The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-21

Aroused by his failure 10 secure n
binding contract awarded by the coun-
ty commissioners at their meeting yes
terday morning, E. A Moeller. of the
hrm of Z. A Moeller & Co., bookbind-
ers, directly charged Commissioner
Pottgieser with showing favoritism I'm
awarding contracts for county binding
and printing
Bids for repairing and binding work
In the county abstract office were be-
Ing considered when Mr.. Moeller made
his sensational charges.
The contract awarded was for S1S725.
Mr.. Moeller came before the board
prepared to make a bid of $1sS. He
had not seen the specifications, the
same beiDg withheld by Commissioner
Pottgieser. and determined to, il pos
sible, secure a portion of the county
work, brought with him an attorney.
Denied the right TO inspect specifi-
cations, Mr.. Moeller and his attorney
secured the attention of the board long
enough to make the charges.
Pottsieser Admits Barring Man
Commissioner Pottgieser admitted
that Mr. Moeller had been denied the
right to bid. declaring that the book
binder had opposed him on several oc-
casions and had worked against him
during election, and that he would
never be able to do business with any
committee the commissioner was conf
nected with.
Mr.. Pottgieser. when seen by T h e
G 10 b e last night declared that as a
public official he had always done his
duty, and that If he found any evil
dence of combination of printers and
binders to secure county work, they
would never secure any county work
from him. He declared that the law
did not require the board to advertise
for bids, and that when he wanted
bids he telephoned to the people he
wanted to put in bids and gave them
the specifications, and that when the
bids were received, the lowest bid put
in by any responsible firm was favor
ably recommended to the board OF
county commissioners.
MoeIIer Makes His Charges
E. A. Moeller's denunciation of the
methods employed by the commission
er in withholding specifications for
work to be done from any firm not in
the printing ring provoked heated
discussion.
Directing his remarks at Comrnis-
sioner Pottgeiser. Mr.. Moeller said:
81 have been unable to get the specifi-
cations in the contract which is to be let
BY this board today for the rebinding and
repairing OF number of books and plats
In the abstract Office. And further tina Il
that when personally inspected the books
to ascertain just what work was TO be
done and announced my Intentions OF put
ting in bid. ] was offered $40 to with
hold my bid.
Commissioners Pottgieser and Nash.
at this statement, simultaneously in
quired who he was making this at
tempted bribery charge against.
Mr.. Moeller replied that it was not
directed at any commissioner. but that
the offer had been made by repre-
sentative of the printers ring"
Commissioner Pottgiese- said that
he knew nothing of any printers ring
securing any county work, but If there
was such a combination IL would give
him pleasure to break 1t.
Pottqieser Admits Charge
The charge made by Mr.. Moeiler that
he was unable to secure specifications
was admitted by Commissioner Pott-
gieser. who gave as his reason for
Withholding them the fact as he stat
ed it:
That this man has showed his ami
mostly towards me on several occa-