The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-23

of wooden frames covered with smilax and flowers
The frames Of mirrors ia Mrs. HarrisOn's parIor
and dininC-room TO be twined with smiax: also
basket Of flowers for table, large floral piece for
window and BASKET Of flowers for small round table.
Design, The HOSpitslities of California to the
PoStmaster-Generai," for the window Of Postmas-
ter-Geueral Nanamakers room.
Flowers for Mrs Mckee aud Mrs Dimmick.
In response large number of bids were made
the bulk OF which ranged from $3.50 to $3.50.
Two other bids were also put in al figures not
generally knOwn-one, supposed TO be somewhat
higher Than the above figures, by a Posl-street
firm known to have Intimate relations with the
Park Commissioners, and another. about which
there is considerable speculation, By the firm OF
street-venders before referred to.
THE PARK AS A COMPETITOR.
Concerning these latter" said the Lean
Bros, Ill is fair to assume that they offered 10
take the Job Tor less than the reputable houses
whose name would be guarantee for superior
work. They must therefore have agreed to enter
into The contract for something less than $3.50.
What then Is TO become of the remainder OF the
$1,000 al the disposal Of the committee?
We ave Informed, too, thai the park is TO sup
ply all the flowers for the banquet and that Major
Hammond will bring The park gardeners to The
hotel To have than arrange the able de coratiOn
just as lie brought them TO Grace Church for the
Hearst ob>equiesi they VIII weave garlaDds Just
as they have done heretofore for the Bohemian
Club. Union League and Art Association, and
they viii Manufacture floral designs as they did
for the GiTOtie-GirOna opera troupe, and those
military receptions at the Occidental HoIel, which
the Major loves so well 10 attend, not 10 mention
the bouquets innumerable which 20 10 society
folks who can well afford TO pay for them"
Much more IN the Same strain was told the re-
porter, VINO accordingly visited the gentlemen
particularly referred 10 by the irate florists aud
got the following version of their side OF tile
THE FLORISTS CRITICIZED.
Major Hammond was seen at his business
place, and made some frank admissions concern
Ing certain OF tile charges.
a IL is true" he said, "that on public occasions
we do loan our plants and send flowers, but our
gardeners have never made floral piece IN
their lives because they don't know how and we
have gwen but few flowers because there are so
few 10 give. Not flower ever goes to private
individual"
We'll. Major, the florists say"
" The florists b. hanged" said Mr.. Hammond,
initiating the ChesterheloIan air OF a Vanderbilt.
" With few executions, they are lot Of high
waymen and pirates Do you Imagine for mo-
ment that II we were in the la bit OF giving flow
away / would be buying flowers constantly
myself. why, can bring you over TO Post
street and show you by my account where /
spend from $3.50 TO $500 year for them at one
establishment"
Ibid you send any floral pieces to the amateur
opera troupe?" inquired The scribe.
Not a single blossom"
"Or TO the Bohemian Club?"
Not bud"
" VIII The park gardens decorate the banquet
hall next"
There. that is another of those lies Of those
florists. l tell you the Park Commissioners wont
send bud nor blossom nor a gardener there.
There are no flowers 10 spare there and the only
plants we may loan are few old palms that
not worth Taking about. There was $1,000 set
aside for This committee you speak OF, and these
florists knowing l am one of the members sup
pose am going TO carry of all tie park flowers.
But l am mol. Colonel Andrews IS Chairman,
and L have never even attended meeting, /
have been so busy with other matters"
A MIsFIT SOMEWHERE.
Colonel Andrews was interviewed within few
moments at his business place. he admitted
that The contract Trad been let for the hotel deco
ration and that the men then at work upon
It, He refused TO state the amount OF the sue
cessful competitors bid. but volunteered the
statement that all Tue florists wanted the work
land lie held UP a bundle OF papers 10 show the
number who applled) and he had given it to the
one that suited him best" "TheSe bids range
from $500 TO S2000' he added, land / made
such arrangements as | thought best by select
ing the man VINO would do tue best work at the
best price"
"But," said the reporter. 'the florists say their
bids run from $3.50 to $3.50 only"
oh well, l have Changed all these specifiea-
lions, aud l intend to have several hundred
school children with flowers TO stTew in the Pres
dents path, and"
We'll, did you ask the florists 10 bid on the new
work P'
"NO, | did not There was no time to do So
They all had so many suggestions to make, and
these nen have employed were so quiet aud
had SO little TO say that gave them the job"
How much Will the decorations cost, Colonel.
under The new arrangemeBts?'
wen. can't say. l am making plans from
DAY 10 day, putting new ideas into effect, and
don't know how much the work will amount to
until 1t is done"