New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-17
now ABOUT THIS CONTRACTf
MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRIDGE TRUS
TEES
An UNUSUAL WAY OF MAKING An AWARD FOR
THE PRINTING OF TICKETS.

Tho manner in which this years contract for print
;r, the Rrootyn Bridge tickets las been awarded is
tbe subiect Of much adverse comment among bank.
uote men who were competitors IN the blddlng and
Others interested in Bridge affairs Ihey assert 1has
the business was conducted In mysterious way, 10
say the least and SO far as to hnt at cosoh'
The contract includes three kinds OF TICKETS oOoOO
600 in all, and aggregates the snug sum Oh @-oooo
to $4,000 The three classes Of work were: First.
pacEage tickets or steelplate pages OF ten tickets;
second steclograph tickets In two coors; and uhId'
steel0graph tickets in three colorS
some of the circumstances connected with the con-
tract are thought extremely unusual ono "dS lhal'
although the law requires the trustees OIL the bhss
to advertise the time for opening the bids for printing
tho tickets no such notice seems to nave been gwen
this year IL given at all, It done in some way IL
is alleged that would not attract attention. Ahou@
curious fact that the unsuccessful bidders nave
been unable 10 ascertain from the proper authorizes
who the successful bidder is. IL has been usuai W
give notice 10 all bank note companies IN New-forA
by letter. that they could Join in the oddiS' Why
this custom done away with this year, Is asked.
April H. at nOOh the time liked for the ming Oh
bids each to be accompanied by certified check VI
10 per cent Of the total amount bid Inc Amerlca An
Bank Note Company, the Homer Lee Bank NoVe C0m
pany tho New York Bank Note Company and the
Hamilton Bank Note Company we're represented and
put In BIDS Nothing more seems 10 have been heard
Of the case until Thursday, when the report sos
abroad since authenticated, that the Hamilton Bank
Noto Company has received the award,
Mr. Kendall, treasurer Of the New-lork Bank Note
Company said yesterday that he was present at the
Office OF the Bridge trustees at noon on April IA, tho
dav Of the deposit Of bids and IS positive that up "
10 p. H. the Hamilton Company had not put its
bid into the deposit box. The return Of our cheeks
Mr. Kendall said on May II our first nolfca
tion that the contract awarded. / visited tho
Office of the Bridge trustees thl, morning ana was
told by superintendent Van keuren that the Hamilton
Bank Note Company had secured the contracts at
IL cents per 1000 tor strip tickets ana "a u cents
r 'oI this sIatemcnt Mr. Kendall expressed
great surprise that 80 important a business d ths
manufacturing OF the tickets, representing the totl
income OF the Bridge, amounting TO thous'nds "
doliaro q Day should DC S"DJ1'O1 - "'1' D''''01 VI
uoner Lee Of the Homer Lee Bank Note Company.
on April Ii that the trustees mad dd!9urlel "ithou.
making any award until April IL. MI Martin sad
MIR. Lee continued, that TIE whole matter hdd been
taken out OF his hands AM referred 10 the Finance
Committee but ne could not or would not give no
name, OF the Finance Committee. On Nay 10 ne t0A
my secretary that the contract had been a"aiN *
or days before but would not tel the d.y nor
to whom It awarded IL was nobody's bushes
Mana2cr vrceand Of the American Bank Note Com
pany, aud President Clendenin Echcrt, Of the Inter-
national bank Note Company, also spohe yesterday u
suspicious circumstances connected with the award.
At the Hamilton Bank Note Companys Office the iac.
admitted Yesterday That the company had As
contract. but all Information relating u is terms "as
refused.
Controller Myers. who is q Bridge Trustee. cxo'
hdo, said last night that he knew Itile atout No
printing contract IS far as he knew, bids were
advertised for i'm the regular fashion. N 'uose
queut meeting IF the trIstee,, whether thia month
0r last DE could not remember the bid, were oien@
and DE personally handled them. There were iOeis
half dozen bidder, and be did not pay par. cllir
attention 10 the prices, as the papers were tnilel
over 10 the president " rhc Board 20 award the con
tract 10 the lowest bidder. Who got the contract
Nh Myers did not know. m ftcJ be was not aware.
that the contract had yet beer Jet.
The controller asked II 10 was customary mr
the Bridge Trustees - keep SD clo>c-mputicd about
ID, contract affairs. and De replied De nor aware
that It was. although some things were quecry car
rcd by that body.
Mr. Martin not 20 find last evening AZ
as the reporters began -. call 70 the once or
the Hamilton Bank Note Company dispatch was
received at the Office ~ the Bridge Trustees In refer
ence ~ tho affairs The contents OF the dispatch
were transmitted - Mr.. Martin at his home. No l9t
Berkeley Place. over the telephone and after that
time all Who called there % talk with Nr Martin
were told that he mot In.
~ late hour Nr. Martin was communicated with
hg telephone lie asked W at was wputnd and
when told. answered hy sayi that he -rcssef 10
would keep until morning Nr. Martin then with
drew from the telephone.