The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-09
OPEN 70 THE WORLD.
state Board win Not Limit Contracts
to Kansas.

Under the regime of the old state
board of charities, it was the invariable
rule that all supplies for state institu-
tions must be furnished by firms hav-
ing their headquarters in Kansas No
bids from firms outside the state were
received, except on the one commodity
OF meats.
A new rule was announced today by
the state board of control, or rather a
cancellation of the old rule. At the
letting OF state contracts on or about
December Is, 1906, bids will be solicited
from firms any place in the world; the
only restriction VIII be that in case of
the same prices fer goods OF equal
quality, Kansas bidders shall have tine
preference.
This new regulation is in accord with
the provisions OF the new law enacted
by the legislature of 1905. This law
saws:
The board OF control SHAH have no
right to show any favoritis1n or partial
ity in making such awards and con-
tracts, but shall be absolutely fair and
impartial; provided, that where both
the bids ana the quality of goods OF
fered are the same, preference shall be
given to resident dealers of this state -
The penalty for violation Of this pro-
vision is fine Of S100 to $500 and i'm
governor.
While this law does not specifically
require the board to ask for bids from
firms doing business outside the state,
it puts no obstacle in the way of such
BIDS being fled, and provides that such
bids must be considered impaFtially,
and be accepted If they are lowest.
On the front page CT the speci1ica-
tions which were sent out by the old
state board Of charities, the following
sentence appeared under the head of
instructions to bidders:
Bids ale solicited . from houses
whose principal place OF business is in
the state of Kansas"
So far as known, this rule was
strictly enforced With the exception OF
the bids on meats. Strictly speaking,
the bids on meats were received from
outside the state, though the bids were
submitted by agents Of the packing
cOmpanis who reside in the state.
1t is expected that the new rule will
have the effect Of materially increasing
the number of people who bid on the
furnishing of the state institutions with
supplies. It is regarded as possible
that the result viii be that Kansas
bidders will be almost forced out OF
the game. unless tie 5obbing houses
outside the state snfotect them. By
throwing open the doors, 1t might be
possible for the Chicago or st. Louis
jobbing houses to send their agents
here and capture all the best con-
tracts.
The business of supplying the state
for a period of six months is big
thing. It represents thousands of dol
lars. In some single items such as
sugar, flour, and dry goods staples. the
consumtion is immense. Just as al
example OF what vast quantities OF
supplies are consumed may be men
toned the 9,O00-bushel potato contract
which the board is about to award tc
somebody.
The members Of the state board oi
control seems to be heartily in favor
of the new plan. They say that it viii
have the eff , of reducing the price
on supplies quite materially in a goo6
many lines. It is intimated that the
Kansas merchants have been taking
advantage of the protective tariff tc
run up the price on some things by {
sort of combine They think that the
new law will smash the combine"
The secretary of the board. F. w
Knapp, is now at work preparing the
specifications for the supplies which
are needed. These specifications viii
be sent out soon to prospective bid
derS