Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-07
PAYMENT HELD UP
CHARGES AGAINST THE HART
FORD MANUFACTURING co.

Charges against the Hartford Manufac
turing Company OF Hartford, Conn, have
been submitted by the Postmaster Gen
eral to the Attorney General. Mr.. Bona
parte receiving the papers this morning
The company for a period Of almost thirty
years supplied the government Will
stamped envelopes, having recently los
its contract, which was awarded to tn,
Mercantile Company OF Dayton, Ohio
which bid $162, PSI less on an aggregate
OF about Ave millions andsa half.
1t is charged by the Post Office Depart
ment that the Hartford company has fol
a number of years been delivering to the
department envelopes made Of a papel
inferior to that specified in the bids.
At the Post ONCE Department it is said
that the first hint OF this alleged fraud
came from an 1nformer, ana that the
charge was investigated and the officials
satisfied that there were sufficient grounds
for putting the matter In the hands of the
Of Justice. A committee
from the Post Office. Department, con-
sisting Of c. B. Keene and E. H. Thorpe,
was put on the matter, and tests Wert
made In the bureau of chemistry OF tn
Agricultural Department. which. 1t Is
said, demonstrated that the paper was
below standard
Extent Of Company's Profit.
1t is calculated at the department that
If the charges are true. the Hartford
company profited to the extent Of $425. 600
There is now due to the company a pay.
ment of 1000, which is withheld pend.
ing the decision Of the Attorney General
The company is also bonded for $500 900
1t is also asserted by department Off
Gals that one OF the manufacturers WHIT
supplied paper to the Hartford company
declares that he supplied an inferior grade
in accordance with specific orders from
his customer, who accepted 1t, knowing Il
to be below standard.
Technically, It Is pointed out at the de-
partment. the government cannot be sale
to have suffered an actual loss In money
though It has undergone a potential loss
for If 1t had asked for bids on the inferior
grade OF envelopes said to have been sup
piled the estimates would have been below
the price actually paid. and the govern
ment might have saved even more thar
the $425, 900 which the Hartford compan,
Is said to have wrongfuIly gained.
Surprise to tho Company.
Hartford company, according to the fol.
lowing OSp6tCQ IeCeiteO SOOdJ IIOIu tn6l
city:
in regard to the report from Washing.
ton last night that Postmaster General
Meyer has Suspended the payment OF all
moneys due from the Post Once Depart
ment to the Hartford Manufacturing
Company Of this city on the ground tina,
the quality Of envelope paper furnished
the government was below the require.
ments Of the contract, General Manager
Charles Sloane Of the company today said
that 1t came as a great surprise to him
Mr.. Sloane said he had no Information
whatever that any charges had beer
brought against the company. As to the
specific charge that a paper Of a cheaper
grade than the contract required had
been used. he could deny that specifically
The paper used by the Hartford Manu-
featuring Company comes from the
Holyoke mills of the American Writing
Paper Company and the whiting Paper
Company. and. he said. is of a uniform
grade This paper Is inspected by the
government representative In a general
way, but not to the extent of chemical
analysis.
wrongfully benefited to the extent OF
$40, 900 during the last four years"