The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-05

eeed9s and .gSit6sE my sessP,sses q tSe pIqRS
Der n iSs e eS me ~ aqse
city, Who viii verify what say 10 respect toii,
This awarding OF the contract, as shown by
the testimony, was unfortun tie for the Govern
cumstanccs that Indicate collision between the
Secretary OF War and the successful bidder,
Bridges. An impression seems To have prevailed
among bidders, before the opening Of the bids,
that the letting was not to be a far one that II
WIS the intention to give the contract TO ;. q.
bridges OF keOkuk, Iowa. IN an OF slight pecu-
marble business, never having been in it, a
jeweiler by trade, aud friend OF the Secretary.
Upon this subject Charles +. Benjam chief
clerk IN the Southern Claims Commission, says
In his testimony:
Nj. Eagles9n and his partner Mr. pcysn had been
here severa tiues In the interim ON their way to sud
man Ia n9 hSs as Ts IN " see
cre eey ereS no s. INTO ae G 81 soap e
the mean time, nd they N doubt as to the SIN.
eery Of tins thing They told NE that they hse sPe9,
make their former bids, that they had to write TO ane
90 s set sp sSH S the
zion g, the and 70 on and my we're sS o ms
TO BE- contract given, nor unless was going TO oe
ss SSS fs iSS %os pe ]
dom. ana Ga AZ was cute nmG,s WA a n tr,ny
inst how they e about IN; thing nat 'hsy sVS ns
| going ~ te fair tning.
SEEING THE SECRETARY.
| Again, this witness saws what they feared was
| tbAt there was 10 Oe JobptID uuu pVhNiNAl lihu-
ence, bribery. and all sorts Of things OF That
kind About a couple Of DAYS before the BIDS
| were opened, one OF them came TO me and SAID
| that he had been over to Baltimore the night
| before on the New York train. and on the train
he saw the Secretary Of war and man named
| and he SAID some stone men had said that
| Bridges was on here with reference TO this con-
| Bridges Is a jeweller at keokukl lie has got
nothing to do with the stone business,
| Brldgcss bid for the work was deposited after a
part Of the bids hid been opened, and IN this
| mony OF John NJ. Wright.
| o We're you present wnen those bids were opened3
oAnd that bid Of Bridges came IN after the other
%efe e bo came sa am sa h1' The I
preston that II was one from the color ~ the en-
he iTbeeis House. He SD VA! they eoaid not
mud anything against that bid; that u vas AL right
wn 70 ne |. showed Dom me
s HS gs Ss ssa sS ss
PAIRING he bid showing that he MADE sSbrcyaton.
M made Cos, eenoSs 81 the stens lie
eSrc e Var IN when a the seee
certain sbbreyiatlons OF names and ranks shah be
claimed 70 have received from the same source on me
that ineiosed them. This occurred sept. q, 1873
n s q DC .n an aa nat &c sa e
MIN frs9senilY on the subject ~ cha, ;.
vas going 70 receive The contract, A.lie ia,9s'ed
nu mi h ns .sesp &c eIpesy denes py Mr.
Bridges and Capt McGonisle, who superintended the
reception OF ode, has not been examined before the
committee.
The evidence shows that the Secretary Of War
retained the bids for two and half months
before he made any award that be divided the
contract into four parts among bidders VINO did
not stand on an equality OF price, which the
committee believe he was not authorized TO do
that he gave an excuse therefor that one
person could not perform so large contract
although the fact appears that Bridges did bul
out all parties TO whom contracts were awarded
and thus obtained the control of all the work
That he accepted Dridsess bid and allowee
him more money for his contract than he a.
lowed two other psrtl for the same chsrscte
were let, notifications were IN ade In the lstter
ing and shape OF the stones very decidedly iI
nal contract, which provided that all work 10 ,
cemetery must be completed before any none,
could be drawn, was so modined as TO allow con
tractors TO draw sixty per cent. as soon as $500
worth VI material was delivered to a cemetery
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The conclusions Of most moment to the pub
rived are the following: That The sw arding o
the contracts for headstones referred to wal
made IN violation OF law, and show disregard
OF oficial duty that the contracts were no
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder as re
auired by law; that the separation or division
the same TO direTent con.ractors at diaereS
rates, claimed to have been done by the secre
power, Is not warranted by any law, and tina
such discretion was assumed without right, 4
jury OF The bidder; that some Of the los pc lion
appear to have been corruptly made, the Inspect
and the committee are nformed that he las be q
dismissed that the changes In form aud d.
n.ension OF the headstones, without CORE
spending change In the price, have been mad
by the Secretary Of " ar after the Work wa
commence l. In the interest OF the contractor
and in the judgment Of the committee consti
tute an abuse Of of1cial power on the part o.
that officer.
| ing of the contracts Appears To have been
fsIr, unjust and IN violation Of law, and to hav
. OF the rights OF bidders, and with the speciu
. purpose 20 give portion OF the contract &
Ris Sd was not entitled to the contact I NO
i any part Of the same that this Samuel I
r Bridges, who figures IN the evidence as tn
| | friend OF the Secretary, purchased all Of tn
i contracts that were awarded to others that h.
G was not man OF suficient pecunary means 4
: carry out this contract alone and without larg
: | assistance from other persons. Your committe
further nnd that the assienees and attorneys o
: Bridges, who, In fact, are now performing III
work, are responsible and trustworthy I'D en-, an,
are finishing the work speedily. and, SO far a
your committee can learn, In workmanlik
Your committee further ind that when tn
! work shall have been completed, there will b
left OF the appropriation t20O,OOO TO be covere
ne Secretary & war, the Hon. ! D. Cameron
order under the law passed by this Congress
transferring the entire management of nationa
r Quarternaster-General OF the army, who ha
returned TO duty since this investigation CON
, menced, the committee having entire con
hdence that under the management Of th
otficer the work will be prosecuted rapidly an
, properly and the rights of both the Govern
! ment and contractors protected, do not deem
i necessary to OFFER any resolution for the col
|, sideration Of the House either In regard TO III
, officer criticised or the amendent Of the col
: tract.
II. ID. BANNING, A A. HApDENBERCH,
, A. :. WILLIAMS, PHILIP COOK,
. joins REILLY, g. A. HuRIBuT,
, | X. II. STRAIT, j. VI, GROVER,
VIM. Jerry, L. l.. MACDOU0AL-
, Committee