The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-20
DISSATISFACTION
ABOUT UNIFORMS
Local Concerns Claim They
Were Due Consideration
IN CLOTHING THE POLICE
One Local Concern Claims That They
Submitted Lower Bid and Bet
ter Goods Than the
Outside Concern

The action of the police commissioners in
awarding the contract for summer uni
forms for the police department to a Gin
cinnati firm has caused much comment,
especially among some of the local firms
who submitted bids.
1t is claimed that bids at the same fig
ures and even lower than the figures sub
mitted by the Cooper Tailoring company,
the successful bidders, were submitted by
local concerns.
On the other hand the commissioners
claim that the award was made at the
lowest bid, the quality of the goods con-
sdered.
Bids wore submitted by L. Rogan & Co.,
M. We'll Bro, t. c. King, the Peoples
Tailors. the sommers Tailoring company,
the Brooks Tailoring company, Al Wilson
and other local concerns, besides bids from
several outside parties.
The price of the bids ranged from 1880
to $40 for uniforms, and from 1925 to 50 for
helmets.
A special committee was appointed at the
last meeting of the commission, composed
of Dr. R. v Mobley and Thomas F. Park
er, to award the contract. BY request
Chairman Chiles was added to the COM
mittee which met Wednesday afternoon
in the office of Chief Austin at police
headquarters.
Only Two Members Present
DR.. Mobley and Mr.. Chiles were the only
members of the committee present.
Commissioner McCary, who CHANGED to be
present, was invited in. The several bids
were opened and the samples examined,
and it was about decided to award the
contract to the Cooper Tailoring company
when DR.. Mobley was called away, leaving
instructions, however, that anything that
was done would meet with his approval
Commissioner McCary, who was not
member of the committee, was asked for
an opinion and stated that he favored
giving the contract to a homo concern.
The award was finally made to the Cooper
Tailoring company at 1880 for patrolmen,
$3.50 for officers and s2.75 for helmets.
M. We'll & Bro, local bidders, claim that
the goods which they contemplated using If
their bid of 1880 was accepted is equally
as good if not superior to the quality of
goods submitted by the successful bidder,
and that no extra charge was made for
officers uniforms. This same concern sub
mitted bid to furnish Knox No. Helmet
at s2.25, with wreath 80 cents extra.
Other bids of 1880 were submitted by To-
cal tailors, who say that the quality of
goods was the best to be had for the money.
Requires an Expert to Judge
The tailors also claim that few men are
judges of pieces of goods, and that it re-
quires an expert to select the best quality
in a number of samples.
The action of the old commissioners last
year in leaving the selection to disinter-
ested party is pointed out as an evidence
that the commissioners were not them
selves able to judge as to the quality of
cloth.
The local tailors also claim that they were
due some consideration, inasmuch as they
are required to pay heavy license and taxes,
while the outside bidders pay nothing to-
ward the support of the city.
Several of the firms are indignant, and
say that in the future they will refuse to
submit bids to furnish the police uniforms
Awarded on Merits
Commissioner Mobley was the only men,
Der of the commission who could be seen
yesterday. He stated that the award had
been~made to the Cooper Company on the
merit of the samples submitted consistent
with the price, as well as the makeup of
the garment, which was before the board
in the shape of railroad porter's uniform
made by the concern.
Commissioner McCary was seen, and
stated that he was not a member of the
committee, and had merely been invited to
pass upon the action of the committee, and
that he remarked that he favored award
ing the contract to one of the local tailors.