Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-21

there was not the slightest risk OF
securing payment If the contract was
complied with, and that there was
very strong desire on the part of the
government to give the business to an
American firm. The minister OF pub
lie works said that preference would be
given to American bidders wherever 1t
was possible, and expressed the hope
that all three of the firms invited
would submit proposals.
But the directors of the two COM
panies at home lacked confidence in the
reports of their agents. or for some
other reason both declined to comply
with the specifications. One of them,
as | have SAID, refused to submit any
bid whatever unless the contract could
provide for delivery and payment in
the United States, but proposal was
submitted in its behalf by firm Of
American merchants in Yokohama who
assumed all responsibility. The second
American firm submitted bid for de-
livery at Pensacola, Newport News or
any Atlantic or gulf port, although it
was aware of the refusal to change the
specifications in this respect.
Its bids was the lowest submitted
nearly 20 per cent. lower than any
other-but the committee of the COM
mon council in charge of the business
threw it out without further examina
ton, and felt that it was an insult to
their integrity.
A prominent Japanese gentleman
commenting upon this last night re-
marked that the government had the
kindliest feelings toward the United
States, and was anxious to do every
thing in its power to promote trade be-
tween the two countries. This senti-
ment, he said, was thoroughly under
stood by all Americans who had ever
done business in Japan or bad even
visited here. Therefore it was exasper-
ating to their self-respect and sense of
justice to have two prominent Ameri-
can manufacturers. who were asked to
accept this contract, imply by the con-
ditions they exacted that the city of
Tokyo might possibly refuse to pay for
the pipe after it was landed here. He
said there had never been a question
or criticism of the honesty or fairness
of Japanese officials in connection with
their purchases or their public works,
and the manufacturers of America
were the only ones who had ever ex-
pressed doubt on that subject.
Your people can have this contract
if they want it, he said, land ii
amounts to several hundred thousand
dollars. And there are other contracts
of the same sort to be let in the future
which they can also have. Our people
have offered to give them advantages
over bidders from every other country,
but it is not very mplimentary to our
honesty and it is not very encouraging
to our efforts to build up trade with
your country to have your manufactur-
ers insinuate that we do not intend to
pay for the goods we order.
There were bidders from England,
Scotland, Germany, France and Bel
GUM who were willing to accept all
conditions and requirements. The
Americans were the only ones who sug-
gested any change. The contract has
not yet been let, but all of the bids
have been thrown out except those of
the Belgium firm, which got the last
contract, and the American company in
! Yokohama. The prices they offer are
almost identical, and the result will
depend upon the quality of the pipe.
Samples have been submitted and tests
will be made in day or two.-Will-
lam Z. Curtis, in Chicago Record.