The Washington herald., 1909-07-25
WILLMAKENOAWARD
Library Lighting Not TO Be
Installed by Contract.
.sUPT. GREEN sILENCEs PROTEST
VIII Ask for Bids for Material and
Do Work by Day Labor TO Save
Money-EIectricaI workers Had
Protested 10 Taft Because No Bids
Had Been Advertised For.

The formal protest on behalf OF the
electrical workers Of this city sent TO
President Taft by John J. Purcell. bust
ness agent Of Local No. %. international
Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers OF
America. has lost its force through the
decision Of Superintendent Green. OF the
Library Of Congress, to purchase the
necessary materials in open market and
hire workmen 20 install the new Lighting
for the bOoSstacks IN the library
Mr.. Green made this announcement sat
urday evening. and stated that he would
at once advertise for proposals to fur
nish the material according TO usual Gus
tom. AS soon as this contract is awarded
and the goods received. he will employ
electricians and personally supervise the
work
During the past few days there has
been expressed a great deal OF dissatis-
faction with snpt Green's action in ask
INK FOR bids for the $4,000 lighting job at
the Library without advertising that the
contract was 70 be let. The result was
a formal protest drawn by John J. Pur-
cell and forwarded by him TO President
Librarian Herbert Putnam This pro-
test charged Mr.. Green with violation OF
the law IN not advertising for bids in
stead Of asking few firms, three OF
them located in New York. to submit
proposals.
Bids Too High.
Saturday. when seen by a Washington
Herald representative. Mr.. Green stated
that he asked for bids only as a prelimi-
nary measure. 90 test the market. and
that he was wholly within the law in so
doing. Furthermore. ne stated the bids
received were all too high, and he did
not intend TO award the contract to any
Of the bidders. claiming that he could
have the work done more cheaply by pur-
chasing the material and employing the
labor This method, he said, Is used by
him IN much Of the work done on gov
eminent buildings.
Later in the day he announced his de-
cision to adopt that course. for the sake
OF economy.
I am not satisfied with the pro-
posals in hand" said Supt. Green.
Il shall purchase the material IN the
open market and hire the men 10 do thu
work. In this way can save the gov
eminent a good sum- The Library Of
Congress. the War. State. and Navy
Building. and both Offices OF Congress
were built IN this way, and am now
building the new National Museum under
this system
Il shall advertise for bids for this ma
terial. ard every firm from here 10 the
Pacific Coast viii have an opportunity 20
-
shall also hire IN open market. and shall
probably need about fifteen men The
work Will be done entirely by day labor"
No Action Necessary.
In deciding 70 install the additional
lighting in the Library by this method. at
an estimated cost OF $15.eeO. Supt. Green
has made It unnecessary that any action
should be taken on the protest sent 10
the Librarian. He states that be Is
wholly within the bounds Of the law and
precedent in having the work done IN
such n manner. Washington contractors
VIII be afforded abundant opportunity 10
submit proposals for the material needed.
and positions on the force which will he
hired for the job are open 10 all the cleo
triciaas of the city on equal terms.
AS a result Of this turn OF affairs. Il IS
probable that the protest will be allowed
10 die an unofficial death and that moth
ing more win be done about the matter
by organized labor.