Evening journal., 1911-10-14
NO CONTRACT
FOR LOCAL MEN
1continued From First Page)

CONTINUED From First Page)
all went TO extra expense in getting
information and estimates ready.
The Wilmington merchants we're
told to return on a certain day the
following week. which they did. The
State House Commission was In ses-
sion and the Wilmington merchants
waited about the corridors and In
other rooms for some information or
to give any information that might
be requested They waited until some
time in the afternoon, when Mr.. PEN
newill came from the meeting room
and informed the merchants that the
State House Commissioners had adj
journed and gone. Mr.. Pennewill said
the Commission had decided to have
blue prints and specifications pre-
pared Of the exact kind of furniture
and furnishings they desired for the
State House. and each would be
given copies. so that all could bid on
exactly the same thing While dis
appointed at the loss of time and
money that far, the Wilmington
dealers did not demur. Then they
waited for the uniform specifications
and blue prints to arrive on which
they could put in new bids, but they
we're never received by any of the
Wilmington merchants. Instead, they
read a Dover despatch In THE EVEN
ING JOURNAL several days later that
the contract had been given 70 A. L..
Ward, Of Philadelphia. to design and
have made the furniture of a style
agreed upon. Mr.. Ward lived IN
Dover several years ago.
What Jars the Wilmington dealers
is that they were completely ignored
after they had been told that they
would be given a further opportun-
ity to bid, and they have never receiv-
ed an explanation of this treatment
nor have they been informed except
by reading newspaper articles that
the contract has been given to any
body Aside from that. there is a feel.
ing that Delaware's money should
have been spent with a Delaware mer.
chant A Mr.. Beck of Dover, also
entered q bid for the furniture and
furnishings
From a member of the State Hous,
Commission today It was learned thai
Mr.. Ward was called into conferenc,
by the State House Commission abou'
: the Commissioners felt there woult
} furniture on which the Delaware mer
! chants could bid, and that az subse
Quent conferences Mr.. Ward outlined
J a plan for himself to design and fur
nish the furniture, carpets and fit
tings, and he was given the contract
The member Of the Commission sal,
. the Commissioners felt there wolul
be a big saving to the state by thi
method, although they were reluctan
TO place the contract with other thai
, a Delaware merchant.
The same member said he felt tina
tho Wilmington merchants had
ground for grievance because the
we're ignored after being told the
would be given an opportunity to bi
on blue prints and specifications 10 b
furnished that never we're furnished
and in not being informed that tn
contract had been placed. He sal
William Pennewill would call person
ally on each merchant to explain tina
, IL was an oversight that they had no
been told Of the situation. The state
/ ment also was made that the bids O
the Wilmington merchants were some
( what complicated, which led to III
o desire of the Commission to have al
/. bid on the same designs and speci
iications.