The San Francisco call., 1905-06-10
SAYS ROBERTS
HAS FAVORITES
E. B.. Dreyfus Alleges Post
office superintendent Is
Unfair to Contractors
"OUTSIDERS" DEBARRED
Washington Authorities Are
Asked to Make an Early
Investigation of Charge

E. B. Dreyfus. a member OF the Cal
ifornia Woodwork Company OF 400
Jackson street, has made complaint at
Washington against Superintendent Jo-
seph w. Roberts. Government officer In
charge of the erection of the new post
office building at Mission and Seventh
streets, alleging rank favoritism to-
ward certain contracting firms. 1t 10
charged that the official has discrim-
mated outrageousIy in favor Of a few
firms in opportunity TO make bids on
the furnishing of material, work and
labor on the structures under his con-
troll. and an investigation has been de-
manded.
Dreyfus claims that Roberts has ad-'
vertised in the papers for bids on only
one or two big jobs and that on all
others he has sent out circular letters
to the two or three favored firms.
which have consequently gained all the
work. Dreyfus is supported by many
other building contractors and they
have reported the state of affairs to
E. E. Robinson, private secretary OF
Assistant Treasurer Taylor OF Wash
ington, d. C. The latter has authority
over the superintendent of the new
postoffice, and these firms ask that
Robinson make a thorough investiga-
ton OF the dealings of Roberts with
regard to the admission of bids for
contract work.
WORK IN PROSPECT.
The request for an inquiry is made
at this time because of several new
contracts TO be let for the work on
the Appraisers building at Sansome
and Jackson streets. The offices or
the United States courts are to be
moved from this building into the new
postoffice. The customs Office will be
transferred TO the rooms left vacant by
the United States courts. The third
floor of the Appraisers building will
have to be remodeled and new parti-
tions and modern furniture put in 1t
is this Job, said to be worth about
$4,000, that the contractors desire to
have open to all bidders and not kept
within the reach of a few, says Drey-
fus in his complaint.
Secretary Robinson is staying at the
home of DR.. H. W. Allen at 1900 Wash
ington street. He has remained in this
city after his superior, Assistant Treas
urer Taylor. left for the Lewis and
Clark Exposition While he was not
at home yesterday afternoon and con-
sequently could not be seen. it is stated
on reliable authority that the object OF
his heightened visit here is the investi-
cation of the charges brought by the
contractors.
superintendent Roberts protested
yesterday that he knew nothing OF any
charges against him. He spoke freely.
however. of his method of obtaining
bids for the work that is done under
his supervision.
ROBERTS EXPLANATION.
II have been in charge of over $780,
900 worth of work" he satds "and out
of all this I only advertised in the
newspapers for bids once. That was
for a $4,000 job on the maintenance
OF the United States Mint The Gov
ernment requires that there shall be
competition in all work done for it, It
does not say how many firms shall be
asked to figure on the contract. but
leaves that to the discretion OF the su-
perintendent. Mind you. 1 don't award
the contract; merely get the bids and
send them forward to Washington. The
authorities there inform me whom they
have selected.
Most of the jobs are small. only
for a few thousand dollars. Do the
men of this city expect me to write
circular letters to all the carpenters
in the town? I am paid to do other
work. Whenever there is job to be
let 1 send a circular letter to two or
three reliable firms and they send in
their offers. / mail these direct TO
Washington. Sometimes 1 make rec
ommendation that certain party be
given the contract and sometimes do
not The result has been satisfactory
to me and / think that my superiors
have no fault to find with my methods
This complaint seems to me to be
merely the soreheadedness of parties
who expect me to come around to them.
Once I asked a lot of firms to make
bids and not half of them acknowl-
edged my letter. That finished them
with me-"
Around the customs offices the story
of the alleged favoritism has been
current for some time. No one there,
however, lays 1T to any definite source.
In the meantime Secretary Robinson
will quietly conduct an investigation
before his return to the East