The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-17
INDIAN CONTRACTS.

The chairman OF the Board OF Indian
Commissioners Courts Investigation at
the Hands OF the Secretary of tho In
terior-How Contracts Are Now Made
tn Supply Provisions to the Indians.
PHILADELPHIA Pa, May 10, 1873.
The following letter was sent to-day to the Sec
Rotary OF the Interior
Hon. G. DELANo, Secretary Of the Interior, Wash
SHINY attention as chairman OF the purchas
ing Committee of the Board OF Indian Commits
sioners has been called to charges OF unatrness in
the recent awards Of eontractsor Indian supplies
investigate any cases In which complaints are
made. write In behalf Of myself and colleagues
ton will meet with our most hearty
approval. The Board OF Indian Commissioners
having selfish end to serve and nothing to hide
desire that all their actions shall be open to the
public, and even when complaints are indefinite
aa totally S a. ty are ~ ne Se
to all parties to be heard ana the result OF such
hearing be given TO the press " may be wen TO
by law, they are required to be by the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs, Hon. f. r. Smith, and
not by our Board, which is an advisory body. We
are glad to say, however, that every award met
with the unanimous approval OF our committee
john v Farwei Of chicago William T. Dodge, Of
New York. and myself, and also of Messrs.
gx Ns% q o, a 1%e
who were present. The representatives OF the In
terror Department, consisting Of Hon. B. r. Cowan,
associated by you with him, most cordially
CURED in the decisions OF the Commission in every
the unanimous approval Of these three bodies, rep
resentative OF the government.
the awarding OF these Indian contracts we found
little or no fair competitions scarcely more than
score Of bids were received. and hall-a.dozen con
tracts covered all the lettings We found powerful
rings opposing us at every step. Our desire was
TO open competition, and to do this
picion 80 Of uniairness. " With this END in
view, the receiving OF bids and awarding of con-
York the largest market In the country, where
bids were opened and received in public. And
after q full comparison Of bids and samples
awards were made, which were published In the
daily papers, the con tracts being open to anyone
wishing to compete for them.
The following clause Is part OF all the advertise
ments:-
The right is reserved to reject any all such propo
sails if such should be deemed Tor the interest
of the government
Our committee, acting in concert with their COL
leagues exercised this right lar they deemed
1t necessary to protect the government mt from per-
sons either as principals or partners, who have in
the past been connected with or been members OF
own names, covertly using the names Of others.
In regard TO awards we would say that in every
case they were made to the lowest and best bid
ders As to the result OF the present system OF let
ting 1t is only necessary to say that 2s4 BIDS repre-
senting over two hundred different firms and ind-
tracts were awarded AS to the prices obtained,
compared with those under the old system,
beef ranged from 81 90 to 81 70 per 100 pounds
against as high as Sc so per 100; hour from ST. so
to So so per 100, against prices at the same agen
cies ranging as high at times as $14 per 100, and
other articles were at almost as marked
a difference. That parties who have In the past
supplied the Indian Department with goods at
these prices should be dissatisfied with the present
system Is not to be wondered at.
Expressing again the wish that every oppor-
tunty for investigation may be given to ali persons
who are dissatisfied with the awards and Knowing
that your action in the premises will meet with
our approval am with much respect yours
truly, GEORGE ii. STUART,
Chairman of the Purchasing Committee Beard OF
the Indian Commission.