The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-09
Dairy Products and Dry.
Goods Purchased and
No Bids Invited.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Commissioners West Gives
Peremptory Orders to
Property Clerk.

Today brought new disclosures in con-
nection with the investigation now under
way, into the affairs of the District
government, and the Commissioners.
especially Mr.. West. are beginning to
wonder If as much as per cent of the
District supplies were ever purchased
through competition.
Every time a requisition for some new
article reaches Mr.. West he attaches a
little note and sends il down to Property
Clerk Beckett. asking whether that par
tieular article has ever been purchased
through competition. and If not, why
not. Invariably the answer comes back.
NO competition had. Did not think il
necessary" or did not know articles
in question could be bought by compe-
tition."
1t transpired today that all the butter.
eggs and cheese which the District has
been buying for its several institutions,
has been purchased on verbal agreement
with specified dealer. without any
competition ever having been had. or
even asked for. This item alone repre-
sents an expenditure of several thousand
dollars annually. orders will be issued
Immediately bringing this item under
contract, to be awarded after competi-
tive bids have been advertised for.
Still Mere fragrant Case.
A second, and not less important dis
closure, was in regard to the supplies
furnished by a dry goods firm for the
manual training schools. IN reference 10
this subject. Commissioner West ad-
dressed the following letter to Property
Clerk Beckett:
Among the acquisitions 10 which I
have given attention during the past two
months. there are several for dress
goods and sewing material for the
manual training schooN1. Each one of
these acquisitions directs that the goods
be ordered from certain firm.
7 understand that il has been the
custom for some time past to buy these
materials from said firm without compe-
tition. In a requisition which reaches me
today, J. find that one other firm has
been asked 10 bid; but / desire that this
matter shall be carried further, and that
your Office prepare a schedule including
all CT these materials, which are staple
articles. including calicoes. dress cam
brio, leno. tape. buttons, basting
threads. spool silk and spool cotton.
Bids to Be Advertised For.
You will make up this schedule from
acquisitions that have been coming TO
your office. and viii advertise for bids
so that in the future purchases viii be
made according to contract from the
lowest bidder. and not. as in the present
case. purchased from some favored
firm, at the pleasure Of the official max
ing the purchase. This particular
requisition no 62O will be filled by
you according TO the bids received; but
even in this case it seems 10 me that
more than one dealer. other than the
firm requested by the maker Of the
reeuisItioR, should have been asked 10
submit proposals"
Two weeks ago The Times published
a full account Of other items which
have never been purchased through com
petition, including milk and cream
bread and many other necessary article;
OF food. In fact, the Commissioners. IL
looking back over the disclosures Of the
past two months, have grCIi difficulty in
remembering any single article which
has been advertised and competed for
unless the Property Clerk has beer
specifically instructed to that effect.
Contract Not Performed.
On top Of all this. Auditor Garrison
reported TO Commissioner West thi.
morning that the firm of Blum Brothers
whose apparent short measure dealing,
with the District were exposed exclu
siYely in The Times, had failed 10 per
form the contract which was awarded &,
them early in the summer. under tn,
protest OF the Commissioners. Auditor
Garrison recommends that no payment.
be made 70 The firm on account Of vouch
ers now held up in his office, until tn,
terms OF the contract shall have beer
complied with. Commissioner West Ia.
approved the recommendation