Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-01-27

80 - VI sS' ~ D. oih bphNp w >Vss VI
ST. Johnsbury obtained the Govern.
ment contract of furnishing Scales for
the Post Office Department ofthe Unit
ed States, OF which we have room for
only the following brief extract:
1t is stated in the newspapers that
the government contract for furnish
ing scales to all the post offices in the
United States, for weighing news
papers and other printed matter, under
the law whick took effect on the first
of January, has recently been awarded
to Fairbank q Co. Postmaster Gen
eral jewell has been lauded and prais-
ed, a1 nauseam, as being q Cabinet
officer above all tricks and jobs. 1t is
quite possible that he is above the
average Cabinet officers at Washing
ton, and yet it would seem that he is
sometimes influenced by motives other
than those which look solely to the
benefit of the nation, and other than
those of true economy, and will wink
at a little deception where it is for the
benefit of his friends
This scale contract award is case
in point. AT the last session of Con-
grcss o law was passed, 10 take effect
January /, 1875, providing that the
postage of newspapers and periodicals
should be prepaid at the office of
mailing. This necessitated the pur-
chase ola large number Of scales by
the post-oftice department. Naturally
the various scale manufacturers were
DESTROYS of securing the contract, and
as the getting ola contract of this con-
sequence would be an advertisement
ofthe goods of the party who secured
it, it was evidently favorable OPP
portunity for the government to de-
rive the advantage of the competition
between the manufacturers of scales.
1t has also been the custom, and a
proper one, to advertise for bids upon
articles of this kind. Not finding any
such advertisement in the papers, Hon
N. 7. Sprgue, Jr., representing the
Howe Scales Co., as its President,
visited the post-office department dur.
ing the past season, to ascertain the
probable wants of the department, and
the manner aud proper time for bid.
ding upon the same. He was met by
Postmaster Genera Jewell with the
remark that there was no use in agi-
tating the question, as il was too late.
Pressing the matter with persistence,
it was finally acknowledged by Post
master Jewell that he had said to the
Fairbanks Scale Company that he was
not authorized to purchase as yet,
because there had been no appropia-
ton made; but if they would have
their scales in readiness, he would
give them the order as soon as the
appropriation was made. And here
comes in what is the probable reason
for Postmaster General JEWELS evil
dent desire that the subject should
not be agitated. The price that he
had agreed to pay was higher than
the Fairbanks company often sell
single scales at retail for Could there
be more fragrant instance Of favorit-
ism, or more evident case Otto
say the least-reckless waste of the
money ofthe public?
The representative of the Howe
scales was not satisfied to let the mat
ter rest hHe, but appeared before
those representing the Appropriation
and Post-ofice committees, and sue
ceeded in breaking up previous negoti-
atoms, which was Of course plain
acknowledgment of their irregularity.
BY this course he naturally secured the
opposition of Mr., jewell to the goods
he represented F.; and though it would
seem that by compelling the depart.
ment to advertise for bids he had the
matter placed upon an equal basis, the
sequal shows what favorltism will do.
The department advertised Deem
Der II for bids to be opened the 2lst,
thus allowing the short time of ten
days in which to prepare and enter
bids. Upon the opening Of the bids,
which were supposed by all bidders
to be for regular sizes and styles OF
scales, it was found that upon the
sizes of scales upon which bids were
called for, other manufacturers were q
trife below the Fairbanks company.
V1cKsBURG, Miss, JAN. 19.-Majol
Geo. f. Head, with squad of FEEDER
al troops with fixed bayonets, acting