The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-09
Secretary Root Issues Order to
Stop Congressional Jobbery in
Government Contracts.
0UTGR0WTH OF LlTTAUER CASE
Members of Both Branches of Con
gress Prohibited From Going Sc
curity for Contractors Supply
ing Material for ArIny,
REPUBLIC SPECI.,L

REPUBLIC SPECIAL ,---.i...
Washington July s.-Secretary Root has
taken aggressive action to bar out con-
gressionai jobbers. seeking army supply con-
tracts in behalf of constituents or firms and
corporations in which they have pecuni-
airy interest
The first step in this direction is an order
just issued by Secretary Root which pre-
vents members of Congress from signing
bonds or security for GnrerHment contract
ors. This sweeping reform contemplated at
the War Department is directly due to the
Littauer case.
Secretary Root Is thoroughly aroused by
the results of the Llttauer investigation. 1t
is not unlikely that the scope of the inves-
tigation will be extended TO determine if
there are any ether contracts on file in the
office of tine Quartermaster General in
which members of Congress were Interested
Colonel E. A. Darlington. Inspector Gen
eral of tie Department of the East, ar
rived here to-day. and was in conference
with Secretary Root this morning. Inspect
or General Burton and Judge Advocate
General Davis were also called into the
council. Inspector Darlington was given
full authority to conduct the investiga-
ton. and will also examine witnesses in
this city and New York.
Inspector General Burton has been as
signed to other work by the Secretary of
War. and the investigation, therefore. will
be under the personal direction of Colonel
Darlington. who will also go to Phila-
deiphia. where the lyon bid was received
TO New York and probably also to Giovers-
VILE.
CONGRESSIONAL JOBBERY.
But the most important development to-
day was the determination of War Depart
ment officials to make an end 10 congress
sional jobbery in the award of army bids.
During sessions of Congress the Secretary
of War. the Quarternaaster General and 9th
er executive officials are daily bcsieged by
Senators and Representatives seeking to
push through contracts in behalf of their
constituents. Not infrequently the msm-
bers of Congress appear in behalf of job
bers and manufacturers of army supplies
in which they have financial interest. and
very often the jobber may be only straw
man so to conceal the member of Con-
gress who is interested.
A notable instance of such undue influence
exerted by members of Congress is afford
ed by the bids for the material TO be used
in the Cleveland public building. This is
Maine granite and Ohio sandstone and the
granite bid was ssOs.00o less than that for
The Ohio sandstone: Senator Hanna APP
peared In behalf of the bid presented by
the Cleveland stone company, of which
Representative Jacob A. BeidIer of Ohio
: is president, and which provided sandstone.
Secretary: Roots sEdeE Restraining mem,
or going security for contractors supplying
material for the army, is regarded as the
FIRST OF series which IRE offended TO put
an efectual stop to congressional Influence.
Under Secretary Root, awards have been
recommendations of officials of the Quar-
termaster Generals Department, who were
best trained to determine the character of
the bids and securities. Despite this un-
VARYING policy, Senators and congressman
have endeavored to use their influence TO
nave rejected bidders given new hearing.
EXAMINING LYoNs's PAPERS
This has been practice for many years
and 1t was against this evil that the old
law af 1893 was aimed, but had fallen into
disrepute and become dead letter in later
administrations. Secretary Root neverthe-
less proposes to have the spirit and letter
OF this law obeysd A modification OF the
law provided that there was no objection to
q member of Congress becoming hondsmen
was given this law lately. 1t is held that IL
the contractor or jobher falls down on his
contract the law provides that the person
Signing his bond should fill the contraci.
This would make member of Congress
supply directly to the War Department.:
Inspector General Colonel Darlington be-
gan the examination of the records OF the
sfss hs toby
rotary Root. =
II cannot as yet make any statement as
TO what nay report will be to the Secre-
tsry," said Ceionel Darlington to-day. at
Is an inyiolahie rule in cases like this that
any results may be directly conveyed to the
Secretary