New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-29
ONLY ONE BID FOR COAL.
Aftempt to Make Political Capital
against Secretary O'Brien Fails.
IBE TELEGRAPH 10 THE TR1BUxn.l

ibG TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNAL
A1oany' Oct 2S.-One OF the eleventh hour stories
sent cut by the Democratic campaign bureau ac.
cuses the fiscal supervisor OF favoring the Dock
ana Coal Company Of Plattsburg as a contractor
Tor state charitable institutions. and points out
mat TINS company furnishes coal to the State Hos
County
The Dock and Coal Company furnishes coal to
me institution at Ray Brook. and to no other State
charitable institution. Bids for coal for this nsti-
tuition were advertised for. blank proposals were
sent out to twentyone OF the largest coal compa-
MES and extra copies OF the specifications were sent
70 Ihe superintendent Of the institution to be sent
10 any one he saw At The result OF all this ad-
Vertising was one bid. All this was last April In
June after the institution announced that no other
BIDS could be secured. q contract was recommended
with the Dock and Coal Company at s. 20 a gross
ton.
Three months later. on September 10 Howard
Townsend president OF the board Of Of the
Kay Brook institution. wrote to DR.. Pryor, the
superintendent. that he would not sign the con
tract he did not like the form OF contract ano
because John 3. OBrien. the Secretary of State
was member OF this company. This letter was
forwarded to the Fiscal Supervisor Of State Char
tiles, who replied that the board Of trustees had
the power 70 prepare specifications as il saw fit
and that it was immateriAl to the department
where coal was purchased Nothing further was
heard from this institution on the subject Of coal
until October s. when estimate was submitted
y III <Fyor 1or Two hundred tons OF pea coal
at s. %.
When this estimate was received the Fiscal Sec
tetary wrote to DR.. Pryor: please inform the
department why you estimate at s. 30 a ton when
you have figure at "a 10" Dr. Pryors reply was
saSt contract at this price Ga 70 was ever
Upon this statsnent DR.. Pryor was allowed to
suf1clenf coal to keep his patients COM
LoI L1ple until such time the board OF trustees
could take up the matter Of coal CONTRACT and
sstue X The next heard from this institution on
me subject Of coal was October Il when letter
mat Attorney General Cunneen had informed
crescent townsend that the board OF trustees had
since April q which was binding and that the
SO1Iapany eolld De held 10 furnish coal at 81 70.
A + y eAtsnslVe correspondence on this subject
- the once OF the Fiscal Supervisor which skoWs
nFst. n letter from President Townsend that he
reused 10 sign the contract for COAL next in a
letter from Superintendent Pryor that no contra CT
for coal was executed: next in letter from Super
intendent Pryor. that ATTORNEY General C,unneen
stated that there had been coal contract in force
recommended the making Of a contract under dis
cnsslon- No contract however, has been fled with
i me Slsea4 supervisor for approval required by
To The Tribune representative who called upon
aim Today MI Bender saids You at liberty to
see al OF the correspondence this subject II you
wish: think you viii find it so explicit as not TO
require any statement from me-"
The Tribune last night received the following dis
patch, dated Plattsburg, from John F. O'Brien
Secretary OF State:
do not personally sell any coal. but the Dock
and Coal Company, OF which member, are
the selling coal agents for the Delaware and Hud-
son Railroad. and such sell coal TO the trade
Contrast my position with that OF George Hale
Democratic candidate for Controller. who is now
the beard OF managers.