Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-04-16
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Mr., Nesbit Reiterates His Charges
Of Irregularities
IN AWARDING STATE CONTRACTS.
PROVISIONS or the Antitrust Bill
which Has Passed the House ana
Now Awaits Action in the senate.
The New CaplloI building.

Harrisburg, April 3.-Representative
Nesbit, OF Northumberland county, sun
charges there are Irregularities in the
manner OF giving out state contracts.
He has filed with the house committee
on public buildings and grounds a seven
page statement setting forth alleged
abuses in the administration Of the de-
pertment Of public buildings and
grounds Among the charges made are
that plans and specifications for the
erection or for the revision Of public
buildings during recent years have
been so written as 10 greatly limit the
opportunity of responsible contractors
to compete in the building, resulting in
great loss to the state. I'm the erection
Of the new executive building, and re-
modelling Of the old house specifica-
tions were so drawn by the architect
as to require all bidders to furnish GER
tain articles OF special manufacture at
certain prices. and largely I'm excess of
the proper cost Of said article 1t is
also charged In this statement that
plans and specifications have been so
padded with items aggregating a large
amount. and which were not intended
to be exacted of the contractor Yet it
is claimed that honest bidders were
compelled TO bid on these In the re-
modelling Of the old hall OF the house
a large amount of basement exoava-
tions and underpinlng called for in the
specifications were omitted. Favorite
contractors were given to understand
that this work could be omitted, and
they thus bid accordingly.
To illustrate the carelessness which
has characterized the states scrutiny
and inspection OF bills which have been
presented by favorite contractors for
materials and Workmanship furnished
TO the state Mr. Nesbit points to the
| character and quality Of the material
in the new executive building, appar-
ent, he claims, to the most casual in
| spection, and to the admitted facts that
the building. although but three years
completed, already needs new roof.
Mr.. Nesbit is anxious for an honest
! investigation to be made, and claims
this viii establish the fact that many
persons who desire to bid on public
contracts are deferred from so doing
because of the reasons indicated. He
also thinks an investigation is import
ant, inasmuch as the state Is upon the
eve of erecting a new state capitol
| building, involving the outlay of a large
amount OF money and the giving out
of numerous contracts; that the pub
! lie interests and public honor require
/ that all honest contractors desiring to
! bid on such contracts should have fair
and equal opportunity TO bid and just
and equitable treatment afterward."
The Anti-Trust Bill.
Perhaps one of the most comprehen-
sive and important measures ever en-
acted by any legislative body i'm the
history Of this country passed the
house recently by vote of 157 to A..
1rbjst i6ilir and Is isRfd To Be / h6obgp td5f
the famous Georgia antitrust bill. 1t
provides that "all arrangements, con-
tracts, agreements, trusts or combines,
/ between persons or corporations, made
with view to lessen, or which
| tends to lessen, fun and free COM
petition in any line of trade or busl-
ness throughout the state, whether
in the Importation or sale or i'm the
manufacture and sale of articles Of
domestic production or Of domestic raw
material, and all arrangements design
ed to restrain trade or which tend to
advance, reduce or control the price
or the cost to the producer, or to the
!
ticle Of trade, are hereby declared
against public policy, unlawful and
void. EXCEPT in the case Of labor or
ganizations." Corporations chartered
/ by the state violating any of the pro-
visions of this act forfeit their charter
and corporate existence and foreign
corporations violating the same are
prohibited from doing business in this
state. Ii is made the duty of the at
| torney general to enforce the law.
! Violations Of the provisions of this
act are declared to be destructive Of
| free competition and a conspiracy
against the public interest Any person
/ or persons engaging in any such con-
/ spiracy as principal manager. die
/ tator or agent or in any other ca
pacity, and who shall knowingly carry
out any orders in furtherance of said
conspiracy, shall on conviction be pun
shed by fine not exceeding 5000 and
/ imprisonment in the penitentiary not
exceeding three years. 1t Is duty in
cumbent upon the district attorney,
upon the compliant of any citizen, to
proceed in his official capacity to Sc
cure the indictment Of persons or cor
porations Infringing on the act.
This bill is not likely to meet with
much favor in the senate. as there Is a
strong sentiment developing against it.
It's passage through the senate will be
watched with more than usual interest,
In view OF It's passing the house by an
almost unanimous vote. Those who
oppose the blu becoming law base
their objections on the grounds that
the remedy provided for the evils in
tended to be corrected is prohibition.
not regulation, and because its terms
are so broad and comprehensive that
they could be held to apply and make
unlawful the cooperative stores, part
nerships, agreements between employ
ers and their statesmen in reference to
prices; in fact it is difficult to see, they
claim, how any two or more persons
could act together in any line Of busi-
ness without making a combination
tending to affect the price or cost OF
product. and not come within the pro-
hibtve terms Of the bill 1t is also al
legged that no evidence in the form of a
petitions or a report win be presented
to the house showing either the need
for this bill or its effectiveness to REM
edy some Of the undoubted evils incl
dent TO great combinations Of capital
TO Push the New Capitol.
At last the measure providing for
the erection Of a new canitol building
has taken shape and passed the senate
prior to their last adjournment. This
bill provides for the erection Of a new
state capitol building on or near the
site Of the old building at a cost OF
$550O00, and no doubt with a few
amendments viii speedily pass the
house. and the governor proposes to
attach his signature soon after it comes
into his hands. il is his intention TO
haNn q h-rlnninn mada fnlrard the