Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03

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An interesting session of the Board
of Trustees OF. the New Castle County
Hospital at Farnhurst was held yester-
day week. The drug bill and
grocery bill were the bones of con-
tention. On these bills, after COM
pairing them, committees of three menu
beers each were appointed to consider
carefully the advantages to be gained
oy. securing the best goods for the least
money,
The committees reported the result of
their Investigations of prices, and stated
that they had carefully Intercepted
Superintendent Mccoy, in relation to
the groceries and drugs that he had
the greatest need for. They said it was
hard matter to Judge the value of
the bids as they were filled out. They
could not intelligently handle the bids
under the specifications. They found
10 their comparisons that great diff
ferenoes existed, and that at some Of
the prices offered il would be i'm.
possible to purchase the goods in car
load lots.
There were six bidders: W. e. Frank,
3. r. Blackiston, Hun lock Bros, Lynch
Y CO., E. +. Turner and Charles e.
Simmons.
The discrepancies were: Flour, the
best, So to $3.50 per parrel; galvanized
buckets, 90 to 81. 80 per dozen; brooms,
81 to s3 per dozen: salt, 10 cents to
Sl.35 per cwt. {; sal soda, u to 3 cents
a pound; tomatoes, 40 cents to 81 cents
per dozen cans; mustard, 10 to 90
cents found; oatmeal, 81. % to "a. IS
per barrel; hominy, 10 to so cents a
bushel; cranberries, ! to s cents q
quart; corn, IS to rs cents per dozen
cans; coffee, II to 30 cents pound :
crackers, 3 to 5 cents pound; dust
brushes, 80 cents to 49, 90 per dozen: 6
ounce bottles baking powder, 90 cents
to III. 40 per dozen; evapoi ated apples,
8 to 10. cents per pound.
AS soon as the report was made and
1t was decided that it would be an i'm
possibility to have good goods at the
prices offered, Mr.. Mccoy was ques-
TONED In relation to a recent purchase
made, and it was learned that the
goods purchased at wholesale cleared
800 on bill of $50.
Trustee Hervey Walker made motion
that Superintendent Mccoy purchase
the groceries from the wholesale
houses. u.s..
Trustee Joseph Chandler objected
and stated that il the goods were CON
tracted for and the contracts are not
lived up to, the superintendent did not
have to take the9goods, but could have
them stopped and the contract can
celled, or compel the bidder to serve
the goods as contracted for. He thought
the trustees were duly bound to accept
the bids. ~
Mr.. Walker--"We are not compelled
to accept the bids. The proposals read
The trustees reserve the right to re-
isct any or all bids. -
Mr.. Weldin--'.I endorsed giving the
contract to Hurloek Bros, because they
were cheaper. lis pad policy to place
purchase of supplies in the hands of
the superintendent of any institution,
We have all confidence in Mr.. Mccoy,
but II he should die could we feel SO
towards his successorsn ~ W.
Mr.. Mccoy was again called and
questioned in relation to the quality of
the brooms secured by the institution
and it was learned that they we're of
fair quality. 1t wins also learned that
they cost So % per dozen. He had re.
ceived brooms at the institution that
broke II used across small room.
These be returned.
Mr.. lawson Don't make friends
with or allow the contractor to get too
free with the superintendent or mem
bers Of the board, but keep him to his
obligation to the very letter, and do
not allow things to slip through
President Armstrcng-"G Gentlemen,
1 cannot conscientiously vote tic award
contract to person who offers the
best -four at % per barrel. 1t cannot
be What we asked for in our pro-
posals. -
Mr.. Fahey was asked what he would
do IL some person offered to build him
s5, 600 house for $1,000. He replied,
turn such man down."
1t was stated that it was the business
OF Mr., Mccoy to see that supplies were
up to the standard.
Mr.. MoCoy--'If the board awards
contract to a bidder at figure that it
knows will not guarantee good articles
and then expects me to keep the con
tractor up to the mark without the
warrant Of the board, then it is asking
too much. "
Mr.. Murphy-'It is unfair to retail
dealers TO purchase the supplies from
WhpioshiH housd. Iuer6 aI6 no Dluu6fS
other than retailers
On motion of Mr.. Weldin, seconded
by Mr.. Chandler, the contract awarded
Was to IIurlock Bros.
James Hurlook OF the firm that re-
oeiyed the contract, was called into the
room and questioned in relation to the
-four at 50 per barrel. He said he
meant the best on the market, includ-
Ing Pilsbury brands. He Acknowledged
that he could not purchase brooms at
the. pi ice he offered them. In relation
to homify, he stated that he had some
on hand that he wanted to get rid Of.
The hominy was offered at 10 cents per
buskel.
Mr.. McCoy-''I want 1t understood
that you cannot send your stale goods
here.''
Mr.. HuIlock-"I will furnish good