National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-30
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Continued from First Page

oertiaued from Eirst Pegs.
O., To what extent was that advanced A.
could not state positively, but 1t was CONSIDER
able-from $40 900 to $4,000, or possibly
$4,000.
o. What was the interval between TIN
abandonment A. gave the report 70 I'd,
committee. That states the whole thmg'
is printed Official report.
90 You saw that Lhis advertisement, which
has been offered in evidence, in regard to tht
lrst proposal for bids, was let ,solely for IN
purpose of fixing the scale Of prices unde
Thich The work should Il. done for the board
Al. That was my understanding at the time
o. When did you first have that understand
ing-befors or aiter the bids were In fact re
cefYedi A. Before. -,..+.., ..f,---,5ss.-s
@. Was 1t before you put the advertisement
IN the newspapers a. That was talked about
That was discussed, ! think, in the board befor'
or about the time. -, Il ..'s-siss. az. -
Q. II that be true, why was Il the advertise
ment vas made it the form 70 was therei AZ.
should Ike 10 see the advertisements before
Enswer that question. s.,t.,. o.
Q. ! can your attention TO the fact, hrst, tha
the language is the same as is employed ey m
Government IN regard to proposals. next the
YOU REQUIRED the bidders to deposit the sum o
b 900 for the faithful performAnce q the con
tracts, when let. In what part Of that adyer
,tisement do You advise the public that II we
simply for the purpose Of enabling you 70 IN
scale Of pricesi A. In the second clause, whicl
Is q follows: "Bids for sny and al dskcrir
Hons Of payements win be received. The boar
reserves the right to select or reject any and a
the pavemeuts which may be oiered.n -.
@. Now, It is on that alone you based that
A. Yea, sir. ] think that was 9 fair motto
given to the public, that We reserved to our
selves the right to reject any and all.
Q. That applies simply to payements. Their
was vast deal Of other kinds Of work tina
was let, The question ask is this; When
was that you determined TO abandon the origi
nal design Of letting to the lowest bidder, an
Of establishing scale Of prices, and awsr'
contracts at your own volitionf A. DON
know that can say definitely. think It wa
done at the time, or about the time, that tn
advertisement was published; certainly befor'
the bids were opened. ! am quite positive OIL
that point.
pubic and to those making bids TO requir'
them TO deposit 81 600 for the sole purpose o.
advising you gentlemen of what work could b
done for A. That matter was all contained
IN our report of 1872, think.
@. am not asking about the report. VIVA
fs your own knowledge of this matteri A.
do not knoY-With all Difference to COUNSEL
that ny opinion in those matters is Of any
value.
Mr.. Christy. We deem It of very great i'm
portanee, for the reason that we think that de-
parture from your original plan is what oc
casioned certain embarrassmente of which yoI
complain. viii read this and then ask you
TO explain: 'tEach bidder VIII be required be
fore presenting his bid to deposit with the col
lector Of Washington city, 70 the credit Of thu
Board of Public Works, the sum Of 81 900
taking receipts therefor, as guarantee tina
he will enter into and carry out the contract &
awarded TO him, in accordance with his bid.
Did you at any time advise the public that thii
was simply to establish scale Of prices fol
the convenience and guidance of the board
A. The object Of that was to prevent what Ar
called "straw bids" bids put In by irresponsi
bic parties.
Q. Was not the object inrequiring The ST. ot
to prevent straw bidsi A. say, in order tina
these bids might be bona tide. 81. -r--ag %
Q. What did you care whether they wer,
e straw bids or not, IL your sole purpose wal
simply to ascertain what the work could b
done for and the materials furnished at? A
For the obvious reason that, If persons did no
intend to fulfill their contracts, It would be /
what rate they bid. -
Q. Did you know Mr.. Stafford-on this sub
jeet Of preventing straw bids-who bid upoI
that occasion2 A l do not recollect. e.
Q. Don't you remember he complied full,
with all the conditions Of your advertisement
A. That may have been, but IN the multitude
q of bidders have forgotten the names.
Q. Now, in view Of the fact that you hai
taken precaution to prevent straw bidding, o
biddings of irresponsible persons, why was 1
that on the LIST of September you refused to &C
cept the three several bids of John G. Staffort
to lay carriageway of Smiths concrete pave
ment at prices largely below the subsequen
prices established by youi A. The board con
sidered that the scale Of prices adopted wer
he anv Mt aOT1a nm 10 wi fnr n
District.
Q. John G. Stafford bid to lay eoncreti
pavement at S2.25 yard, and gave sufficient
security, which was the amount established
by you, Isl ,0O0,) that he would comply witt
the conditions Of his contract. Why is il yol
ignored that bidl .-.--
Mr.. Mattingly. What concrete pavement
Mr.. ChTisty. The Smith concrete pavement
Witness. 1t may have been concrete pave
ment which was not acceptable 60. the hs-.S
II nav ,hsSn hae'n - $500 Osyaool paFement
Probably there was some reason of that kind
or course, at this distance Of time, and in TIL
multitude of bids and applications, canno
answer positively question Of that kind.
Q. Do you know Mr.. Stafford A. thinl
@. Did you examine the surcties on the bond
he gaves A. They were all examined by thu
board-some of the officers of the board.
Q. WIN you please explain whether YOU
neIS N1tiSe1 VI ING iacs tnaS Alter Work wal
PeIioIfneo the compensation was increased
anu n % 4oNlseo, WY that increased eomperi
eaHoh was anoWeui B. IN the wooden pave
MehSs tne ems atlon was increased because
the wood, as It is called. -. - --'' :.
Q. 1t is not the change in the price before
s I Mork Eae zone, put aiter the WORK wal
1one' Lnss am mourning soo1t; now dlreci
o..nt 60 In X. a,e on EVansIs
p S slgneo Oy yourseu, Wnere, AFTER the
coInnensa,on from 81 az ss,,a So u =.
G Ss-96T - = rtT-S = y '~'UA y
: NJ AT,,tirs4v That q, III q, ,,or ,.,oo-5
Mr.. stanTon That e aiiTnttted
NJ nbristr I -, ~. ,,,r,11:a ,r "a, ~,
fact was adnIi,teI sTter otTs1f;o1, NJ -
20 St% I-~--E - y = -
Nr s.s,,.o, .- (y,tsr,,,,-a,,xxo,. .a,o,,,,,,,.,
PREPARED al the time are an there.
Mr.. Wilson. That Womb moi ,,reeInda IN.
quiry into the motives OF the partjes rre.
sumo. ===--z= -
Mr.. Mattingly. II there is any special motive
that is sought 10 be proved we have no objec-
ton to the Governor stating It. .E.a :,
Mr.. Stanton II the counsel have any expec
-tation Of showing that there was any different
purpose whatever of course we have no objec.
ten, If they will state that they have any
SUCH expectation, why we will waive all objec-
uon. =.
~; SH.As.y- nsre = q witness VINO Is quite
49,. =. VIM .aueo u naFlng TINS Done