Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22
CITY POST OFFICE REPAIRS
Contract Awarded Hess & 90. as an Exigency
Measure
LOnE-Expected Fight Between the
Supervising Architects ONCE and
a Philadelphia Firm.

Hess & Co, who were the contractors for
the new city post office building. have been
given the contract by the Treasury Depart
ment to repair the damage to the building
caused by the fire of short time ago. The
work was awarded for the sum of $500.
and was given out without competition. In-
quiry at the supervising architects office
today revealed this fact. The officials there
state that the contract was awarded as an
exigency measure, as Hess & Co. agreed 10
make all the repairs and have the building
ready for occupancy in four weeks.
The officials state that there was not
time to take the usual course of cempeti-
ton, as the work would have been DELAYED
beyond the time fixed for the Post Office
Department to move into the building.
Superintendent FOurcby had made esti-
mate of the damage. Hess * Co. made an
offer which was considered reasonable, and
the contract was let.
Regarding the charge that the contract to
Hess & Co. was in violation of law, Chief
Clerk kemper said that an eNigency exist
ed and mad to be met. 1t was met ia the
most expeditions manner, and Hess & Co.
were selected because they were familiar
with the work
''lf we have violated the law" said Mr..
kemper, the district attorney can be
asked by any citizen to take the matter up
We won't lose any sleep on this point.
Fight Over Heating Contract.
The long-expected fight between the su-
pervising architects Office and the Phila-
delphia Steam Heating Company has been
precipitated at last. 1t will be remembered
that the Philadelphia firm bid lowest some
time ago in an offer to repair and improve
the steam-heating plants of the treasury
Winder and Butler buildings The contract
was not let. the treasury stating that the
bids were all beyond the appropriation.
New bids for much smaller amount of
work Were asked. and We're opened = few
days ago. The bids were as follows. w IA
Larman SAT-: S. l. Pope, s. 39I; j. A
Zellers, S207S; Zellers & Co, 81 $40: Phila-
delphia Steam Heating Company, 81. 793.
The contract was awarded to ZelIers &,
Co, local firm, although the PhiIadel-
phia companys bid was the lowest When
asked about this today Chief Clerk KEN
per- In the absence of Mr.. Taylor, the
supervising architect, stated frankly that
the Philadelphia company had been ex-
Guided from the bidding on the ground that
they were unsatisfactory to the depart
ment
We find ii impossible to do business
with the firm he said They are can
tious and obdurate, and there has been
friction with them. for two years Life
is 100 snort and there is too much bust
ness In this office to be ouarrelng with any
firm. If it had been an individual the firm
time. nv
ihe5 nave Deen going around with
emp on their shoulders for some time
threatening to make trouble for US The
trouble had to come sooner or later and
we Knocked the chip off, so as to allow
them to 90 whatever they please
Mr. kemper said his office has a perfect
right to reject any bid, and in this case it
has nothing to hide I'VE are ready to
n eet any action taken by the firm and will
be glad to do so to put a stop to this
trouble
Assistant Secretary Taylor is out of the
city and could not be seen for a statement
OF the case. He has from the beginning.
however. sustained the office of the super
Vlsing architect in its management of these
affairs, and undoubtedly did so in this
case. Whether Secretary Gage passed upon
the case is not known