The Washington herald., 1908-01-07

AAAa W h-F1hAEs
The Washington Herald stated last sun
/ day morning. on the authority of a rep
/ Iresentative Of well-knOwn manufactur-
/ ing firm, that this representative had
found it impossible to learn, in the in
stance of a bid amounting to more than
$4,000, when. where. and by whom the
/ bids would be opened.
! The letters above given, which are, per
haps, not quite self-explanatory, do. how
ever. tend TO fully confirm d statement
which hardly needed it. Mr.. Stulings said
/ that the purchase Of binders. loose
+ leaves, &c, not being made in open mar
/ ket purchase" "the line stating that bids
will be opened at certain times" is not
filed in
The representative who was quoted on
Sunday about difficulties he had encoun-
| tered in submitting bids to the Govern
ment Printing Office, said also that il is
usual in case bids are requested from
other government departments for that
department TO aid the bidders by sending
with its proposition" a sample OF set Of
specifications.
The firm now being considered. through
one of its officers. in one Of the letters
given above, suggested that lin all cases
where it IS necessary to send samples or
specifications to bidder, we will either call
at the Office and inspect such samples or
specifications or make note Of same. and
return Immediately to your Office" &c.
This same firm, through one of its officers.
said yesterday that in cases in which it
received proposition from another gov
eTnment department. samples or specifica-
IL.
all opportunities TO make q fair estimate
on their bid.
Mr.. Stillings said that ''thls Office has
considered this matter from all points Of
view, and find that our present method IS
best adapted to facilitate transaction Of
government business"
Different on the Inside.
Tt appears that after Mr.. Stillings has
asked an outside f1Tm-of course. if The
Audit System, which is in the building.
wanted TO bid it might, by some stretch
Of the imagination. see some samples or
speci1catiOns-he affords it no opportu-
nifty to see a sample or a specification.
Not only does Mr.. Stillings practically
refuse 10 send this necessary adjunct 10
intelligent bidding. bat he intimates when
he answers a proffer of a personal visit
for this very purpose, by saying that the
present method is best adapted to IA
cilitate transaction of government busi-
ness" that It VIII not do a bidder much
good to take the trouble to go down to
the Government Printing Office to look
into the matter of proposals ia person.
In other words, Mr.. Stillings seems con
tent with the way he is running the
Government Printing Office. and all bid
ders on open market purchases" are to
be left in the dark as to the exact ma
teTial required.
Is the present method part Of the
work Of The Audit System?
Does The Audit System ever manage
TO learn what is required by the Public
Printer. so that it can bid successfully?
Is The Audit System losing money
on contracts with the government? one
of Mr. Stillings' friends said that il was
losing money" on its work for the gov
eminent
Is it possible for any one TO get in
bid, and receive satisfactory aid in max
ing an estimate, on material which The
Audit System can possibly furnlsh9