New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-09
BIDS THROWN OUT.
Ellis Island Contracts Mag Be Lost
Through InformaIities.
Iron TIE TRIBUNE BuREAu.


Washington May S.-The proposal of the
lowest bidder for the restaurant privilege at
Ellis Island has been thrown out by order Of
the Secretary OF Commerce and Labor. Louis
Frankel, the unlucky maker of the bid. failed
to comply with the specifications of the depart
uent. Instead of accompanying his bid, as
directed. with a certified check for $500 ION a
national bank" he handed to the Commissioner
General Of immigration a check for the REQUIRED
sum on a New-York trust company. No one
at the bureau contends that this check is not
as good as any of the others submitted, but the
specifications called for a national bank check,
and to be consistent and at the same time
within the rules laid down by the Secretary
Acting Chief Larned, of the immigration Blu
reau, obliged to recommend that it be
thrown out Mr.. Frankel called at the de-
partment to-day and made an urgent plea for
a more favorable ruling, but received no en-
courag cement and went away in a dismal frame
Of mind. He intimated that he would take I'D
the subject with Representative Goldfogle and
would probably return with him to argue the
case with Secretary Netcalf before the end of
the week.
The restaurant privilege which Frankel seems
destined to lose through a piece of careless
is by all odds the most important conces-
sion in the gift Of the government at Ellis ISL
and. No one except the men who have enjoyed
the three years contracts seems to be able to
tell just what 1t is worth, but it is estimated
that with the present tremendous immigra ton It
ought to net the contractors anywhere from
$4,000 to 500, 900 year. according to the
economy with which they conduct the bust
ness.
A high official at the bureau to-day said that
he personally saw the receipts Of one of the eat
ing rooms count up 81 800 the close OF a single
days business.
"One boy who sold cigarettes, cigars and sand
witches from basket brought in $4S on the dav
that I was there" said this official. 80 you can
understand why there's something Of a scramble
for the contract"
Frankers bid was not the only one thrown
out. On the day that the proposals were
opened, two envelopes reached the office OF
Commissioner General Sargent at 1920 a. m
just half an hour later than the time set nv
the advertisements for the closing of bids When
opened these envelopes were found to contain
bids for the restaurant privilege, but Commits
sioner General Sargent refused to receive them
These bids were sent from New-York by regis
tered mail Had they been sent under special
delivery stamp they would have reached the
office well ahead of the time specified. An
other bid from New-Yorl5, and it is believed 10
be one of the lowest for the same privilege han
q narrow escape from similar fate. The CON
tractors had taken the precaution. however OF
employing a local man to look after their In
terests and he called at the Immigration Bu
shortly after o'clock on the eventFnI
morning 70 make sure that their bid was In the
hands OF the Commissioner General
Il don't believe that 1t has come yet" said
the clerk in answer to his questions. The agent
thereupon made flying trip TO the postofiice
dug the important envelope out OF the box
where II was resting, and had 1t hustled IN 70
the department by special messenger