The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-30

The Book.Eiudins Contest.

,>rrrrs71xC MEETING OF THE JOINT LEGISIA-
TIVE COvuIrrEE on STATE rRINT1NG--EF-
vot,Ts To SHOW 4 COMBINATION AMONG SOME
OF THE BOGK- BINDERS.
Thr Joint Legislative Committee on Print
inc met again yesterday afternoon III the
senate chamber. Present: MeSSrs. Bland,
Tanner. Gilman, Lowell. and Coalc. After
Z discussion between MeSsrS. stiles ana
Gordon. the counsel for the parties. the
declaration OF Mr.. Agcc, OF petersburg,
was admitted 10 show that he was induced
bv other bidders Ito refrain from bidding
for the binding.
Mr.. Johns again took the stand and tcs-
fitted that Mr.. SimonS told him that Dir.
Arcc was more difficult TO get rid OF this
year than last.
After q recess the committee resumed It's
session at half-past s O'Clock, when it WAS
AGREED 10 summon Mr.. Agee as witness.
Mr.. Clenmitt, who was the next witness,
testified that Mr.. Agcc, on the 81 OF March,
told him he had come over to bid for the
binding. Mr. Randolph came up, and Mr..
Acce and he agreed TO meet at the office or
Major Walker at 10 o'clock.
Mr. G. W. Gary was recalled. Ho met
Mr.. Agec on the 2d Of March, and he said
il they wanted him to stand off from bid
ding they would have 10 pay him. On the
Sd he again saw him. when he said he had
put in a bid. but had withdrawn it. Wit
ness jocuarly asked him If they had pad
him, and he winkcd significantly. Saw
Major Walker FRIDAY night, and told him
Are, was 10 vu. in a bid. Mr.. Walker said
il he did he would throw it out. Asee said
he could do the work for less than 1t was
done last year and make money. Witness
hid for the city binding-printing at 20
per cent less than was paid by the State,
and he did not get it. 1t was awarded to
Mr. Norman Randolph. He was perfectly
able to do the entire State work.
The committee next determined to hear
the declaration that MIR. Agee told his bro
taer, Mr.. ASec. OF thiS city, that last year
he was paid 800 not to bid.
Mr.. SimonS testified that he was foreman
for Eitchie d Dunnavant before the war,
and has carried on business for number OF
wears. He has large facilities, and can COM
pete with any establishment. He said there
are only two complete binderics in Rich
mond-his own and that OF Randolph &
English.
Mr.. Agce has Il very small establishment,
and he did not think Mr.. Gary prepared to
do the work Mr.. Gary told him some time
ago that he did not solicit outside work
His bid for the city work was exactly the
same as for the state. The work for the
State is done as low as it can be done.
He explained his knowledge OF the State
work, having done it from boyhood. Ht
had no transaction with Mr.. Agee in any
way, directly or indirectly, last year; nol
did he offer Mr.. Agcc any consideration or
inducement this year not to bid against
hm.
On Wednesday before March Sd Mr.. Gary
came TO his place and said, You know
am no enemy OF yours, but | mean to hurt
ttat firm down town (Randolph 4 English,
all ! can
He received notes from both MesSrs. Johns
and Gary, and he told Mr.. Johns if Mr. Agce
bid ne would Just as soon have others bid.
He was under the impression he told Mr..
Johns ii Agcc did not bid he would proba.
bly, agree to The arrangement OF last year.
Nr. Agec, whom he had not seen for SIX
months before, told him be did not intend TO
bid against him.
After conversation with Agee he went TO
Gary's and told Johns he would accept the
proposition. Agec told him Walker said it
would be impracticable for him to take the
binding over to Petersburg. Witness never
paid Mr.. Walker anything, and thought
him as innocent OF anything wrong as any
one in the Senate chamber.
CrOSs-cXamined He had not been in
Gary's bindery for ten months, and did not
know what work he is now doing. MIR.
Norman Randolph told witness that his bid
for city work was below cost.
At ii O'Clock the committee rose, and
will meet again at 43 O'Clock this afternoon.