The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-21
RULING
MAKES SMALL
Law VIOLATOR
Partner in Soap Firm Awarded
School Board Contract, De
clares Justice DE Cav
RENDERED
AGAINST INSPECTOR
Latter Liable to Removal From
Office by Governor if Charge
Sticks

Judgment in favor OF the White
Star Refining company, rendered BY
Justice De Cav, THURSDAY against
School Inspector Eden Small and DR.
Richard r. Mason, as partners in The
Alpha Chemical company, 10 which
the Board OF Education last May lel
the contract for furnishing liquid soaI
for use In the Detroit schools thil
year, would furnish basis for the re
moval OF the Inspector from office, u
the governor should take the same
view OF the testimony submitted "a
did the Justice in deciding the case.
A. !. Bennett, local salesman FOL
the White Star Refining company. ties
titled that he met DIR. Mason and Mr.
Small in ths formers Office on Beau
bien-st., in May, after the contract
had been let. in order To make ar
rangements for furnishing the soap 10
the Alpha Chemical company. which
was not a manufacturer or jobber
Bennett said that at that time Mr.
Small asserted his name was not 70
be used in connection with the trans
action because OF his position az
school inspector. The law OF the state
prohibits any member of a school
board being directly or indirectly in.
terested In any contract entered into
by the board.
Bennett said further. that he met
the two men together on several 9th.
er occasions. one OF which was In the
Grand cafe. AT each time the men
represented themselves to him az
partners.
Inspector Small took the stand IN
his own defense and denied having
had any such relations with the White
Star Refining company or being inter.
ested financially in the Alpha Chemi
cal company
The suit was for $lS2.7S, which II
was claimed was still due on supplies
furnished TO the Alpha Chemical com
pany during the months OF May. July
and August. The judgment for Sl64.5s
was entered against the two men in
dividually and as partners in the de-
PENDANT company.
III. b, Earhardt. general manager Of
the White Star Refining company. tes
titled In general way TO the business
between the two concerns.
The letting OF the annual soap con
tract to the Alpha Chemical company
caused a vigorous protest at the time
from unsuccessful bidders because Of
the fact that the price was 20 cents
per gallon, whereas some of the other
bids were as low as AZ cents. 1t was
rumored then that Inspector Small
was instrumental In aiding DR. Mason
TO get the contract. but this he denied
although admitting a personal friend.
ship for the physician.
so insistent was the protest present
ed TO the school board that new SAM
pies OF the different soaps we're OBJ.
tanned and tested In the Detroit Test.
Ing laboratory. The result of this test
was to show that the sample submit
ted by the Alpha Chemical company
was the best OF all, with the possible
exception of one, the price of when
was 81 per gallon. This apparent JUS.
tification OF the action OF the janitors
and supplies committee, which had
charge OF the matter. was soon fol,
lowed by the failure OF the company
to live up TO It's contract and its re.
scinding by the school board.
The members OF the committee ex
planned their action In favoring a bid
der whose price was not the lowest by
saying that they wanted good sub
stantial product. neither fancy MOI
cheap, and had, therefore, picked out
a medium priced one