Evening star., 1897-02-11
MAIL BOX S VI T
Injunction Sought Against Postmaster
General Wilson.
Complaint Made of the Way in which
Contract Was
Awarded.

solomon c. Wynn of Toledo. Ohio. yes
terday filed bill in equity here against
Postmaster General Wilson, VIM. d. May
berry and Waring H. Ellis Of Detroit.
Mich, praying that the defendants he en-
Joined from entering into a contract for
furnishing street letter boxes. package
boxes. and posts for street letter boxes for
use In the free delivery service.
The bill was presented to Judge Cox, who
refused to grant a temporary restraining
order. whereupon it was withdrawn by
the complainant's attorneys. Messrs. Ham
ilton and Colbert. 1t was however, SUBJ
seQuently refiled.
The advertisement for the proposals was
made December IS 1896 the time for re-
ceiving them closing at noon the 18th of
last month. The complainant and others
including Mayberry and Ellis, submitted
proposals and a committee, consisting Of
Alden e. Hurt, Thos. B. March and Ber-
nard Goode, officers of the Post Office De
partment. were named ny the Postmaster
General to open and examine the proposals
ana report their reconme nda tions in the
matter. "
Mr. Wynn charges that his bid was the
iowest with one exception, which was with
uraWn. ne asserts. by the bidder at the
suggestion of August Machen superin-
,enoent OF the free delivery system. vet.
ne says the committee recommended that
tne proposal submitted by Mayberry & Ellis
partners' De accepted and that the con-
tract be awarded to them a thing the
done. ~ w. VI mas
men Mr.; wynn goes on to charge that
the committees action was procured NV
fraud and collusion between them and
Mayberry & Ellis and Supt. Machen.
he asserts that the latter stated in the
pIesence OF one of the committee that he
would See that the complainant's proposaJ
and box would not be considered. and that
ne and the defendant would have nothing
10 do with his boz. Mr.. Machen's state.
~ inent, me complainant charges, was made
In the presence of the formers subordinate
member of the committee for the pur-
pose OF influencing his the committee
man 81 action in making his recommended
tion and report.
The complainant also charges that Sup
erfntendent Macher dictated the names OF
the committee. and urged the rejection OF
ms box and proposal. He further charges
.hat superintendent Machen is financially
interested with Mayberry in the box Sc
lected. and in another box proposed to be
used in a system of 'hoCse-to- house" mail
collection. Mr.. Wynn alleges that Nav
perry told DR.. K. ID. Schebb of Toledo
Ohio, that he (Mayberry) had two days be-
fore the bids were opened been assured t,y
the officials having the matter in charge
that the contract would be awarded to
him.
Mr. Wynn has also filed with the Post
master General a protest against awarding
the contract to Mayberry & Ellis, on the
ground that the award was not fairly made
The Postmaster General has this protest
before him for consideration. and no action
has yet been taken upon IL. The award
was made to the same concern which mad
the last four years contract The new box
which will take the place of old ones that
are broken or unavailable. combines the
main features of the old box, with a new
drop. device, which. it is said. Is non-pick-
able and non-breakable. The Wynn box
according to the committee which made the
award, was radically defective. because the
dropping device took up half the space OF
the box, and by that much curtaled its
capacity.