The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-25
SAYS
! THERE IS 4
BRIDGE TRUST
COMMISSIONER OF HIGH
WAYS OF STATE SAYS 1T IS
HEALTHY AND STRONG

Special to the Daily Leader
Nirnekah, Okla, July 25-peclar-
ing that the "tin bridge trust has
made competition in bridge building a
farce in this state and is responsible
for an annual loss TO The taxpayers
Of half million dollars, Sidney Suggs
state highway commissioner, created
stir during an address delivered be-
fore large crowd here Wednesday.
He declared that the combination Is
fostered by the steel trust, and that
concerns interested in the sale of in
ferior material a{s opposing the state
highway department in this and 9TH
er states because <he department de-
mands a better class of material in
public work.
SHOW me the man" declared
Suggs, who is fighting against the
state establishing and enforcing ade-
QtiHte and efficient standards of con-
struction with public money and |
will show you an emissary or agent
Of the steel trust or sone of its OFF
shoots. the tins Ebrldge 'trust or the
lin culvert combine. Those who
have decent stun to- sen have no OBJ
lection to being required TO sell de-
cent stuff.'
: Continuing Mr.. Suggs sai0:
You people believe that there is
competition among bridge companies;
the fact is there is no such thing as
competition and that you people are
paying prices for bridges fixed by the
tin bridge trust no matter what con-
Germ is awarded the work. We have
q statute in this state which pro
yides that bids for bridges must be
advertised for and the contract award
ed to the lowest responsible bidder.
This law is intended to prevent a
combine, but Ii really does no such
thing. AS soon as this law was pass
ed various tin bridge companies do.
ing business in this state organized
what is known as a bridge pool and
divided the state UP among them
selves with the clear understanding
that while they would all bid, it
would .be agreed that only the con-
Germ in whose territory the contract
Was awarded, should be the low bid
der. Though the law intended TO pro-
tect the public from the bridge trust,
IL Is rendered void and of no effect
and is nothing more than a farce.
Not only does the bridge trust con-
troll the prices and contracts in this
matter, but ii also controls the plans
and specifications under the old sys-
tenn. In nearly every county in this
state contracts are awarded to the
bridge companies upon their own
rlans and Specifications. Occasional
~ some effort is made to give a sem
blance of competition by having the
nf orr hut
der the pooling system operating in
this state and other states ii is very
important TO them that the stock
plans of the bridge companies be
Used, otherwise they can not main
tain their pool. Ia states which have
highway departments authorized to
establish standard plans, there is no
Bisch pool for the reason that all
6ridge companies must bid on the
same standard plans. The law in this
state requires the state highway de-
partment to prepare standard plans
and specifications and the result Is
that every tin bridge company's agent
In this state is fighting the state
Highway department. If the state en-
forces this law5it will break Up the
pool and it is the only way in which
the bridge trnst can be broken. Z
.The county Officials are absolute
ly helpless in3the face of the tin
bridge trust. They advertise. that bids
will be received up TO certain hour
for building a bridge or bridges. and
that all bids viii then be opened and
the contract awarded; the result is
that the bridge pool rushes into bid
but the low bidder is always the one
10 whom that territory has been as
signed. The commissioners, not be
irg engineers, nj the contract 10 the
low bidder who puts bridge IN that
is never inspected during or after its
construction
The various counties in this state
ere expending more than sl,000.00O
Per year for bridges over twenty feet
in length and for repairs. At least 40
per cent of this is profit to the bridge
pool. Not only this. but the slip
shod method OF allowing these con-
Germs to install bridges on their own
plans and without inspection, has per
,nitted them to fill the state with
cheap. temporary. tin bridges. many
OF which will not sustain load OF
so pounds to the square foot. as
ggainst 125 and $50 pounds required
by this and other state highway de-
partments.
The fight inaugnrated against the
bridge companies is similar to that
being waged in Kansas by Gov. w. r.
Etuhbs and the state highway depart.
went Governor Stnbbs recently con
ssdcred the calling Of a special ses-
ejon of the legislature to enact a
Law providing for standard bridge
plans