The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-08-05
@naehita Teleeraph.
MONROE. LA, AUGUST S, 1871.
i" STRAW BIDS"
How the Contracts for. Carrying the
Mails Were Let


From the Washington Patriot, Isth.l
One fthe most audacious, extensive,
and glaring sources of corruption,
through which the country is plum
dered annually, for the benefit of q ring
OF venal officials and favored contrac-
tors, now exists in the postoffice de-
and, like other abuses Of the
same sort, has grown into immense
proportions, under the fostering care of
Mr.. Creswell. We refer to the system
of straw bids for contracts, which may
be described as an invention Of the pres
ent administration, to promote collu-
sion on a vast scale, and to plumber the
treasury under the forms of law. This
subject is now brought to notice by a
decision, in regard to the mail lettings,
other than railroad, for Texas, Arkan-
sas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee,
etc. Proposals were invited, several
months ago for service in this division,
to commence on the first of July. Un-
der the law, anybody who could furnish
two guarant0rs, with q apostmaster's
certificate, might bid. Interior post
masters, with salaries of 800 or $50,
have thus been in the habit Of certify
ing to the responsibility of bidders for
contracts, involving hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars. In fact, it is notorious
that certificates in blank have been
brought here to be used by designing
parties for their own benefit.
The law requires the contract to be
awarded to the lowest bidder in the
first instance. Its intention was to pre-
vent partiality, and to protect honest
competition. But, according to the
Cresweil system, as will he demon
strated, this law has been converted
into an engine Of fraud, and is en-
ployed as the very means of thwarting
the Intended protection. Let this ac-
tual practice to-day serve as an illustra-
ton. Take the States Of Texas, Arkan-
sas, and Louisiana, where the great
mail routes ofthe southwest are located,
and cover contracts for millions. They
have heretofore been let at high prices,
and the contractors have grown rich.
At the recent lettings, nearly all the
successful bidders, for large routes, es-
pecialiy, were men of straw, put for
ward for the purpose of failing. Over
one hundred and fifty have been re-
ported since the first Of July as unable
or unwilling tog give bonds for the exc
cutlOn Of the contracts which they os-
tensibly sought.
When this condition of things hap
pens, as the mails must be carried, the
local postmaster on the lapsed route en-
feIs into Il temporary arrangement for
SIX, nine or twelve months with the
former contractor at the old price, or,
in fact, continues his contract. Hence,
1t is the evident interest of all contrac-
tors, who are proposing upon valuable
routes, to provide supply Of straw
bidders for their own benefit. And II
the Postmaster-General is interested,
or f;lvors the scheme, then their mono
poly at enormous rates is secured, to
the exclusion of all fair bidding. This
Is precisely what has just happened.
The great routes in Texas, Arkansas
and Louisiana We're all awarded to
"straws," and therefore the former con-
some new disposition shall be made.
They We're bidders at the highest rates,
but between them and the men of straw.
We're proposals from responsible par
ties, ready and willing to take the ser
vice at half the present price.
1t may he asked, what becomes OF
these Intermediary bidders why are
they not considered ?-and is there no
law for the protection Of the public in
terests against such bare-faced collu-
sion: During third OF II century the
inVariable practice in eases Of failure
has been for the postmaster-generaI to
take the next responsible bidder and
give him the contract. The act of End
July, 1886, provides, in case any bidder
shall fail to enter into sufficient sureties,
for the performance Ofthe service, ssthen
the postnlaster-general SHoU proceed Ia
contract at'ith some person or persons for
the performance Of the sercice, and shall
forthwith cause the difference between
the amounts contained in the proposal
so guaranteed and the amount for which
he may have contracted for the per-
formance Of said service for the stAole Of
tie period Of p,'oposai, to be charged up
against the said bidder or bidders, >" etc.
Here is ample authority and the lar
gest discretion to resist corrupt combi-
nations, if the acknowledgement was
so inclined. But instead Of exercising
it as his predecessors have uniformly
done, for the benefit of public interests,
Mr.. Creswell has lent the influence of
his position to n combination of which,
as in the case of Chorpenning, his i'm
mediate surroundings form an integral
part, and in connection with which he
is subjected to grave suspicion.
If he intended to act in good faith,
there was an easy mode of showing it.
He had only to summon the recent
bidders and require them to present
bonds within thirty or sixty days, and
then to award the contract in the spirit
Of the law. The course was plain and
and consequently did
lot suit the views of Mr.. Creswell, who
3 aiming to accomplish political OBJ
ect in Texas and other States by abuse
If the mail service, and at the same
lime to favor a ring of spectators.