The Washington times., 1903-09-02
A Citizen Asks Commits
SiOnerS the Reason
for This Fact.
PROPERTY CLERKS VIEW
Higher Price Is Due to
Greater Labor and Cost
of Delivery of Fuel.

''Why does the District government
have to pay s6.47 per ton for the same
grade of coal that is furnished the
House of Representatives for $569?"
why is it necessary for the District
government to lose rs cents per ton on
$4,000 tons. or $11.70O per annum?'
These questions are contained in a let
ter received this morning by the Com
missioners from R. Grace. of 224 E
Street northeast. Mr.. Grace proves that
his two questions are founded on fact.
and the truth is not disputed by either
Property Clerk Beckett or Superinten-
dent Of Property Simms, who have made
a report on the charges. The report is
signed by the superintendent of property
and property clerk. jointly. and says:
Property Clerks Explanation.
Relative to the attached letter of Mr.
Grace, concerning the award of con-
tract for supplying fuel to the District
for the present fiscal year. we would
state that 1t is not apparent 10 US that
any mistake has been made in the mat
ter of award. The contracts were
awarded at prices which compared ia
vorably with those bid to other depart
ments. Consideration must be given to
the fact that the deliveries for the Dis
trict are 10 be made at 200 OF more
different localities in the District, and
that the price bid covers the entire
year.
''On the other hand, the fact that the
House of Representatives is getting
comparatively small amount of fuel at
less price, does not necessarily indicate
that the District has made a disadvan-
tageous contract. The point of delivery
in the latter case is close to both rail-
roads and the dealer would consequently
make a better price for delivery on ac-
count of short haul to a known point.
than where he had to take into consid-
Grafton the delivery Of fuel at so many
scattered points. as is required in the
case of the deliveries of the supply for
the District.
Conditions of Delivery.
Ordinarily prices on a large amount
OF fuel should be lower than on a
smaller quantity, provided all condi-
tions of delivery were the same. AS
previously stated. such is not the case
when comparison is made between the
supply for the House of Representatives
and that for the District. Furthermore
IL is believed that when consideration is
given TO the unsettled condition OF the
coal market. bidder would perhaps
on a small quantity of fuel, than on an
extremely large quantity, as IL is un-
doubtedly a fact that bidders who sub
mitted proposals in May of the present
year had necessarily to take into con-
sideration the possible future huctua-
tions in the price of fuel, and the best
Information obtainable at the time re-
ferred to indicated that there was
strong likelihood of a rise in prices.
THE bids which the Commissioners
accepted were given careful consider
alton with a view 10 determining the
question of accepting the most advan-
tageous to the District. considering the
liability OF the contractor, quality OF
fuel to be obtained. and character of
service likely to be furnished.
No Reason for Annulling Contracts.
after carefully considering all of
these questions. and the submitting Of
the bids 70 the board o: awards OF the
United States Treasury Department,
which board passed favorably upon the
recommendation made TO the Commits
sioners, the contracts were awarded with
the belief that the best interests o. the
District had been served.
The contracts have been formally |
executed. and deliveries o. fuel are be- |
ing made under the same. II is not con- !
sidered that there Is any reason for |
annuiling same. or that legal authority !
exists so TO do. Criticism as 10 whether /
the contracts as awarded have been ad- |
yantageous or not can be more intelli- /
gently made at the completion OF said |
contracts than at the present time