The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-18
How the Contract was Awarded.
TIE State Robbed by Kellogg and
Clinton.
Substituting the Press.
Violating Faith and Insulting
Bidders.

Famous funding bill, for which Kellogg
claims so much credit, provided for the issue
of fifteen millions of State bonds in denomi
nations of 500, $500 and $1,000. In the gen
neral appropriation bill will be found an
item Of $4,000, set apart to pay the cost OF
printing and engraving these bonds.
The Board of Liquidators created by this
Funding Bill is composed of the Governor
Lieutenant Governor, Speaker Of the House
Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State
They are charged with the duty OF funding
the State deb and preparing the bonds for
that purpose. With view of conveying the
/ impression that they intended to secure the
printing Of the bonds upon the most advan-
tageous terms, and to save the State as
much expense as possible, and, at the same
Of any appearance Of favoritism in award
| ing the contract, the Board authorized Clin-
ton to advertise for sealed proposals. This
| he did in the following manner:
Proposals for Blank Bonds for Use or the
Funding Board.
Sealed proposals for the following number
and denomination of blank bonds as author
lied by the funding Bill, approved January
"a, 1874, will be received at the office of the
State Treasurer or the State Auditor, up to
one o'clock of Saturday, April IL, 1874, viz !:
u 10000 One Thousand Dollar Bonds.
$500 Five Hundred Dollar Bonds.
$4,000 One Hundred Dollar Bonds.
Toe be printed on steel plates in three
! cOlors and ON the best bond paper, with
~. tknn1 ,nl 10 T., Il
ders must state the price per bond, and the
date on which they can commence delivery
of the same. One-fifth of the whole amount
must be furnished on the first delivery, and
the balance thereafter as may be required
by the Board. Bidders are invited to be
present at the opening of bids. Privilege of
rejecting any or all bids received
CHARLES CLINTON,
By authority of the Board of Liqnidators.
In accordance, therefore, with the forego-
ing advertisement, a number of proposals
were sent in to Clinton, and on the day ap-
pointed for their opening most of the bidders,
by invitation, were present After reading
the various propositions, it was discovered
that E. C. Palmer & Co., the head of which
house is known to be the proprietor Of the
steel, and print inkthree colors, as stipulated
in the advertisement the 10000 bonds re-
quired, for the SUI of 10 liz cents per bond,
or $3.50 90 for ths lot. As this was more than
one half less thaI any Of the other bids it
was generally dAceded that Palmer & Co.
would obtain thu contract, although every
other bidder was satisfied that it was impos-
sib]e to do the work for that price. How
ever, some time elapsed, and Palmer & Co.
were waited upon to ascertain if their bid
was bona fde one. Their reply we did not
hear. But this we do know. The contract was
awarded to Palmer & Co. at the rate of
thirty seven and half cents per bond.
Now it is to orr knowledge that Mr.. J.
P. Harris had submitted proposition to
engrave and print the bonds in the manner
stipulated in the Published notice-in three
colors-within ninety days and furnish Sc
curity in any. amount required for the faith
full performance of his contract, at the rate
Of thirty-five cents per bond. This bid was
the lowest after Palmer & Co.'s bid Of 10 1-12
cents, and the contract should have been
awarded to Mr.. Harris just so soon as the
bid of 10 1-12 cents was rejected from any
cause whatsoever. But the giving of the con-
injustice and violation Of faith towards
Mr.. Harris, as well as an outrage upon the
State. 1t is deliberately stealing from the
treasury three or four thousand dollars. To
sum up this transaction. in nut shell, we
will state it thus:
Palmer & Co. offer to print 10000 bonds.
in three colors, for 10 LIZ cents each, or S.
$50.
Mr.. Harris offers to print them in three
colors at IS cents each, or Sic, 500 for the
lot
The contract is awarded to Palmer & Co.,
who are required to print the bonds at
37t cents each, or $l1 600 for the lot
Among those who submitted proposals
to the Board of Liquidators, were Messrs.
Douglas and Holyland, well-known engra-
vers, the Agent Of the American Bank Note
Company, the agent of the National
Bank Note Company, j. w. Madden, B.
Bloomfield, johnson Armstrong, stationers,
and some other parties representing New
York and PHILADELPHIA engravers, among
them Mr.. ]. p. Harris, the successful bidder
in fact and in.tight,! but not SO regarded by
Kellogg, Clinton, Antoine, Lowell and
Others
1t may we'll be imagined that all of these
gentlemen feel indignant, and very proper
ly, too, at the oontcmptible manner in which
they have been served by the Board of Lii
quidators. Led to believe they would be
fairly dealt With by the published announce
ment, they came forward and in good faith |
submitted their proposals. But, with that
Implicitly and treachery which are charac-
teristics Of both Kellogg and Clinton, they
ind themselves incontinently cheated by
these Republican charlatans and inter-
opers.