New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-06
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR.l

WAR ON CONTRACT RINGS AND FAVORIIISN-
PEOPLE TO BIZ MADE 10 FULFILL THEIR con-
TRACTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The new policy of
Che PostOfce Department OF ransacting its business
without fayorsm and Of breaking up all contract and
other rings is likely to make something Of revolution
IN that branch Of the Government, aud will probably
cause considerable saving Of expense.
The disappointment of some Of the paper manufac
trers who came Washington for the purpose OF bid
ding for the postal card contract and who supposed that
had certain advantages other manufacturers
was very great when they discovered yesterday that
nsu advertisement was TO be made, and the opening OF
bids was TO be postponed. In discussion which took
Mace az the PostOhice Department among some OF
those who intended bid, controversy arose between
amember of the firm Of Wilkinson Brothers u Co OF
Derby, Conn.,, and another New-England paper mann
facurer The latter being somewhat provoked accused
wilkinson Of having said to him a few days ago: 1--WE
have got ring the Of the paper manufacturers
We shall have this postal card contract and nobody can
prevent IT," wilkinson good deal excited at this
exposure and the only he could make was that
when said it he talking business 1t is Just this
kind Of business that the PostmasterGcnera INTENDS 10
break up In the future.
Some idea Of the suspicion that has heretofore sur
rounded PostOfie officials in connection with the awards
OF important contracts may DO obtained from the fact
that bidders the contracts to furnish postal cards
were unwilling to inrust their proposals 10 the Depart
rnept until within minute two OF tho time appointed
for opening them. Some of them, on being
privately asked why they kept their proposals
back and guarded them with such jealous
care replied that former occasions they had been
led TO believe the prices named in their bids had
been dvulged favorite contractors before the time
fixed for opening the bids arrived. As result those
who obtained this Illicit information were able to submit
supplemental proposals at snch low rates as TO insure
the award OF the contract them TO prevent repeti-
ton of this they would not allow their proposals TO 20
out of their own hands until within a minute or two OF
the time fxed for opening them.
Another fact which the Post-Ofice Department Will
take pains to impress upon all bidders for contracts Is
that no work will accepted which is not fully up TO
the standard fixed ut the time the contract Is awarded
have an equal chance 10 compete for the government
work Under the old system, when postal cards Tor IN
stance worth per less than those called Tor DIV the
contract have accepted, the bidder who was aware
of this fact in advance had great advantage over
another not in the ring, because he knew that IL
he could IL he expected TO fulfill his contract
TO the letter An expert paper aud stationery con
nected with another department OF the Government mas
been called three fOnr times during the last SIX
or eig years examine postal cards and other s'a-
fonery furnished To PostOce Department by COLI
tractors the purpose OF determining whether they
were up 10 the standard not In no single instance
did he find a contractor fulfilling his Obligations.
IL POstmasterC General Key break up this FAVOR
the department he VIII DO as great service lOf
the Government as Mr. CreSwe and Gen. Jewell did In
destroying the straw bid system.