles, and in those advertisements the
government rarely. ever specifies the exact
quantities which it will receive of each article
it needs. a.a.a
The result of this system is that the honest
and upright bidder stands but shadow of q
chance to obtain contract on fair and reason
able terms, because the favored and fraudulent
bidder has every advantage over him, and may
put in lower bid which will be more expen-
give to the government. This seems to be
anomalous and therefore we will explain it BY
a supposed case, which represents the features
of several cases that have come within our own
observation.
We will suppose that the government adver-
tises for three articles pork, beef and
beans-for the supply Of the army navy.
The advertisements limit the proposals to
hundred thousand dollars of each Int get the
goneranem is at liberty 10 order as little Of each
as II may see iii.
Under these circumstances, the honest bidder
will 60 into the market and ascertain for what
price he can deliver the full advertised guam
tity OF each of these articles; and he viii make
his bid accordingly
Not 30 with the dishonest bidder, who has
some friend at headquarters. He will ascer-
tam how much OF each article advertised for,
will he required under his contract Armed
with that information, he.will place a low valne
on those articles which will be required in
small quantities, and high value ON those
article which viii be required in large guam.
t'"es, When the skdIeare opened the dishon-
esl bidder IL found to be the lowest ON the
aggregate Of articles which might be called for,
and he receives the contract, while his bid is
! Tar higher than ANY other for the articles which
the government actually needs.
! - N'' , ''' "'"hJa happtii tiiat TIC utt'sS"iS
information is gwen before the bids are put in I;
Tor frequently happens that the bids are put
~ first. and then political influence and personal
appeals are relied IN to compass the same
! result Fheoc failing, inferior articles are fur
n,Shed, Ia the detriment Of the public SER
! wee, while all experience proves that there
/ ~ adequate aud effective remedy against
contractors. We have not been inattentive OBJ
servers Of passing events, yet we cannot call
to mind single instance in which n pub.
| lie. contractor has been made to suffer by
breach of his contract with the govern
ment. On the contrary, we could not mum
Der on our fingers all the instances in which
the government has been called on to make
good the losses Of its contractors.
We have thus presented general outline Of
the evil features of the contract system. The
space at our disposal does not permit ms to go
further at the present time But Mt the EARL
est opportunity we shall continue the subject,
by pointing out examples which sustain our
positions. They are to be found in onr navy,
army, and, indeed, in every branch Of the pub
| lie service; and, while we do not say that we
will point out frauds in each, we promise to
show room for fraud, and prove that the con.
tract system, though GENEROUSLY expensive to
the government, has been attended by the most
unsatisfactory results. This is an important