New-York tribune., 1908-01-07
BIG FRAUDS ALLEGED.
TWO MEN INDICTED.
Graft IN Bureau of Engraving and
Printing CHARGED.

Washington. Jan. 6.-Allegations of fraud and
graft IN supplying the bureau Of engraving and
printing with black dry color used in the man
ufacture Of ink. resulted to-day in the indict-
rnent by the federal grand jury here of Edwin
NJ Van Dyck. formerly chemist and ink maker
employed in the bureau. and Victor G. Bloede
president Of the Victor G. Bloede company. of
Baltimore. manufacturers of black dry color
Van Dyck and Bloede are charged in the in
dictments with conspiracy to defraud the gov
ernrnent- the allegation being that they entered
into an agreement by which Bloede was to pay
Van Dyck percentage Of the money his COM
pany received from the government for the
black dry color furnished 10 the bureau OF en-
craving ard printing
Van Dyck. IT is alleged. in his position as
chemist and ink maker of the bureau had to
pass upon the samples of the color submitted by
various manufacturers. 1t is charged that ne
fraudulently favored the Baltimore company
and that as a result OF the conspiracy he re-
ceived from BIoede in the course of several
years between $4,000 and $4,000
Bioede was TO cause his company each year
II is alleged. to submit bids 10 the bureau of
engraving and printing to furnish hard black
for the next ensuing is - xear When samples
were submitted they wo-r9 be referred to Van
Dyek. as chemist and ink maker, for practical
test This test, it is stated was conducted by
u.
they would report the director of the bureau
OF engraving and printing what sample was the
best and what ratings the other samples should
have
A committee would then examine the vari-
Gus bids. together with these reports of the
tests, and. relying on Van Dyck's reports would
recommend that the contract for the purchase
Of hard black be made to that bidder whose
sample had been so reported to be the best.
II is charged that pursuant TO this conspiracy
the Bloede Company submitted several bids
each year from the spring Of 1901 until 1905
The rating Of 100 was given TO the Bloede
sample every year, except one, when ii was
rated at IS. the highest mark given that year
The Indictment also charges that the con-
tracts were each year awarded TO the Bloed7
Company, and that that company from July
l 1901 10 July l 1906 furnished to the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing the hard black used
there, which averaged about 225000 pounds
year al the rate Of IS cents pound.
The indictment purports 10 give details Of
the transaction between Van Dyck and Boede
as 70 payments made by the former 1t appears
that Van Dyck received his commission in the
form of checks which. after being indorsed, he
would return the Bloede Company and re
ceive in lieu thereof New York drafts.
Attorneys for Van Dyck and Bloede ap-
peared before Justice Stafford to-day and agreed
10 $4,000 bail each. The attorneys asserted
that the indictments were of technical nature.
and that the alleged fraud did not necessarily
involve q loss 10 the government They asserted
that the bureau received the best color obtain
able, at price ten cents less a pound than
il had paid prior to the letting Of contracts to
the Bloede Company.