The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-02

H
tiles commission entered into a con
tract for its motor bus license plates
the price to be $500 per hundre,
pair. The material Of these plate
Is the same as that used by the high
way department yet the bureau PAL,
but 1888 per hundred pair for tn
highway plates. : =
Tents and Awnings, Approximate,
Saving 81, 10000 -,
Before the inauguration of tn,
bureau Of supplies, tents were pur
chased by the highway department
locally without securing other com
petitive bids. The bureau securet
prices from all Of the leading ten
manufacturers In the northwest and
bought exactly the same kind ani
quality as those formerly purchased
at . saving Of about 100000.
Automobiles and Accessories, An
proximate Saving 100000
Before there was centralized pur.
chasing, the state did not receive dis.
counts on automobiles, automobile
accessories or supplies. Most Of the
state cars were used by the highway
department. which has q record
showing purchases prior to and dur
ing the present administration. These
records show no discounts prior to
May IA, 1919. There is not q single
purchase since that date which does
not show discount of from 10 per
cent to 80 per cent.
Building Material, Lumber, Brick,
Cement, Structural Iron, Paint,
Hardware Plumbing, Approx
Saving $S, 10000
This amount was saved thru
straight discounts, competitive bids,
and buying in advance of a rise IN
the market. The bureau received
straight discounts from most of the
hardware dealers on any orders
placed with them. BY securing COM
petitive bids on building material, 1t
has been able to wipe out the. diff
ference between the wholesale and
the retail cost. To illustrate saw
ing effected by buying on rise in
the markets-the sanitarium at
Nampa requistioned $1,000 worth of
locks and hinges for their new build
Ing. The bureau had information
that the prices on these locks were
Immediately going to advance 10 per
cent. The order was placed before
the rise thereby saving $104.S7.
Institutional Supplies land Equip
ment, Approximate Saving 81, S25.OO
Practically all of these items were
on competitive bids and
we're furnished at wholesale prices.
These wholesale prices ranged from
Is per cent to 80 1-3 per cent of
what the items would have cost If
locally, as was the practice
before the inauguration of the
bureau.
Supplies and Equipment
Road Machinery, etc. APPROX
mate Saving $3,875.OO
This saving was effected by obtain
ng straight discounts and securing
competitive bids. AS an illustration
he bureau purchased $6,192.OO
worth of hoists and dump bodies
rom a company which for years had
'old the state a great deal of ma
;hinery. This company swore that
t never had and never would give
discount. The past records show
he company never had, but the
bureau records show 10 per cent off
IN the above amount; also the regu-
ar retail price of Jeffrey loader
s $3.50. BY calling for bids it was
for $1675.
school Supplies, Equipment, Iabora-
tory Apparatus, Chemicals, etc.
Approximate Saving $4,000
Perhaps in no other group is there
uch a wide divergence in prices.
PRICES upon the same articles vary
,reatly. AS an illustration of what
purchasing can do in this
lass of commodities. the bureau of
mines and geology at the University
f Idaho sent requisition stating it |
lad secured bids from Utah con-
ern and others, and that the best