New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-08
COOPER. HEWITT & co. EXPLAIN.
ErrrERArINe THEIR DETERMINATION NEVER

bElIthAllNb 1hGlh III fAAN+' AN'ft-N
TO CONTRACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
"The Press yesterday published statement re-
gardlng tho refusal OF the Board Of Inspection az tho
Brooklyn Navy Yari,t accept quantity Of iron fur.
nShed by a contractor named C. j. Townsend. This
iron was purchased from the Grgn Of Cooper Hewitt
d Co., and amounted altogether to rather moro than
$50 tons The purpose for which II was Intended was
mainly TO DO worked up into small fixtures and sp
planes for the fittings Of vessels. According to the
tests applied by the Board Of Inspection the iron was
found 20 be red shorS and unsuitable for the pur
pose. Tho fact that Messrs. Cooper Hewitt q Co.
had taken power Of attorney from The contractor
and that Edward Cooper had written letter on tho
subject to the Secretary OF the Navy invited suspicion
that this firm, whose heads occupy such prominent
positions in the councils OF the Democratic party had
become interested in Government contracts
A Tribune reporter called yesterday on the firm 10
obtain their statement in reference 10 the transaction
He was received by Edward Cooper. who said that
Mr. Hewitt knew nothing whatever about IL until no
saw the story in print He also said that the amount
involved was not more than $1,000 and that tho nrm
had not swerved from their dxed determination never
TO enter into the relation OF contractors with the oity
State or National Governments lie then continued
as follows
We knew nothing OF the contract The contractor
brought specification calling for post American
aned ronH and asked what price would furnish II
to him, delivered at The Navy Yard. We had never
he'd any previous transactions acquaintance with him
We named the current market price for tho ado o.
lron and said we would sell 10 10 him n the payment was
arranged 10 our satisfaction. Upon calling upon the
pay inspector inquire how payment could be secured
10 US no suggested power Of attorney our favor
be filed In HIS ONCE. This was accordingly doae When
the iron was rejected representative the Com.
and the Chief Of the Board OF Inspection. Tho
latter claimed that best American refund iron" meant
the best iron which could be bought The Comrnandant
ordered another inspection TO DO made 10 that
the manager OF works could the Iron tested. At
this inspection manager present aud reported
that while the stood al cold tests II entirely
ree from redshortness at particular temperature
but was not Eedshort 70 degree in iron known
In the trade "best American reaned' iron. The IN
spector said that any the iron not OF the
quality required for their work. and ~ dissatIs
ned with its reflections refer tho matter 20 the
Secretary OF the Navy.
We ala 49, requesting that the matter might be 70.
ered 10 tho proper officers Of the Navy Department and
understand from the inspector Of tho Yard that
II has been referred back 10 him There are Just two
points involved The FIRST IL this Does ''best Amer
can refined" iron best that can be made
does iron OF the quality known in tho trade by
that nancy For instance mills sell one quality
rs best refined" and another quality Of higher grade
best best refined" In the public quotation,
prices refined is quoted a. price ana superior
grades at higher prices The quoted prleea OF Burden
best and "Uster" about 80 per cent greater than
| the price Of ''best refined ronT The second point
Isl Whether the iron furnished Of the Quality called
for by the specification viz, 'best rennedp N 10 Il
OF the quality known In the trade best refined n
should not DO rejected because better quality Il 70
quircd. II II IL not Of the quality Of hest reilne1
American ron,7 the rejection is entirely proper OF
Tho decision Of tho Government oaiesis win b
nns and should IL be adverse is VIII involve