Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-13

necessary to state that the public
binding, and the printing, and the
supplying OF paper and stationery
are let every two years 20 the low
est bidder for each. PRINTED blanks
are prepared TO be used by bidders,
on which is set out each item OF
binding, of printing, and of station
cry and paper that will be required,
and In connection with each item Is
given al estimate of the quantity
thereof that will be required in the
two years the contracts are to run.
The bidder is required to state the
price at which he will furnish each
item. To determine which is the
lowest bid, the estimated quantity OF
each item is multiplied by bhe price
hidden therefor, and all added to-
gcther. The lowest aggregate is the
owest bid--if the estimates are hon
st and "fake items are not put in
% fool the bidder not ON the inside"
Il is not here intended to say that
the blanks in use for bidders under
the Democratic administration were
prepared with the purpose of de-
frauding the state, but it is here
stated that If such had been the pur-
pose, it is not easy to see how the
blanks could have been better adapt
ed for that purpose. To illustrate:
Under book paper required, it was
estimated that large quantity
of such paper, of the size of 10 "a,
and of the weight of 80 pounds to
the ream, would be required, but Of
the same paper of the same weight
but of the size of 10 x 25 far less
quantity would be used. But by
some mea the successful bidder
seemed to know BETTER, so he bid
10 cents a pound for the 19X25 paper,
and cents a pound for the l9X24 pa
per. Each paper was worth precisely
the same in the market, for book pa
per sells by the pound, ana not by the
size. 1t turned out that the bidder
(strange to say was correct in his
surmse, and the estimates were
wrong, for he was not called ON to
furnish the Accent paper, but was al
lowed to sell the Decent paper to the
state. Less than cents a pound was
a fair price for either paper. 1t viii
be seen, therefore, that the State
paid more than two and one half
times a fair price for this item. 1t
paid 10 cents pound when 1T should
have paid not over 4 cents. Anoth-
sr example was in certain grades of
fine linen papers, worth on the mar
ket 25 cents a pound. The success
full bidders price for one size and
weight, of which a large estimated
quantity was required, was / cent
pound; for other sizes and weights,
of which comparatively small guam
tlty was required, his price vas 80
and 40 cents d pound. He was not re-
CURED to furnish any of the one-cent
paper, on which he would have lost
money, but he was allowed to fur
nish great deal of the 80 and 40 cent
kinds, for which the State paid from
20 to so per cent more than it was
worth.
Another frasd practiced on the
State was in allowing inferior goods
to be substituted for those named in
the bid and contracts. One example
only is all our space will allow us to
give.
"Old Berkshire" fat (writing) pa
per was named as one OF the kinds
tre State would use, and the success
full bidder agreed to furnish 1T at 16
cents per pound. 1t is a very fine
grade OF paper. Instead of furnish
ing "Old Berkshire" paper the con-
tractor was allowed to substitute
"Old Berewick," an imitation, worth
: to cents pound. The contractor,
however, got IS cents for it. These
are merely samples. Did space per-
nit, many others could be gwen.
Gearing in mind these facts, IL win
not be a surprise to learn that, under
the preceding four years Of Demo-
cratic administration, the printing,
binding and stationery cost over
$4,000 annually, while under the
present Il publican administration
they have cost less than half that
sum. A saving of 100000 a year in
this one branch of the public SER
vice, it is submitted, is no small item.
The Auditors Office.
During the last Democratic admin
istration of the auditors o"ce, there