Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-03
BIDS ALL TOO HIGH
Proposals for the Department Of JUS
tioe Building.
MATTER TO Be SENT TO CONGRESS
The Attorney Generals Comment
on the Circumstances.
OFFERS OPENED TO-DAY

Bids were opened at the Department of
Justice today for a new department build
ing. under the act passed nearly two years
ago providing for new building. Six pro-
posals were received, indicating that the
contractors throughout the country did not
take much interest in the matter, although
it was open to ALL
1t will be remembered that Attorney
General Gr.ggs, after having selected Mr.
Post as architect. about a year ago. in
vited ten or twelve of the leading contrac-
tors throughout the country to make bids
on the new building. They responded,
eight of the number selected handing in
bids. Ali the bids were far in excess of
the amount of money appropriated by Con-
gress.
The bill providing for new building ap-
propriated $1,OJO,000, with provision that
all the expenses of tearing down the old
building. of renting and providing new
quarters and everything else shou come
cut of TINS. When eight Proposals
showed in the neighborhood of about $oJo,-
600 above the appropriation, Attorney Cen
erai Griggs submitted the matter to Con-
gress, WIN a request for an additions ap-
propr alton that the contract might be
awarded.
Local Objections.
About this time serious objection was
| made by contractors, led by several Wash
| ington builders, to the method Of asking
| for bids The Washington men claimed
| that they had been overlooked and that not
one Of them had been asked to offer a bid
| Appeals were made to the members of the
| House committee on pubic buildings and
| grounds, and a resolution was passed m
effect condemning the Attorney Generals
| plans.
hot he
| open to everybody. No add .tional appro-
pration was made and the matter re-
named as at the beginn ng until the At
| torney General recently advertised for bids
| from all the country
The pre- posals received today and opened
numbered six. two less than when IT, d
| ding was done by request. and no WASH
| ington men are in the LIST. Four of .he
| former bidders have again submitted pro-
| posals, while only two new firms enter the
| field.
| Bids Opened Today.
| AS before, it will be seen that the pro-
posals are far in excess Of the money on
hand to erect the building. They are some
| what less than year ago, when the first
bids were opened. but this is said to be
due to a slight fall in the prices of mate
rial The proposals received and opened by
| the department today were as follows:
| Charles T. Wills, New York. 1857. ~.
| and to finish the work in thirty-tive
| months.
| D. l.. Thomas, Baltimore, Md. 81 $50, 600,
and to finish in thirty-siX months.
John Gill & Sons, Cleveland Ohio, s1,5T5,-
| 125, and to finish in forty-two months.
Norcross Brothers. Worcester, Mass, ST.
| 3S7 300 and to finish in twenty-six months
V. J. Hedden & Sons New York, 81 1885,
800. and to finish in thirty-six months.
| L. L. Leach & Sons Chicago, ILL.,, ST.
10000, and to finish in forty-fve months.
Four of those who submitted bids when
| the proposals were opened nearly a wear
ago are again bidders. These are John Gill
& Sons Charles T. Wills, NCrcross Broth
| ers and v. J. Hedden & Sons. Their bids
| before were as follows: Gill & Sons. 81, So
125; Chas. L. Wills, 81 ,633, $50: Norcross
| Bros. 800; V. J. Hedden & Sons,
81 ,5:S5, 600
There is not SO much difference in the
| bids opened today as appears on the face.
| The contractors were asked to bid on four
or five kinds of marbles. The bids repre-
sent different grades Of marble Different
| figures set for the various grades of
marble. The lowest bidder cannot be de-
| termined until these matters have been
| gone over and the bids of each firm ON a
| certain grade of marble compared.
! In the figures given one firm bids on a
| certain marble, fixing prices for the other
| different sample of marble for a basis and
| 80
| The Attorneys Generals Opinion.
| Attorney General Griggs will probably
| make no recommendation as to the lowest
bidder. His intention now Is to submit