New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-09
TO HOLD UP CONTRACT.
Appeal to President to Stay A7c0r0
of Mr.. ShOnts.

The award OF the contract for conducting notes
commissary stores and boarding camps aione =,
line OF the Panama Canal by Chairman SINUS
the Isthmian Canal Commission to j. H. MA NJ.
-, o,,,ba Nah last Thursday has brought a
vigorous protest TO President Roosevelt py 'ii0 "
successful bidders ..,s
The firm OF Hudgins & Dumas. who formerly ~
the restaurant privilege at Ellis Island anu 49,
Balfe & Co. the present holders OF .ne
were the only competitors besides MAIN ~,
potb err,s maintain that their bids were MOI
nronerIv considered and have appealed u mo
President to direct Mr.. Shonts to witnou tiie g."
to Markell which they consider an irresuai ~ =,
ceeding The contract, which Is ror lSe yeas
valued at &0,000o00 .,o,
Hudgins & Dumas declare that an entire Sen ~,
of their hid consisting of a sample of week Oil
of fare to be served to the American empose.
the isthmus, was incorporated bodily III TIE oi'
Markell. .h.,-
Thev further insist that after presenting their
h,a tha, reoa,ved a letter from Mr. Shonts In
which he intimated that their figures were TOO 10"
and presented a number Of conditions hol iie
toned in the draft of the proposed contract Oh
which the bids were based . 4.
The unsuccessful bidders further declare lhd'
this information sent to them at o'So p, IN.
last Wednesday, with orders from MI Snohts
secretary demanding reply by p. m
Hudgins Dumas assert that. after deductihs
the time for typewriting, they had only ten HIN
utes in which to revise their bid
The following telegram was sent TO fresioen'
Roosevelt on Thursday by Hudgns & Dumas;
In the public interest earnestly appeal 70 you
TO direct the chairman of the lsthmian Canai ON :,
mission to withhold the award TO j. b. MaIhe.,, "
hotels boarding camps and commissary stores on
the Isthmus of Panama These concessiohs aie ~
important of the kind ever granite, Ds es
United States government. involving pus,,ie
which IL is estimated, will aggregate the enormous
$50 900 600 for the term Of the contract this
Circumstances connected with the awarolns " e c
privilege seem TO indicate collision. one entlre SCI
ton of our bid having. as We discoVeIeo ~ -LeI
wilma farda heen credited T.
as an original production. while the precipltahcH
with which bids were called for. Wlthout ~, puu ra
advertisement and with no regular time SCI io OF the
bidders, warrant US in the assumption ma a pfr
disposition existed to award the contracS 10 ort
Markell and that other considera1lolls "ete 'o'
feed this end. ~. r.,sa,.
In placing this matter before you, MI Presioent.
specifically waive any claim 70 ,n neTent the
contamination of what we deem an lrregulas ~, Ne
ceedng, and in furtherance OF TINS PGrpose our
have, by advice OF counsel formally Wlthord"H Jul
bid in a letter to Chairman Shonts.
H Balfe in his telegram to the President, said;
of the Panama privileges and concessions rumoIso
awarded Mr.. Markell by Chairman Shonts OF tne
lsthmian Canal Commission
After sending these telegrams the competitors
forwarded letters to Mr.. Shonts, withdrawing 1heir
bids AS it is customary that at least TWO plas
shall be submitted for government contracts
IIudgens g. Dumas and H Balfe & Co believe
award They believe that the question Will De TO-
opened. ..za.r hoe for roarv
wears conducted many railway eating places ~
the West ana has furnished food FOR armies ol
in the construction OF the Wesresn ra snsnf a
month on the isthmus in July looking over the
ground and devising system for the furnishing
Of healthful food to the employees OF the govern