The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-08
HAVE
HOT DISCUSSION
OVER STATIONERY
Excessive Prices Alleged to
Have Been Charged County
Arouses Bitter Comment.
SURROGATE RUSSELL
TELLS OF REJECTION
Explains Why He Turned Back
Sheets of Paper Sent to
His Office for Use.

IT am just as honest as you are,'
declared FreehoIder Ahner to Chairman
Winslow, of the stationery committee
of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. in
the Court House yesterday. in replying
to allegations which he said Mr.. Wins
low had given to the newspapers re-
garding prices on two bills for station
cry. Last March Freeholders AhneI
and Holcomb were appointed to place
all requisitions for stationery that was
to be used In the Court House. Chair
motion was passed to have members ot
the committee place acquisitions he Bit
terly opposed it.
The trouble was caused by two bills
for stationery which were ordered from
r. r. Brant & Co. and the c. Wolber
Company by previous committee. and
which Mr.. winslow refused to o. K.
because the charges were excessive, he
believed.
81 have obtained quotations from sew
eral local concerns" declared Mr.. Wins
low, land in all cases they are from 10
to 30 per cent. less than Mr.. Brant's
prices"
A motion was made by Mr.. Holcomb
that Mr.. Brant come before the COM
mittee and explain why he had made
such high prices.
Mr.. Brant came in from an adjoining
room, where he had been waiting in
anticipation of such a motion and
made his explanation.
Mr.. Wolber, of the firm of c. VOL
Der Company, also appeared before
the committee in order to show that
his bill for stationery was not excess
sive and should be paid.
Surrogate George E. Russell had this
to say today in regard to the meeting
of the stationery committee of the
Board of Freehoiders yesterday when
reference was made to a rejected
requisition of will sheets:
The result of yesterdays meeting
Of the Stationery committee of tbs
Board of Freeholders. as reported in
the daily press, shows that R. r. Brandt
some time ago supplied this office on a
requisition for 1000 will sheets, which
were rejected by this office. There
were three reasons why these sheets
were rejected; in the first place 1t must
be understood that these sheets are
used for most important purpose
have required for this purpose the
highest quality of these sheets, which
are manufactured by the Richmond
Backus Company, of Detroit, Mich.
down the inner edge hinge. SO. that
these sheets when bound in large
books become pages and can be turned
easily without damage.
when these sheets were delivered to
my office, I found upon examination
that a great many of them had been
buckled at the hinge and thereby caus-
ing them easily to be torn and des-
NH in, IIca
was of an inferior grade much lighter
in weight than the sample and the
quality which we have always been
using. Again, the printing was of in
ferior workmanship The Ink had been
unevenly distributed over the page so
that the printing was blurred and
heavy in spots, and the page had the
appearance of being Smutted.
Mr.. Brandt, as reported in this morn
ing,s STAR, gave to the committee his ex-
cuse for asking payment for these sheets
and said: ct don't think 1t fair that
should stand the loss for something that
was ordered and kept by the surrogate
for a month before 1t was returned" The
impression this statement gives. is er--
roneous Immediately upon the delivery of
these sheets into my office they We're ex-
amined and rejected over the telephone
in conversation with Mr. Brandt person
ally. This was the very day upon their
receipt. Mr.. Brandt paid several visits
to my office, and we had several conver-
sations relative to the condition of these
SheetS, ana at one OF THESE couNeT5dliOhS
there were some Of the members of the
stationery committee. I never receded
from my original position, because of the
fact that, as stated above, the Importance
of the use to which these sheets were to
be put, and when 1t Is considered that
these are to be county records to be used
fer many years to come. my position was
justified and can be readily understood.
1 requested Mr.. Brandt several times
to remove the sheets from my office, which
he failed to do, and finally had them de-
lvered to his office about six weeks after
their receipt, and Mr.. Brandt knew from
the date of their receipt that they were
rot acceptable and would never be used.
regret exceedingly that this contro-
We, sy has happened, but the Importance
of the use to which these sheets are put
made 1t absolutely incumbent upon me
to demand both sheets and workmanship
of the necessary quality.
Mr.. Russell further stated that in his
judgment the county would save money
by inaugurating competitive bidding
for all supplies to be used in the county
Offices, and stated, further. that he had
been advocating such course, and IL
would seem in the light of this develop
ment that such a course would be ad-
visable and result advantageously to
the county.