Evening star., 1909-06-22
.LAUNDR|ES IN CLASH
Cotton Charges ToIman Con-
Germ Is in a Combine.
MANAGER M'KENZIE DENIES
Prices on Government Work Raised
by Club.
EVIDENCE AT THE HEARING
District Commissioners Ignore EN-
pire Laurdry's Bid-Results in
Sensational Protest to Board.
EVIDENCE AT THE HEARING

Charges that an agreement exists be-
tween all but two or three of the 1aun-
dries Of the District by which bids put in
to the government departments are con-
trolled and contracts passed around were
vigorously made before the District Com
missioners during a public hearing this
morning. and a stanch denial was made
by man asserted 10 be connected WITH
the combine.
The hearing was in regard to a protest
made to the Commissioners by the En-
pire Laundry Company on account of
their decision to award the contract for
the Districts washing for the next fiscal
year beginning July 1 to the Tolman
Laundry.
When the bids for the work were
opened several weeks ago it was found
that there were only two bidders-the Toll
man and the Empire laundres. The bid
OF the Tolman was S1.SO1 higher than
that of the other The matter was re-
ferred to the District board of awards.
and after some consideration 1t recon-
mended that the contract be awarded to
the Tolman laundry. The Empire laun-
dry officials protested, and a public hear
ing was set for today.
Says Laundries Have Combined.
In presenting the case for the Empire
laundry Attorney Chapman W. Fowler
declared that there is a combination
among all but a couple of the local laun-
dries by which each laundry in the COM
bine is assigned to bid on the work in one
of the federal departments or the Dis
trict government. and laundry which is
thus assigned has exclusive right to bid
in the particular department. For in
stance, he declared the Tolman laundry
had the exclusive right among the laun-
dries in the alleged combine to bid on the
District work this year.
James s. Cotton, chief proprietor of the
Empire laundry declared that he was
formerly a member of the laundry COM
| bine, but that he was no longer connected
with it.
F. W. Mackenzie. manager OF the Toll
man laundry, denied that there is an
agreement between the laundry owners in
this city regarding government prices or
| contracts. He declared that when the
Tolman laundry put in its bid for the Dis
trict work this year he had no idea that
1t would be the only bid. except that put
in by the Empire laundry. He explained
that the laundry managers belonged to a
| club but claimed that there was no
agreement between its members.
why was Mr.. Cotton put out of the
club . =, Ens,neer En e ene;o Commissioner 'udson
Because he broke the rules" replied
Mr.. Mackenzie.
What rules?' asked the Commissioner.
| Mr.. Mackenzie replied, in general
way, that he did not know the details.
No Agreement, But Prices Raised.
| When questioned further regarding the
| alleged combine. Mr.. Mackenzie insisted
that there was no agreement regarding
prices or bids, but admitted that practi-
cally all the laundries had raised their
prices this year on government work.
| He declared there was no agreement to
do so.
As climax Attorney Fowler announced
that he was authorized to say that j.
| F. Broadbent of the Empire laundry will
prove to the satisfaction Of the Commits
sioners that a laundry combine does exist
in the District.
| Another feature OF the hearing was the
| charges and counter-charges regarding
offers Of money to the Empire Laundry
Company to withdraw Its protest against
| the awarding of the contract for the
District laundry to the Tolman company.
| Both Mr.. Cotton and Mr.. Broadbent of
| the Empire laundry told the Commits
sioners that a lauDdryman In the city
| told them that he was authorized to give
the Empire laundry 500 to withdraw the
protest and allow. the Tolman to get the
contract.
Wanted Cash to Withdraw Charges.
| In reply to the charge about which
| the Commissioners asked many questions,
Mr.. Mackenzie of the Tolman laundry
declared that this same laundryman had
called him up over the telephone and
said that Mr.. Cotton was willing to take
$500 to withdraw the protest at the Dis
trict building. The laundryman in ques-
| was not at the hearing.
| Speaking about the complaints against
the work of the Empire laundry during
the two years it held the contract for the
District. Attorney Fowler declared that
they were no larger in number than had
| been filed against other laundry COM
panies who had held the contract and
| whose work was regarded as satisfactory.
| 1t was also shown that the Empire laun-
! dry will get work for 1910 of the follow
| ing departments: War. Interior, Agricul-
| ture medical department of the army,
Fort Myer, Washington barracks, Marine
Corps headquarters. ordnance depart
ment. medical department. at the navy
yard. medical department OF the Marine