The San Francisco call., 1896-03-29
Says He Was Offered Money
for the Smuggling In of
Another Bid.
WILL NOT NAME THE CULPRIT.
Efforts of an Alleged San Francisco
Rock Combine to Monopolize
State Work.

SACRAMENTO. CAL, March 2S.-At the
meeting of the Board of City Trustees on
Monday night, the contract for bitumin-
izing the streets surrounding the Capitol
was let to James Touhey, q Sacramento
contractor, for the sum of $50, ,399 96. his
bid being some $1,000 less than those of his
San Francisco competitors. Since that
time George Perine, who failed to put in a
bid before the City Trustees, has been en-
deavoring to have considered one $1,000 less
than that of Touhey's. This matter having
been brought to the attention of the Capt.
tol Commissioners, they met to-day in con-
junction with the Board of City Trustees,
and a stormy session was the result
The proposition was advanced by the
members of the alleged San Francisco
rock combine that the State, owning one
half of the frontage could, with the coop
Grafton of one-half of the property-own-
ers, take the letting of the contract from
the hands of the city and award it to
others and as the work would be done
for $1,000 less than Touhey's price, that in
dIvidual would be frozen out" and pre-
vented from entering into the business of
bituminous street laying in competition
with members of the alleged rock COM
bine.
The session was essentially tropical one
and no definite conclusion was arrived at.
During one of the numerous discussions
which arose, Trustee Kent stated that the
members of the combine were extremely
anxious TO beat Touhey, and that he had
been approached by an individual who had
said there was $500 for some one if another
bio could be placed.
"Did you have that man arrested? ?' de-
manded the Governor.
"Oh, no." answered Kent. These kind
OF things don't amount TO anything"
The Governor wanted TO know who the
man was, but Kent did not wish to expose
him.
''You know how it is, Governor" he
said.
'No, l DON'T" answered the Governor.
81 have never been approached myself,
but / want TO know who the fellow was
who wanted to pay City Trustee $500 for
an opportunity to get in bid.
Secretary of State Brown was in favor of
standing by Touhey's contract. In speak
ing on the subject he said: "This man
Touhev has underbid these other con-
tractors and is responsible man. Now
that they are beaten they 'squeal.' / am
in favor of awarding him the contract
privately, so that he can give bond that
his work will last at least five years"
When personally interviewed on the
subject Touhey said: There is no doubt
in my mind but that this combine of San
Francisco rock men will go to. great
lengths to prevent me getting this con-
tract, as they know that if l once get
foothold in this class of work they will
never be able to compete with me again in
Sacramento. They have even advanced
the argument that had no machinery to
work with. That is true, but l have
plenty OF money with which to purchase
ii. After the time for placing bids last
Monday had expired l was approached by
one of the mem bers of the combine who
desired to know what my price was. i
told him and then, / understand, an
attempt was made to have another
Did smuggled in. l was informed that
inferences were made that an attempt
might be made to bribe Mr.. Dimond, clerk
OF the board, but that gentleman's honesty
was beyond cavil, and, besides, it was
found that any attempt to approach him
would result in prompt bodily injury to
the party making the attempt, so the
scheme had to be abandoned. l have also
heard that it was claimed that immense
influence was brought to bear upon the
Capitol Commissioners in favor of the rock
combine; still, as | made my bid in good
faith and have the wherewithal to back it,
am sure the Capitol Commissioners will
be just and not reopen the bids. Once be-
fore I made members of this combine re-
duce their price on a contract so that it
resulted in 3 saving of $4,000 to this city,
1t was finally agreed that Secretary of
State Brown and Treasurer Rsdcliff be
appointed committee of two to consult
with an attorney as to the legality of en-
tering into a private contract, and also
whether Marsden Manson of the Bureau
of Highways could be appointed to act
without compensation as engineer of the
work on the part of the State.
WILL ISSUE ETERT DAT,