The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-07
STATEMENT OF Mr.. CRAM
REGARDING THE AWARD TO AL
DERATAN HAMILTON,
OF CONTRACT FOR ENGINE AND CRUSHER
Mr. Sale Says that the Bids Were Not to be
Sealed and Each Was Opened as it
Came. Mr.. HamiIton's Bid
Received Last.
Received Last,

1t is announced that the city has
awarded to Mr.. ID. FL. Hamilton, acting
chairman Of the Street Committee, the
following machinery for the use of the
city in pushing the street work:
One boiler of seventy horsepower
One engine of thirty-fve horsepower.
One No. 8 "Champion" roek-crusher,
capable of crushing two hundred and
fifty tons per day.
Bids were put in by Mr.. Hamilton,
Mr.. w. E. Ashley and the Allen and
Cram Company. 1t is stated that the
bid of Mr.. Hamilton was 500 less than
that of the Allen and Cram Company,
and the contract was awarded to Mr..
Hamilton.
l had talk with Mr.. Cram, president
of the Allen and Cram Company, last
night about the bids, and he said:
About ten days ago, having heard
that some machinery was 10 be bought
by the city, | went to Mir. Sale, pur-
chasing agent, and asked il such We're
the case. He said it was and furnished
me a list of what was wanted. | told
him that / had heard that other bidders
had had notice about a week ago. lie
admitted this and said really he had
overlooked our firm. ] told him | would
need time to get in my bid. He said /
could have it. On last Saturday he
asked me if we had our bid ready. /
told him no, | did not quite understand
some parts that he wanted. He furn-
iShnd tho infarfuafion lafpr I'm Mon
day he requested once or twice to know
if we had our bid ready, and we prom
ised to have it ready next morning.
Being very busy in the office | did not
get in the bid early and before ten
o'clock Mr. Sale called us three times,
asking if the bid was ready, thus leay-
ing the impression on us that we were
delaying action. Between 1870 and IL
o'clock / went to the City Hall and
handed Mr.. Sale the bid which ne
opened Immediately. In going up |
noticed Mr.. Hamilton standing in front
of the market on the street, and as
] came down Mr. Hamilton went up
the steps on the other side of the build
ing. ! thought nothing of this. | knew
MIR. Hamilton was an alderman and
acting chairman of the Street Commit
tee | did not think that an alderman
would be- permitted to bid About
6 o'clock of the same evening | saw
Mr.. Sale at the corner of the Tucker
building, and asked who was the success
full bidder. He said that Dave Hamilton
was the lowest bidder and had been CIV
en- the contract. | asked hmm il Mr..
Hamilton's bid was i'm when he tore. the
bird of the Allen and Cram COMPANY
oaren. He said it was not, that Mr.
I Hamilton Game UP right after j had put
in my bid and handed in his bid | toll
Mr.. Sale that | thought it very unfor-
tltirate that the successful Bidders bill
had not been received before cur bid
had been opened"
MR.. SALES STATEMENT.
Mr.. Sale was seen last night IN &c
gard to the matter.
"Were any of the bids opened before
all were receiyed?" was asked
Yes, ! opened each of the bids as it
was received. Nobody had anything
to do with it but me. 1t was not one
of the conditions that the bids were to
be sealed or even written. They could
have been submitted verbally as well as
not"
Whose bid was submitted last 2"
'"The Richmond firms, / think
''Of the local bidders, whose bid was
received last?"
''Mr. Hamilton may have brought his
bid last. / think he did,
did any one see the bids beside
your
"They did not"
Mr. Sale then voluntarily stated that
it was customary for the city to pur-
chase commodities from aldermen and