The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-08-07
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. AUGUST 4.

The Ga=eHe has attempted figures to prove
what? We are ut n loss to know. We have
charged that Mr.. Widemann made use Of certain
language to n party, while clerk Of the Interior
Department, which ninety-nine men out of a
hundred would interpret as an insinuation that
somebody was open to n commission for working
himself or his superior Is not now so clear. We
are willing to admit that in the present phase of
the question it is difficult to say who was princi-
pal and who accessory to the transaction. The
Gazette article does not deny that Mr.. w. used
the language charged, but shun,es of the point
Mt issue in the following language-.h he (Mr.
Emmes) probably talked to them (Mr. Wide
mann and Mr.. Sterling) on the subject, but what
expressions either Of them made use of, no one,
unless IL be Mr.. Emmes, recoIlects." The
Gazette figures prove nothing, so far rs the Ian
guage used by Mr. W. is concerned. In fact it
seems as though the array OF figures was
brought forward to distract the attention of the
public from the point at issue. As the managers
of the Gazette lad it in their power to publish
the specifications, and other details which would
be Of advantage to them, it is a matter Of sur
prise that they have not done so.
AS the Gazette las used figures we may be cx-
eused for doing the same. The transaction,
as we ale informed, was as follows: In June,
1868, the interior Department, through Mr..
Sterling, perhaps, informed n PARTY, verbal
ly, that the Department required one thou
sand sheets OF composition of each sixteen,
eighteen and twenty ounce metal, and three thou
sand pounfs of nails, and doubtless this same in
formation was given to the other party named in
the Gazette. The party who did not get the
contract estimated the weight OF his composition,
in his first tender. by actual invoice weight, and
was told that by the rule laid down in such mat
tiers his composition overran in pounds to the
case The party then stated that the rule ap-
piled to copper, but that yellow metal wonld
overrun, stating ut the same time that the De-
.partment might apply the rule to his lot if the
same vas done by his competitors, as follows:
for sixteen ounce metal, four pounds and ten
ounces to the sheet; eighteen ounce, five pounds
four ounces twenty ounce, five pounds fourteen
ounces, and rendered for the specification at
twenty-five cents n pound for the sheathing and
while the party who did obtain the con-
tract agreed to furnish the same material as
called for in the above specification, for we can
not suppose that one party was to tender for one
1oAb5 ahA VIII ObhSA " ailOtutI1 III tNtiily-lOuE
tents for the sheathing, and thirty-two cents for
he nails. Any one can calculate the result of
he two tenders. BY the rule given the sheath
ing would weigh 1880 pounds, which at
twenty-five cents q pound would make the sum of
g ,o37-5O and 3 1000 pounds of nails at twenty
i've cents would make $3.50, or a total of
"a ,6S7.5O Again 1880 pounds Of sheathing
&c twenty-iour cents would make S3,7S0.OO, and
1000 pounds of nails at thirty-two cents would
make $500, or a total of S4,74O.OO; or a differ
nee of $3.50 in favor of the rejected tender.
Strange to say, however, the party who got
he contract did not furnish the material in the
called for, for the simple reason that
e could not. To most men this would appear a
ood and sufficient reason for rejecting the tender.
The successful party furnished six hundred
heets of sixteen ounce, twelve hundred sheets of
ighteen ounce, eleven hundred sheets of twenty
unce, and one hundred sheets of frenty-tuoo
unoe, the latter not called for in the specifca-
which according to rule would weigh TO-
Sli pounds at twenty-four cents would make
,Ss3.5O, which, with the nails at $780, 90,
Iould make a total of $4,S43.50, leaving a bal
nee of Sl56.OO in favor of the rejected tender.
1t is folly for any one to assert that n thousand I
hcets each OF sixteen, eighteen and twenty ounce
imposition would weigh more than three thou
and sheets of metal ranging from sixteen to
twenty-five ounces, in the proportion above
lated, when worked by the same rule.
The Gazeiie has made its statement and we
ave made ours, the public can now draw its
wn conclusions. We have simply charged that
IT. w. used certain language to a party, upon
Ihich a certain construction was placed. 1t
'ould certainly be very easy for Mr.. w. to deny
ne language, or admit it, and explain what he
eant. As it is, however, we have heard from
one but him.
The attempt to depreciate Mr.. Enmcs' honesty
{ intention because he furnished the invoice
Of his metal is ungcnerous, and will, we .
Eel satisfied, have no force in this community |
here all the parties arc equally well known.
is a well known fact that yellow metal exceeds
lie weight Of the same sizes as copper, and we
re assured that the Government has purchased i
ITS OF metal by invoice weight, as is customary. i
Why then was the question of rules applying to :,
eights of copper sheathing raised in this trans
ction of yellow metal? If the same rule had
zen adhered to with regard to both parties in
ne transaction above noted, there is no room for
oubt as to who would have been awarded the /
,ntract. ,
THE SUEz CASAL-The Secretary Of the Suez l
nal CNorarv mamma 49, H. ~ecc,.l ,c.r~, o