Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-10-18
REPLIES TO
0REGONIAN'S
CRITICISMS

THE article appearing in the Ore
gonian attacking the state purchas-
ing board is so unfair and misleading
and in many respects so absolutely
without foundation of truth that 1t is
ridiculous said Governor West this
morning in discussing a news story
appearing in the paper this morning
under Salem date line.
Il wish to say that so far as the
state purchasing board is con-
cerned continued the governor, that
1t has not proved a failure, but on
the other hand is ACCOMPLISHING
much and in the end will be able to
save considerable money. The board
has never had up the matter of re-
moving Clerk Frazer, the clerk of the
board, and filling his place with an
onther.
Bids Advertised For.
The board at present, notwith-
standing the statements made by the
Oregonian, is buying, as far as prac-
ticable, all supplies in bulk and after
bids are duly advertised for as pro-
vided by law. If the Salem cores
pondent had turned to the files of the
Oregonian, he would have found that
bids were advertised for through the
columns of his paper. The bids were
opened publicly on the date set out
in the notices and were awarded to
the lowest bidders.
The contracts awarded to Salem
merchants were awarded because
they were lowest bidders and the
records will show that these con-
tracts so awarded to Salem mer-
chants were only a drop in the buck
ct as compared with those awarded
to merchants outside of Salem. To
bear out this statement a complete
list of awards will be given out to
the press as soon as it can be tabu-
lated. 1t will speak for itself.
i want to say right here that the
talk during the last campaign about
the enormous saving that could be
made by buying the supplies was
largely tommy-rot. l find that in the
past where the officials have played
fair, the state purchased its supplies
at very reasonable prices.
UOOu accomplished.
The creation of the state purchas-
ing board was for the best because
1t did two things. 1t, in a way, has
simpllfed the manner of purchasing
supplies and has relieved the many
different state boards of a lot of de-
tailed work which otherwise would
be thrown upon them, but it served
its best purpose when it headed off
the creation of the commissary de-
partment and its endless red tape
and an army of clerks and officials.
The Salem correspondent of the
Oregonian says that the board is fac
ing a deficiency This is absolutely
untrue. There will be no deficiency
unless 1t be due to causes over which
the board has no control. We are in
touch with the situation and know
that the different superintendent are
following the instructions of the
board and are keeping well within
their appropriations, This, owing to
lack of appropriation, has been diff
ticult matter for some of them, but
they will succeed.
Dislike Is Motive.
This. mornings article was prompt
ed by the personal dislike which the
Salem correspondent of the Oregon
ian has for the state purchasing
agent He has told me he is after
Frazer's scalp and was going to get
it. He is using the columns of his
paper to do H.
Notwithstanding the newspaper
story, the state purchasing board
will continue to do business at the
old stand and will use its best eff
forts toward purchasing supplies at
the lowest possible figure and at the
same time, give each and every bid
der square deal"