The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-24
FEW BIDDERS HERE
Little Interest in State Con-
tracts for Institutions.
Uncertainty of Pay Is Keeping
Many Jobbers Away.
LACK OF KEEN COMPETITION
Overdrafts in Funds May Be
Expensive to Kansas.
Kimball Says Things Are Not as
Bad as He Feared.

Kansas wholesalers, jobbers and re-
tailers are not anxious for state BUSH
ness. The smallest number of bidders
ever before state institution heads for
contracts appeared at the opening of
the quarterly letting today in the sub
basement Of the state house. Uncer-
tainty as to the condition Of funds of
various state institutions and a pros
pect that the state may not be able to
pay it's bills without a deficiency ap-
preparation by the 1919 legislature is
said TO be responsible for a slump in
the states credit.
Just seven bidders were in the ante
rooms today an hour after the open
ing of bids on dry goods schedules.
There was an apparent lack of keen
competition which marked lettings in
years when the states credit was on
a sound basis. Overdrafts in the funds
of several state institutions at the
close of the fiscal years June 80 were
said to be responsible for the refusal
of merchantile establishments to con-
test for state business.
Never in the history of the system
Of united contract letting has the state
confronted a condition such as marked
the opening of today's bids. Many of
the large bidders who have brought
their samples and bids to Topeka dur
ing the last quarter of century, re-
fused to seek new contracts Uncer-
tainty of market conditions was offset
largely by the action of the state, in
asking for bids for a three months
period rather than for term of six
months. Until June of this year the
state had let its contracts on a six
months basis. Even the change,
favorable to wholesalers and retailers,
failed to lure the bidders.
Seemingly the bidders forgot all
about the speeches of the politicians
who told how the state had burned
/ it's bonds, possessed an enormous per
pita wealth and a high standard of
intelligence and morality. The bid
ders seemed to be looking at the cash
books rather than the pages of cam
| paign speeches And they reckoned
the expenses and needs of the insti-
| buttons against the funds available to
pay the bills. Seemingly many of the
old, reliable and established firms pre-
ferred to lose the business of the in
situations rather than squabble with
the next legislature for their pay.
| Can't Pay Bills.
inability of several state institu-
tons to meet unpaid bills at the close
of the last fiscal year. may have been
confronted the institutions at today's
4detting. The fact that the state PEN
I1tentiary went under the fiscal year
with a $4,000 overdraft and that
other institutions were unaDlS 10 pay
| their bills in full is believed to have
had a decided effect on present condi-
| lions.
There could be no complaint, tho
about the amount of business which
the state offered. Schedules were the
heaviest ever offered for a three
months period. The schedules cover
"a long printed pages and hundreds
of items from 10000 pounds of soar
chips to a gross of bone buttons and
$4,000 pounds of prunes. Every in
stitution in the state joined in a con-
centration of demands in an effort tc
| attract the bidders.
| So heavy are the schedules that ar
entire week will be required to dis
pose of the business.
James A. Kimball, state manager
declared today, though. that he was
not discouraged over the showing OF
| few faces at the letting. The bids
| were more extensive than he had ex-
pected he told press representatives.
Conditions are not as bad as 1 haC
| feared" said Kimban. I'VE have 2;
| bids on groceries and I am sure we
will get through in good shape