New-York tribune., 1876-03-25
BRIDGEs's HEADsToNE CONTRACT.
AN HONEST BIDDER CoRRUP1LY DEFEATED, AND
THE COUNTRY ROBBED OF $2OO,O0O-CHEAP
HEADsToNEs PUT Up OVER SOLDIERS GRAVES.

AN HONEST BIDDER CoRRUPILY DEFEATED, AND
THE COUNTRY ROBBED OF 5000, ,O00-CHEAP
HEADsToNEs PUT Up OVER SOLDIERS GRAVES.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsr
WASHINGTON, March 24-The House Com
mttee on Military Affairs is pushing vigorously the
maidstone investigation BY an act OF Congress passed
June 6, 1872, it was provided that the Sec
retary Of War shall each grave In
the National Cemetery to be marked with
small headstone, with the OF the ldicr and the
name of the state inscribed thereon and he shall within
ninety days from the passage OF the act advertise ioI
sea cd proposals OF bids for the making and erection OF
such headsones BY act Of the next Congress the un-
expended balance OF money appropriated to carr out
that oct vas reapproprated The contract for furnish
ing the stones was given K. Bridges OF Keokuk Iowa
NJ j. Walsh OF Sew-Yo-l; who one Of tAe unsuc-
cessful bidders testified that he submitted bid To
furnish these made Of foreign white marble, in al
respects accordance with the spec clODs, for $923-
600, o, which 100000 would be returned to the Gov
the form OF duties the imported stOnes'
Wien all the bids Lad been submitted they were opened
by officer Of tie eneils ON e, and
Dir. Washs bid the first read. Mr.. Walsh says
that after the terms of his bid known MI Bridges
TIE successful bidder slipped into the hands OF tne officer
opening them informal BID. which has been ohtain
from the War Department and placed III evidence ia
which he O,rei To taxi tie contract for 100000. M
Walsh protested the spot tai such bid ought not to
BE- cOndered First becauscit submitted after some
Of the others bad been opened; secondly, because 1t
was irregular iu form; and thirdly, because MI.
Bridges Lad submitted samples, aud In Other
ways had complied with the con tons End;r who,
Proposals were be submitted He c.aiul"d also that
even II MT. Bridgtss bId considered his own was
the lowest because he proposed to furnish tOr' II mar
be which the duty would he S2O0,0OO wLLe MI.
Budsess proposed furnish American stone o. these
grounds Ae appealed " QuaresInaster-G neral Mcigs.
who said that by should Mr. Bridgrs's bid bt
considered. In the schedule Of bids made ~ in the
Quarternaster's department, that Of Bridges mo-
included but after this schedule was sent SecIe
tary Of War IL inserted, and Bridges gut the con.
tract. This, IL Is understood, Is Mr. wasLs story.
Another winr.s testified that the sht before the b,ds
were opened he uiet MIR Bndges the ssfu.
bidder at the Ebbtt House for e purpose of negot atu2
with biIn about some marble from Viz. in.a quarry.
during their conversations, Mt. bridges showed him T.
ters from Secretary BelEnsp, saying that Mr. Bdges
secured the contract lie would he allowed 10 save cOnsId
cradle expense by sbbrevstng some words oi
the Inscriptions Oh the headstODes, and also that
he would not be required TO ronnd the cornols. IT,.
work been performed IN accordance Win this
Information. while Other contractors say that they
framed their bids the sup2Oston that the upper
corners Of the s,oucs were he rounded. and all sc
tales private" sergeant" &c. were 10 I've spclle
out. Tns stOnes az Mr. Bg1dges has ben allowed IA
fnulsh them ar square the and have the let
teFs abbreviated thus Z" "PSt."" ser.t" Corp" &c