The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-12-15
Delaney's Contracts.
ROW BETWEEN A CONTRACTOR AND THE
SENATE LIBRARIAN.

Senate Librarian Delaney having re
fused to accept the articles which John
Il. Hummell furnished for the use of
the senate, house and department under
contract awarded him last summer, a
hearing was had before Secretary of
State Jordon Saturday afternoon to de-
termine the question at issue. Hum
nell was represented by counsel and
Delaney appeared for himself and the
commonwealth. Delaney said he in
formed Hummell on the day the latter
obtained the contract for furnishing
brooms, etc, that his samples were not
up to the standard, and that the con.
tractor promised to comply with the re-
quirement of the printed schedule.
He quoted Quay to show that he had
authority to reject articles which do
not correspond with samples in the
possession of the State. An advertise
ment had been printed calling for flesh
sponges at SIS per pound, and Hum
nell furnished wagon sponge worth So
per pound; towels at 81 per dozen
were furnished instead of Turkish
towels at $50 dozen; soapstone dishes
were furnished instead of china small
pieces of chamois, instead of large
skins; common plain glass, instead of
cut glass tumblers ordinary cuspidores,
instead of fancy decorated; inferior
brushes and dust pans 25 cent towel
racks for those costing $3.50; poor
quality of damask towels aud machine
made combs for hand made. On some
of these articles Delaney said Hum
nell would have made from eight hun
dred to twelve hundred per cent Hum
nell, by indrection, called Delaney
liar and said that on some of the articles
he would lose from twenty to twenty
five per cent.
McAlarney, Hummel's counsel, said
"We propose to furnish by sample and
will have our rights or there will be a
fuss. You are not going to drive us
out, Mr.. Delaney"
McAlarney charged the senate libra
rian with having procured Hummell's
bond at the State department and
taken it to one Of Hummells bcndsmen
for the purpose of inducing him to
withdraw his name as security, to give
Delaney an excuse for the transfer of
the contract to the next lowest bidder,
friend OF Delaney The senate libra
rian Indignantly denied this charge and
said the deputy Attorney General had
informed him that if Hummell failed to
meet the requirements of his contract
his bondsmen would suffer- and that he
had gone to Montgomery to give him a
chance to secure himself against loss.
McAlarney having accused Delaney of
determination to "drive out" Hum
nell to give friend the contract, the
senate librarian scornfuly resented the
imputation and said that Hummell had
importuned Mr.. Chellis, the former
contractor, to take the job off his
hands.
Here Hummell arose to contradict
Delaney, and Secretary Jordan was
obliged to step in as peacemaker.
McAlarney quoted Quay in support
of his position that the articles furnish
ed should be in accordance with sample,
exhibited by bidders. "We do no
propose to go according to Mr.. Della
neys samples, but on our own."
"Well," remarked Delaney. II notify
you that they will not be accepted
You cant brow beat me"
Secretary Jordan announced that
decision would be rendered after h
has had consultation with the Attol
ney.General.
Hummell's bid is forty per cent. be
low the maximum rate fixed by tn
State, and the next lowest bidder pre-
posed to furnish the necessary article
at twenty-three per cent. below. 1t
thought the present controversy wi
lead to an investigation into Delaney
relations with contractors in previou
years, TO show that he has not bee
near so circumspect in the past.
What the Legislature ought to do
to wipe out the practice that has pr
vailed at Harrisburg for many year
of buying sponges and towels an
brushes &c for the use of the member
The State might just as well furnis
them with clean shirts The who
thing is without authority of law, an
the new Democratic house should il
troduce reform in the basement as we
as in the hall,