Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-19
QUIyBY OBJECTS TO BIDS
Small Printer Thinks Oity's Methods Ar,
Hot Fair TO All.
SAYS REAL COMPETITION IS s1RASsltD
Ia Constderine Plan of Appeal
ins to the Council for RE-
dress from what he
Terms Grievance.

l.. j. Quinby. a member of one of the two
small printing firms that tried unruccess-
fully to get whack at some of the city
printing, declares the bidding blanks sup
piled by the city are misleading and calcu-
lated to strangle true competition. He
points out that despite the fact a general
estimate is made on the blanks of the total
estimate required OF each particular item,
bids are required for smaller specified quan-
tities--per 100. 500 or 1000 as the case may be.
Unless a printer is thoroughly familiar
with the city's needs and knows about how
much Of the quantities will be required
during the year he must bid as though the
less amount was all he was expected to
furnifh." said Mr.. ouinby. IF the items
arc ordered by small quantities the price
charged would have to be on this basis,
whereas IL the eutire estimate were calcu-
lated large reductions would be possible.
II would he the difference between setting
up the matter several times a year or
once year, and anyone knows the differ
ence means dollars and cents"
Not Decided ON Action.
Mr.. ouinby inserted his price on the total
estimates as against the small quantitie,
and In q number Of cases his figures are
decidedly low. He has not decided whether
to carry the matter before the council OF
not.
City Clerk Elbourn prepared the blanks
He procured estimates from the different
departments. These estimates say nothing
whatever about graduating the supply dur
ing the year or In any way limiting re-
ceipt OF the whole amount asked for. The
so much per quantity system was car.
ried out by Mr.. Elbourn and he says Il
has been the custom at the city hail fol-
years. He further says he called upon q
prominent member of the printers unior
to inspect the blanks and this member SEN
man to the city hall who pronounced
them all right.
How Cuts Are Possible
Mr.. ouinby points out that under tn,
form OF blanks used a printing firm havin,
intimate knowledge of the requirements a
the city hall could by this fact under biz
any competition. In this connection II wal
noted that the Klopp & Bartlett company
which has had the city printing for years
made remarkable cuts under their forme,
figures in many instances. One Of tn,
sharpest reductions was on an item de
scribed as 1000 afffdavits, corporation. To-
petitions, per 1000" The new figure wa
H.D, the old one s. As against this To-
the item described as 1900 afidavits, in
dividual, for petitions, per 100" the new
igure is a.35 against IS cents.
Mr.. ouinby says his firm is not backe,
by the printers union. as was reported
Penfold Explains the BID.
In this letter addressed to Tho Bee. II
j. Penfold. for II. ]. Penfold & Co., saws
In your issue OF last evening I find TN
following as regards the bids called FOR var
ious supplies by the city: =
a peculiar feature Of the bidding was tn
TACT that Klopp- Bartlett submitted promo
sails Tor chemicals, lsbratory apparatus an,
drugs. and In many instances were the Low
beg to say that Mr.. Kiopp called upo,
us and asked us to make a bid on mathe
lnatical supplies for the city engineers dc
partment. which we agreed TO do, as w
rave the largest line Of this stock in thi
city. He left us set OF blanks as issue,
by the city clerk, amongst which we fo,In,
large list of chemical supplies drugs an,
chemicals. We called up Mir. Klopp ana toi,
him that We were In a position to make a bi,
on the entire list. and II he was willing w
would simply complete the bid as far as GU
stocks are concerned, which would make hi
bid TO the city complete. II we were IN
lowest he could assign TO us that part OF tn
contract OF which we had the stock and W
would giyo bond to the city for the faith
full carrying out of the contract
We write this to relieve klopp-B Bartlett 4
Co Of any embarrassment that might aris
TO them, for as far as we are concerne
the bid Is straightforward, and we ar
perfectly willing TO supply the city wit
any goods upon which our figures are tn
lowest at any time they may wish the sur