Evening star., 1925-05-21

son than that they wish to have free
hand in Government construction at
prices dictated by them, This matter
was thoroughly threshed out by the
congressional committee on reorgani-
zation last year, and against the
strenuous and concerted efforts OF the
Associated General Contractors Asso-
citation the reorganization committee
rejected all of their plans for the crea-
ton Of a department of public works,
which would have given them his
absolute control of construction for
which they are clamoring.
Submit Correspondence.
in reference to the charges made
concerning the method of construc-
ton of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge, l am inclosing herewith cor
respondence between this office and
the Associated General Contractors.
which proves conclusively that the
charges made by the Associated Gen
eral Contractors are absolutely false
The method to he used in the
construction OF the Arlington Memo
ria, Bridge is provided in section :
OF the Arlington Memorial Bridge
act. approved February "a, 1925. as
follows:
"'Section .. That the execution of
the project herein and hereby au-
thorized shall he carried out under
the general supervision of the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge Commission
IN the immediate charge OF the eN-
ecutive officer of the said commits
sion, and that said construction shall
be entered upon as speedily as prac-
ticable in accordance with the plans
submitted by the said commission
and shall be prosecuted to completion
by contracts or otherwise, as may
be most economical and advanta-
ceous TO the Government and mp
proved and ordered by the said COM
mission in total sum not TO eXCee!
S14.750. 900, which sum is authorized
to be appropriated from any moneys
available or that may become avail
able in the Treasury Of the United
States
To Ask Bids Soon.
Under this authority II is contem-
plated that bids will be asked in the
near future for the construction OF
the piers up to the springing line or
the arches and that later on similar
requests for bids will be made for the
erection OF the entire superstructure
OF the bridge. later a separate request
Will be made for the construction OF
,he bascule draw span, the cut stone
and other elements OF the bridge,
which naturally fall under similar
classification of work.
THE object of dividing the bids into
ihese classes is TO allow the widest
possible range of bidding by not re-
quiring the bidders who are equipped
with floating plant, for instance. to bid
on portions of the construction where
floating plant is not required and
similarly to allow the bidding on the
hascule span, which is an entirely diff
ferent class of work from the super
structure of reinforced concrete, to be
open to the bids of the steel fabri-
eating establishments.
1T is contemplated to ask for bids
for the cut stone in order that a wide
range of bidding may be secured from
he quarries themselves, the setting to
be included in the bids for the super
structure, which will be open to those
contractors equipped for that work.
Would Favor a Few.
Should the contract be canvassed
for the complete project it would
eliminate a large class of contracting
firms OF moderate capitalization In IA
vor of few Of the large concerns able
10 finance project of this size.
The methods proposed have been
discussed freely with those contrac-
tors who are interested in making
bids on this work, and without eXcep-
ton they have. one and all, agreed
that the methods proposed will secure
the most advantageous results.
"Only in case of excessively high
bids will resort be had to day labor
work"
The letter from George b Wal.
bridge. president of the Associated
General Contractors, to Col. Sheriff.,
follows:
THE Associated General Contrac-
tors have noted with interest the pas
sage of the bill providing for the con-
struction of the Memorial Bridge
across the Potomac River in Wash
ington, as well as items since appear.
ing in the newspapers of the country.
The attitude of our organization is
well known as supporting the award
of public work by contract, rather
than by day labor. and for that rea-
son we would be glad to learn from
you the methods which you propose to
pursue in the construction OF this i'm
portant work"
Receipt is acknowledged of your
letter of April 13, inquiring as to the
methods proposed by the Arlington
Memorial Bridge Commission to be
followed in the construction of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge.
VIII Advertise for Bids.
1T is the intention of this office,
which is charged with the construc-
ton of this bridge under the general
direction of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge Commission. to advertise for
bids for the principal parts of the
work as the plans may be ready from
time to time. In order to allow the
best arrangement for bidding, it is
tentatively thought advisable not to
let the work for the entire bridge
project as a whole, but to advertise