St. Paul daily globe., 1892-05-29
Not Certain That Goodnow
Lawthep Coal Will Heat
the PoStoffiee.
Explanation of That Protest
and Why Bids Will Be
ReadVePtised For.
Complete Programme Of the
Memorial Day Celebra-
tiOn Tomorrow.
Chauneey NJ. Depew to Lee
ture--CentPal Market
Opened.

If the rumors one hears on the streets
be true the protest made against the
award of the fuel contract for the gov
ernment building to Goodnow & Law
ther has had some effect.
1t will be remembered that the dis
patches from Washington announced
few days ago that q protest had been re-
ceived at the treasury department in
Washington against the confirmation of
the contract as let to Goodnow Il Law
ther The dispatches said that the fuel
dealers of Minneapolis had sent in a
petition setting forth that the contract
TO GoodnOw & Lawther was not let in
fair manner and that it called for the
supplying of coal at an eXOrbitant price.
George \. Marchant, the custodian of
the government building in Minneap-
oils, and the man who let the contract,
ridiculed the idea of any crooked or
questionable methods having been re-
sorted to in the letting of that contract.
John Goodnow, of GOodnow & Lawther,
talked in the same strain.
But there was something in the pro-
test. The information comes to the
GLOBE from a trustworthy source that
the contract with GoodnOw & Lawther
will not be ratified, and that bids will
be advertised for again.
How this contract came to be let has
been explained briefly, but all the
points have not been covered. 1t is
claimed by several of the fuel dealers
that they asked Marchant when he
proposed to advertise tor bids on
the fuel contract. He told them
that it would be some time yet. 1t
is further claimed that he inserted the
necessary advertisement in aD obscure
corner of the Journal the statutory
twice, Immediately after telling the fuel
men that it would be several days be-
fore anything would be done. There
were but two bidders on the con-
tract, GoOdnow & Lawther and
the Cash Fuel company. The claim
is made that GOodnow is interested
in the latter company too, but it is
only fair TO him. to say that he
denies it. Anyhow, these were the
only two bidders. The proposal Of
Go0dnow & Lawther was trifie lower
than that Of the Cash Fuel company,
the claim being made now that the Cash
Fuel company's bid was one of straw.
So Marchant let the contract to Good
now & Lawther, and the contract was
forwarded to Washington for ratifica-
ton.
The fuel dealers got wind of it. They
hunted up man who stood well with
Congressman Castle and who could call
upon him for service at short notice.
The congressman was asked by te1e-
graph to have the ratification of that
Il
until a letter could reach Washington.
He did as requested, the telegram
reaching Washington just in time,
the same Gay that the contract
arrived there. In couple of
days protest signed by every fuel
dealer in the city of any consequence.
with the exception of Goodnow 81
Lawther, was delivered to Congressman
Castle and by him filed with the treas
ury department. The contract with
Goodnow & Lawther has not been rati-
fed by the treasury department. The
department will order George n.
Marchant to advertise for bids again
and it is safe to bet that it will be done
in a more public manner than before.
Another little incident in this connec-
tiOn that has a peculiar look. 1t has
always been customary, when advertis-
ing for bids for fuel for the government
building in Minneapolis, so the fuel
dealers say, to furnish the fuel men
with specifications upon which to base
their bids. No specifications were fur
nished in this case.
Still another point. which may be
brought out definitely before this mat
ter of fuel is settled for this year.
GOodnOw q LaWther have had the con-
tract for furnishing fuel for the govern
ment for the last year. The charge is
made that the coal furnished by this
firm has been of most inferior quality,
far below the standard demanded by
ihe contract.
1t has been practically guaranteed by
lie statements of some of the fuel men
hat when the contract for this fuel for
,he government building is let it will
.all for coal at price at least $3.50 per
ION below the bid upon which GGodnOw
& Lawther were about to receive this
contract.
All of which goes to show that there
are more things i'll politics. people of
Minnesota, than are dreamed of in your
philosophy.