The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-02
HERMAN GETS PLUM
SECURES CONTRACT FOR PRINT
 ING MONEY ORDER BLANKS.
Assistant Attorney General Robb Holds That His Bid Was Made in Good Faith and is Satis-
 factory to Government.

Washington, July 1.-Postmaster Gen. eral Payne today awarded the contract for printing the money order blanks of the government to Paul Herman. of Rutherford. N. J.
 Mir Herman was the lowest of fourteen bidders and the award of the contract, which involves the payment of between $3Oo,OO0 and $35O;o0O during the next fiscal year, will effect a saving of nearly A. 900 in the four years contract
 Herman's bid was opposed by the pres ent contractors. the Wynkoop-Hallen- back-Crawford Company of New York and by the United Typothetae of Ameri- ca. Superintendent Metcalf. of the money order bureau. was dismissed some days ago on the charge of indiscretion in seeking the withdrawal of Herman as a bidder in favor of the present contrac- tor.
 At a final hearing before the Postmas- ter General today. Herman furnished an affidavit that he had been employed by the present contractors for nearly ten years and had no idea of competing with them when he left their employ, which he said was before the specifications were taken up. He made search for work and says that he concluded he had been practically blacklisted in the trade and thereupon decided to start out for him self on a financial backing proffered by an intimate friend. He submitted other evidence that he has not directly or i'm directly assigned any interest whatever in the contract.
 He testified that the firm which object cd tn hf1 A1 re-employ him after the bids had been opened at an increased salary, provided he would withdraw his bid, which offer he rejected. MT. Hallenbeck, Herman said. offered him, if he would withdraw " his bid. $60 a week and a large part of 25 per cent of the net profits of his busi- ness. which he would guarantee to be at least $5,0O0 year. in addition to his sal ary. He said Mir. Tooker, of the Metro politan Printing Company. offered to pay him 5000 if he would agree to execute the contract in that establishment, and let them share in the contract and to make contract for five years to pay him $1OO per week salary. These propositions he rejected.
 The award to Herman was based on an opinion by Assistant Attorney General Robb. holding that Herman's bid was made in good faith, that he has sub COhpllCu WltH every COnQlLlOn prescribed in the specifications. and to disregard the bid upon the objections raised would be against both reason and sound public policy. MT. Robb held that Herman's bid is in regular form and that Herman Is exceptionally qualified so far as mechanical ability is concerned, to execute the contract.
 After reciting Herman's financial re- sponsibility. MT. Robb said the conten- ton that the law contemplates that a bidder lat the time of the bid shall be competent, with reasonable plant and capital. to perform the contract" would stitie competition and defeat the spirit and letter of the law. The specifications, he added. do not contemplate that the bidder should be already equipped with the plant Congress. he holds. obviously intended that the contract should be awarded to the lowest bidder unless there were good and sufficient reasons for dis regarding his bid.
 The New York company. by today's award. lost the contract which 1t has held sixteen years.
 Both Herman and a delegation from the Typothetae were given hearings be- fore the Postmaster General today. at which all sides of the question were dis cussed.
 Postmaster General Payne today issued an order abolishing the position of physi- clan in post offices at the close of busi- ness June 30.