Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-14
ANOTHER BIG TOBACCO CONTRACT.
Butler n Bosher To Fiji an Emer-
geHcy order, at JJc.

Il
| WASHINGTON. ID. C.. May 13.-(Spe-
cial 1.-The paymaster-general of the
navy. who has charge Of all the tobacco
| contracts for the navy. announces that
the department has given an emergency
| contract to Butler Il Bosher, of Rich
mond. for 2O,OO0 pounds. at 81 cents per
| pound. Not less than 10000 pounds will
be delivered by the 18th Of May, and the
balance soon thereafter.
The contract awarded to the w. 7.
Hancock Company for 10000 pounds, at
33 cents. was the result Of bids for sealed
proposals The method OF deciding upon
the bids is as follows: The sample plugs
submitted are sent TO board Of officers
at the Brooklyn navy-yard. All local
marks are taken off the plugs. and the
paymaster-g general labels the samples A,
B, c, etc. and makes key which he re-
tains. This is done, Of course. before the
samples are sent TO Brooklyn.
The Board of Officers examines the
pieces thoroughly. and calls I'm several
tars TO chew and smoke the samples.
This board then makes full report to
the paymaster- general, i'm which is dis
cussed the quality of each sample as to
strength of weed and delciousness of
sweetening. The paymaster-general gets
out his key, and finds that G, a, b, or ID,
as the case may be. has the preference.
The paymaster-general. in turn, submits
a report TO the Secretary of the Navy,
embodying the finding OF the board. and
the Secretary makes the award accord
ingly.
The price has little to do with the de-
cision of the department, for Uncle Sam
takes good care of his seamen regardless
of cost. Due regard is had, however, TO
the question of extortionate prices, but
no matters how low bid might be. the
department would not purchase the to-
bacco unless it suited the taste of the
men who are TO consume it.
When it was found that the Hancock
company had not agreed TO fill his con-
tract before September. the department
earliest time he might be expected to
make a shipment. He replied it would
be some time in June before he would
have any tobacco ready. Butler *
Bosher's samples having been rated high,
and firm was telegraphed to as 70 how
soon it could iii an emergency order for
20,0OO pounds. The response was that It
could furnish one-half by the 18th Of
May. and the rest soon thereafter, as in
dicated above. and as the navy was in
pressing need of stock. the contract for
the 2O,OO0 pounds was promptly made.
The paymaster-genera says the pres
ent mode OF selection gives entire satis-
faction. The old mode was to call in ex-
pert tobacconists to decide on the sam
pies, but this was not satisfactory 10
as the experts could spot
each piece, and were always more OF less |
prejudiced against certain styles and |
1avorings.
The paymaster-g general tells me that |
Mr.. Charles Wesley spicer. OF Virginia, |
read the Brooklyn boards report on the |
last bids, which resulted I'm the award TO |
and the well-known tobacco |
mist said 1t could not be- improved upon.
rhe paymaster-g general says the demand
'or navy tobacco is naturally greater this
year than usual. and that he Will soon
advertise for proposals for another big
contract