The sun., 1891-02-16
CUSTOM HOUSE GOSSIP.
BRIGGS BEATS BARNEY BTGITy FOa
THE CARRIAGE CONTRlCE

At Least, sueh IL Collector Erh ardt,s Non.
Partisan Rccommendntion-An Awrni
Republican Howl WIN Foilow-Certaiu
Old Men IN tho Service In Peril.
Collector Erhardt has settled the conflict
over the carriage contract. as far as he is con.
cerned. Tho contract is for three years, and
is worth between 100000 and $9OOO 600 Tho
present incumbent is Thomas A. Briggs. who
was selected by Collector Magone. When Coll
lector Erhardt advertised for bidders, the con.
tract oxrring Feb. 1. Mr.. Briggs entered the
race, along with Bernard Biglin and six others.
All the bids were first submitted to Auditor
Perry. and after that to other expert account.
ants. Their labors we're finished late in the
week, and this morning the Treasury Depart
mont at Washington will receive the Collectors
official conclusion that Mr. Briggs is the low
est bidder. The Collector forwarded the con.
illusions as to the other bidders and from them
1t Is gathered that Mr.. Briggs is lower by from
IL to 20 per cent. In his bid than his closest
competitor. Mr.. Biglin, md on that ground the
Collector has recommended that the contract
be given to Mr.. Briggs.
Now. Mr.. Biglin 10 certainly Republican,
Mr. Briggs. as far MS anybody knows. is Dem.
ocrat. All sorts Of pressure has been brought
to boar on the Collector In tho interest OF Mr.,
Bielin. search through tho records OF the
Custom House developed the interesting fact
Collector Merritt 1t was do La ed VOID by tho
Secretary Of tho Treasury on the r C m mendn-
ton OF Gen. Merritt who chargol that Mr..
Biglin had not lived M to it's provisions. Even
II he had been the Lowest bidder Ia tho present
contest there is room for d,uOt that the Coll
lector would havo recommended giving 1t to
him. The question of rcs, cnsibl'iy.ro Imam
cial alone. II appears. has urrurici much Of
tho Collectors time in detera inin.: the Gues-
10 rfrx vvnll tN,, ...,
bers Of the Republican County ,"nni,tee will
raise breeze when they read in 1nE sun that
the Collector has recommended Brings. There
will be pil.rimuEes innumerablo To- Washing-
Ton mr the purpose OF getting III. ac!i.etors
that Sir. Eel!n's BID is ~ low as Mr. ~, "r rass.
and, besides. tho advantages il a ro;irai way.
will be nwelt np'n. In n word lh. erur-
itcan local mach hine, through Air. Bisiin. wants
with its lhO00 ncmLeis and tEoir wsiunty in.
huenco ou election day.
burn. Mr. Whitehead SE and IT, Z; chasc M' "SI' Sas
gone bac TO the Apprai. er's storr- 10 COM
results. ltappears thai at tao stores 'her. ar.
io,ty or MY .mi,oEoes who hav, heon In tho
Some Of them are old men. AMI are consnierod
tncn nraci'atnd. they arc On hand every day.
10 2" over their Wo.k and r"csiiy errrs. nl Il
was snid very plainly YESTERDAY that tn" Com;
mission VIII ,ecommend the retirement Of
these od-,imers. The same course. il was
ayerrcd: will ie followed toward ,hr score OF
moe 81 elderly snrsess in the "se,rs
Lists OF these employees hnve been rie .are,i:
In IL hey can demonstrate their capnsity all
that they will be retired.
Chinese Commissioner Lyman has stirred up
the powers in all the customs depnr m.nts mt
1RiE Mii; port On AN appeal made BY Naval oilicer
IaIvaS Nominating nf1lpQr p, Al iiSp
hrs 10 n and t4s rns
%1s ruling tnss in THAI time one :" hs
inratie. or trunkari. and ysi Under Mr. Iy-
mans mans fiat the, pominating officer must take
discretion. In view Of the fact that Mr.. Lyman
was riIdled by tho Congress committee for
uiations. some Of tho men in the Fods,al t i sUi-
| vice say that tho President should inquire iuto
Chinese Commissioner Roosevelt is also hnv-
ing sharp things said Of him. He wants the
piled also to the promotion of employees This
would add 10 the entang!emcnts oi the four
the Appraiser M and the Naval oiser. Me u All thc
Democln,s are highly eratitiei at tie stuhiops
keeps them in and hurts the lenublicaas.
Collector Erharlt has kept the cab. drivers
H.oree p. Ienne, Sr. " hen tho son iaed on
hand on nl occasions.
Tie special agents Commission. Mr.. Hep.
burn Mr.. Whitehead and Mr.. Chance are 10
inquire how those Two pnintings. worth re-
spectively fl2O and fl5U. pas sed ASS slant Ap.
pratser Stevens on a valuation Of 5 - and s25.
phliip A. PhiIipsen one OF the Custom House
pany consignecs of the painting. ha- been
suspended irnm his privileges. The iif,rma-
tion against Phillipsen was furnished I Q Com.
mission by Mr.. Whine. head Of the foreign de.
partment OF the express company.
AIR. CLEHELIND CONGRd TIL LIED