Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-07-26
scu,sel COAL CONTRACT SCANDAL

there has been much eomnotien in
the San Francisco School Board and
4molae coal men there over the letting
Ut the last contract for furnishing the
aoho9is OF the city with coal during the
ensuing year. Bids we're invited, and q
large Number we're pat in. The two
lowest were for supplying Seattle Coal.
George Braus' bid vas the lowest aud
Psrrine Il Flynn next. The bid Of the
latter Was accepted. bfans made 4
disturbance over the matter ct once,
and swore thst proposition had beea
z,adas 90 him by q tirm named Blrrell d
Hunt by which on the payment of $50
tie contract voalt DO given 90 him.
De tue investigation which followed,
L. Il. Morris, of the Renton Goal Com
pAny, swose that Brans came TO bis Of
doe aud told him and his Secretary of
the visits of two men who proposed To
az tile eoRtrdoE even sftcr it was known
thai the committee intended TO award
the eonsract 10 Psrrins 4 Flynn. He
did nothing about the matter, and a day
or tuo later Bruins broughe Birrall TO
his Oiaice and they had conversation
about the business. AZ this time hs did
not lsnsw Who Birrell was. and was
anxious 10 find out whether be had any
psIwer to represent either the members
OF the committee or the Board. BirreIi
said in answer 20 some that Morris had
been lorg enough in the basiness 10
know what to do. He said, ''If you
make use OF yoar opportunities can be
0f uss to YOU" | then asked him for
his name and address. which he gave
ms. Birnell was then sboSn out and
sedhing more was dono; bat Mr.. Nor
riH said he WAS determined 10 call the
attention Of the Board to the matter ana
II pssxible to insist upon Bruins getting
the contract. The BENTON Coal Com.
pany was prepared TO supply Bruins with
genuine Seattle coal. He then OF
plIainsd what vas meant in the trade by
Seattle csal. There are six mines at
thai place which are all worked in com
mon. There is no difference Ia quality
and no distinction is made IN the ordin-
ary methods Of the trade. IL be was
given an order for Seattle coal be would
get IL pFOmiscaousiy from any of these
mines. and the vessel that happened 10
Do al the wharf trst would take what
ever coal that was put aboard. He in
tended 10 furnish Bruins, II the osatrast
had iIeen lastly awarded, sItE Seattle
coal a. oAllsd for In the bid. There was
ne difference between Renson coal and
Seattle coal.
Whsa asked O. TO the responsibility
OF Mir. Bruns. MIR. Morris submitted
swo letters for the inspection Of the
oomuiittee. from T. Dansmuir & Co.
aud Il. ID. Chandler, who offered 70 go
on his bond for any contract that tue
Ssho,A Board might award him.
% Thu reading of these letters produced
q little commission, eutng 10 the imam
eiill Standing Of eoth frms-
In ilnsser 10 q question By Director
o. BFien. Mf. Morris said the reason be
ard Bruins had not come before the
committee was that they had no chance.
de had ssat Bruns 10 sea look &c the
etds, bai he had been refused. The hrst
he kiieg Of the awarding Of the con-
trlsos was from outside parties.
Mr.. Morris also said thai II Mr.. Hoy.
ard. t,f the Oregon improvement Com
pany, lad refused 10 sell BEnns q poaad
Of his caal, there we're 500 tons tost he
osted him Ia q trade. which 9o1id have
been more than esongh 20 all che con.
tntct. and II Was already In the city.
A. ~. Eobests vas sworn and told
hclg he tried 10 eet the bids from tbe
Secretary Of the Board. He also said
tnas BFuas Was responsible bidder.
and thai there was no difference be-
tseeEl Benton aud seattle coal. The
paxtl,raiAr coal that Mr.. Morris vas bid
btng On came from the Talbot vein.
wllioll foE years had been sid here be-
fore ths Oregon Improvement Coua.
pany's eaAl. and Il was Acknowledged
oy Old dealers 10 Be little better quality
OF eoA. There vas so little differences
In kahsen and Se 4tsls coal that II load
Of casa scre placed before the commit
ts,s 81 any dealer. they could not tell
them apart.
Mr.. Ehectts had sold = great deal Of
seattle coal daring the pass ts0 years,
and be made no distinction.
President hoits offered q letter frorn
!. l.. Howard. Of the Oraxon Improve
milnl Company. which eontslned state
ua,.ntsl rensrting "a the standing Of MT.
BaunsL and admitting that as Perrine 4
ftynri were Offering his coal hs thoagha
tllsm mere responsible than bruns.
Direetssr Culver then gave an acconnt
Of hiis connection with Btrreil q Hunl
Teny got the hgarss trosn him aftsE
tt,sy had been tAoalated By the secre-
1Ai.y and the committee had decided "a
award the eonsraei 10 PefriEe 4 Flynn.
fhls testimony eiosea tue tuvestigA-
tian. ,Isd the COMMITTEES took the Whole
mssiseF under Advisemen1