The times., 1899-05-04
LIGHTING CONTRACTS
The business Mems Association
Write the District COmmissioners.

The Business Mems Association
Write the District commissioners.
The following letter has been addressed
to the District Commissioners by the
Business Mems Association upon the sub
ject of proposals for bids for naphtha light
ing in the District:
The executive committee Of the Business Mems
Association respectfully calls your attention TO
the proposals for bids for naphtha lighting in the
District of Columbia for the year ending June
80 1900 The forms OF proposal appear to us To
contain terms and conditions which practically
prohibit competition in this important item in
District expenditures.
1t appears from proposal No. / that bids are In
vited for one thousand naphtha lights with the
lanterns. and from proposal No. 2, for one thou
sand naphtha lights without the lanterns and
that additional lights are to be bid for upon the
same basis. All proposals must be submitted be-
fore May 49, 1899, AT ~ VI. The awards can prob
ably not be made before May 90 and the contrac-
tor must be prepared to install his plant BY July
l, the beginning Of the fiscal year.
We understand that up to the year 1895 the
District owned its own lanterns but at that time
for what do not know, it replaced its
lanterns with those owned by the contractor who
has since then furnished these lights.
We also understand from good authority, that
it is impossible for any person desiring to bid
under the first of these proposals. to secure Ian
terms in less than ten weeks, with which to re-
place those of the present contractor should his
proposal he accepted.
II will thus be that the terms OF the first
and third proposal absolutely prohibit any person
not owning lanterns satisfactory to the District
authorities, to bid, as he could not supply them
in time for the beginning of the contract year
and consequence the only person who can
successfully bid is the present contractor who
owns the lanterns. Under these circumstances it
can readily be seen there can be no actual COM
petition. and the District is forced to accept the
bid of the only party who cap furnish lanterns
within the time specified, viz, the present con-
tractor
We understand thai the District now paws so
per annum for naphtha lights per light, and that
last year two bids were received from responsible
parties TO furnish the same at Sl7.iS and Sis
respectively, without the lanterns The accep-
tance OF the lowest of these bids would mean
saving to the District of about So, 200 per annum
which in less than three years would pay for Ian
terms to be owned by the District, and after that
time could be used in supplying additional lights
when necessary
1t appears also, that under the terms of the
District Of Columbia appropriation bill for the
year ending June 80. 1900, full authority is given
the District to purchase lanterns sufficient for all
naphtha lights used therein.
We believe that the only way in which actual
competition can be had in the furnishing OF
naphtha lights is by the District owning its own
| lanterns, the case until October, 1895, and
thus enabling all prospective contractors to bid
| from the same basis
In view of the premises, We respectfully request
| that your honorable board will, at its earliest
| convenience grant a hearing at which may
| state in detail objections to the form of the
| present proposals, and present such suggestions
| as to us may seem proper in the interests of the
business men and citizens Of the District, to the
end that there may be full and fair competition
as to this important item OF expenditure.
| The letter is signed by Conrad II. Syme,
| general counsel, and w. S. Knox, chairman
| of the executive committee.