The Washington times., 1905-02-18
TRUCK GARDENER
APPEALS To SENATE
Lost Money on Vegetables
for Government.
PRICE WENT UP TOO FAST
Had to Feed the Tars According to
Contract, and Is Out Cash in
Consequence.
PRICE WENT UP TOO FAST

George Bauer. vegetable seller, comes
to the august Senate praying for relief.
His appeal and its Endorsements now
make a pamphlet of twenty pages, and
the end is not in sight.
One is reminded Of the young minister
who, receiving his first salary check,
carried 1t to the bank.
You will have to ildorse this" said
the paying teller.
Whereupon the young divine. rather
puzzled, took the check and wrote across
the face Of it:
az respectfully subscribe to all the SEN
timents herein expressed"
Simple Truck Gardener.
Mr. Bauer dwel1s in peace with his
leeks and lettuces in the prosperous lit
tie town OF Warrington, Fla. The sim
pie life OF a truck gardener has biunted
his mind fer the exact niceties of Gov
eminent contracts.
1t occurred to him in his simplicity
that it would be a desirable thing to
sustain and strengthen the naval forces
of the United States by furnishing fresh
vegetables to The crews of such war
ships as might come to the Pensacola
navy yard. Hence Senate bill 6717, for
the relief of George Bauer"
The eager gardener entered INTO the
plies and Accounts and SECURED a con
tract which called for 300 pounds;
more or less of vegetables at IA
cents a pound, but reserved to the
Government the right to exact at the
same price a greater or a smaller guam
tity as the needs of the public service
might require
Prices Go Up.
The diligent Mr.. Bauer. to meet Of
fetal demands made upon him, deliv-
cred under this contract 1903 pounds
OF vegetables an excess of us. s43
pounds over the quantity specified
Owing to rise in prices, the actual
cost to him of this excess was 25S66
cents a pound, or 0.S366 cents pound
more than the contract prlee.
Mr. Bauer has come after this Differ
euce which represents his loss his
claim for relief does not appear 10 pc
one that the executive braneh OF the
Government has the authority to ad-
lust or upon which he can recover
through the courts.
The Navy Department is OF the opinion
however. that he is equitably entitled 70
reimbursement for the loss he SUFFERED
amounting IN all to s921.66, and recon-
mends the enactment of a measure for
his relief
Knows a Lot Now.
The honest gardener had an instruc-
tive course in departmental procedure
before he secured this recommendation
of the worthiness of his claim
He made his contract in May, 1903. and
IN March of the following year wrote to
the Bureau Of Supplies ana Accounts re,
questing its consideration ana aaVl l
BECAUSE the increase in the price OF veg
etables, due to the severe winter Weath-
err entailed a heavy loss upon him Inc
bureau responded impersonaily lhat as
there was nothing in his letter TO moi
cate the existence of unusual conditions,
IL was unable to grant any relief
Ten days later poor Bauer, IKE the
no
elephant hay, telegraphed that he haa
delivered about three times the quantity
of yegeta bles specified in his contract
and desperately declined to make fur
Their deliveries. lie could not raise veg
etables as fast as the men-of-war men
could eat them.
Entitled to Relief.
The bureau presented dry recital or
the facts to Secretary Morton. who re-
specially referred tie case to the judge
advocate general for consideration. That
learned officer respectfully returned it to
the department, with mis- opinion that
the busy vegetable grower was clearly
entitled to relief.
Mr. Darling, as Acting Secretary, re-
spectfully forwarded tt4e papers to the
bureau, asking for q report as TO the
amount Of the claim. The bureau sent
it TO the commandment of the navy yard
at Pensacola, SuEg eStiDg that Bauer be
required to submit his books showing the
total quantity of Vege1 ables delivered on
account OF the contract. the actual cost
of the vegetables fuI lished, and the
market prices prevailing at the time.
The commandment Of the navy yard
turned over the responsibility to the
general StorekeepeT. and to that minor
funetionary Mr.. Bauer dutifully made
report, showing to the fourth decimal
the cost and prevailing prices of pota-
toes, cabbages, onions. and assorted
vegetables" He prepared statistical
tables showing the quantities delivered
during each month, and to each vessel,
and affidavits from produce dealers Civ
ing market prices.
With a humble and contrite heart Mr.
Bauer now besieges the outer portals
of the Treasury for the return Of 1922. sc,