The New York herald., 1875-11-29
THE DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA.
REPORT OF BRIGADIEB-GENERAL TERRY, COM
MANDINa-THE EVILS OF THE STRAW BID
sYsTEM-THE AID FURNISHED TO GRAssHop-
PER SUFFERERS.


MANDINo-THE EVILS OF THE STRAW BID
sYsrEM-THE AID FURNISHED TO GRAssHoP-
PER SUFFERERS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s, 1875.
The annual report of Brigadier General A. H. Terry,
commanding the Department OF Dakota shows that
the total in that department consists of 224 off,
GERS 3423 enlisted men and sixtytwo Indian scouts
He recommends that post Of four companies be estab-
lished at the forks the Musseshel River to be oc
cupied by mixed force of cavalry and infantry with
view TO the abandonment Of Camp Baker, In Montana
and also the establishment of another post near the
head OF navigation on the Yellowstone the mouth
OF the Big Horn He reviews at length the opera
tions in the department during the past year. and
ours in a recommendation Of Major Du Barry, Chief
Commssary of Subsistence in that department. which
relates to
FRAUDULENT BIDS
for government contracts After referring TO the great
difficulty experienced in making contracts in conse-
qucrce OF the number Of fraudulent bids received he
says this bidding practscd to such extent
as to be seriously detrimental the interests OF the
government bring discredt the system Of adver-
tIsing for proposals and many TO look upon
as farce tends TO deter honest and reliable men
from bidding and raises up a horde OF unscrupuous
professional bidders without TO do what thev
propose who have no intention Of furnishing the sup
plies and whose only object IS to make money at the
expense of the government by getting a bonus from
some bidder at higher rate for not responding TO their
lowest bid IL accepted There still another class who
offer bids at different prices for the thing one
generally the highest in their namc and others in
the OF tools Of whom there plenty 20 do such
dirty work. II rival party has offered bid next
higher than the lowest Of the tools such tool appears
enters the contract furnishes good securities
with means furnished by his employer the contract is
fulfilled should no rival bid interfere between the
lowest aud the next highest Of the TOOLS the lowest
does not respond, and until the highest bid is
reached He says
THE REMEDY PROPOSED.
believe this perncous style OF bidding may be a very
stopped by requiring the bids TO be accompanied
v certified check for reasonable proportional the
Amount OF contract such check DO ade able
he order Treasurer OF the United States each bid
ebody an express provision for tho forfeiture Of
in the bid accepted and the bidder
fails 10 and deliver the officer
in due form with satisfactory bond for Its faithful per-
formance.
ne saws tho sanitary condition OF the troops In the
department has been excellent, only fifteen deaths
from disease having occurred in the whole command
| rHE CHRISTOPHER suPPERERs
In regard to the distribution Of supplies to persons
suffering from grasshopper ravages In Minnesota and
Dakota he says the whole number Of persons enrolled
was IA $3.50 and ratons we're issued 70 them for period
of twenty nve days The officers IN charge OF tho en-
1 rolmcnt and OF tho issue Of supplies became during
their intercourse with tho people strongly impressed