The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-05-20

Dear Sir:
In the editorial column of your last
issue you carried reprint of an ar
tlcle from the Yakima Republic rath-
er taking to task the commissioners
of this county for letting the contract
for the new court house to the lowest
bidder because he happened to- be an
Idaho man instead of giving it to
someone of the Washington contract
ors bidding at considerable higher
figure. While you published without
comment l take it for granted that
you approve this criticism from the
fact that you gave it space in your
columns. 81
AT the time the bids were opened
there were no local contractors bid
ding on this job. Had there been they
would have been given every consid-
GRAFTON and no doubt the contract
had their bids been within reason. The
nearest approach to local bidding
were the proposals received from
Yakima contractors. One of cheese
bids was $4,000 and the other $13,
1O7 in excess of the offer of the sue
cessful bidder. The second low bid
was from an Oregon firm and was
$5,146 above the low bid. The next
lowest bid was by Spokane firm
and was In excess of the low bid by
S5,471. The Washington contractors
bidding on this job ran from the last
figure quoted to $19,191.2O in excess
of the low bid.
On the plumbing and heating pro-
posal was received from a local con-
tractor which was % per cent in ex-
cess of the lowest bid which was SUBJ
mitted by a Spokane firm. and I am
convinced that all will agree that that
is too much to pay for the privilege
of giving the business to local con-
Germ.
Your board of county commission
ers and other county officials are en-
deavoring at all times to conduct the
business of the county in the interest
of the taxpayers of the county and
am unable to imagine any valid reas-
on or any line of argument that
would justify their having considered
any of the higher bids and thereby
boosting. the cost of the court house
several thousand dollars. only to put
of some Yakima or Spokane con-
tractor who does not own a dimes
worth of property in the county and
that at the expense of our local tax
payers who are now carrying ca
pacity load.
1t is contemplated that Washing
ton products and Washington made
will be used in the court
house construction where ever pos
sible. Washington lumber and timber
products will be used in all instances
where such materials are specified.
Washington cement will be used and
also Washington sand and gravel.
The brick and terra Gotta used will
be made in Washington. Steel for
reinforcement will be home manufac-
tured. In fact everything as nearly
as possible will be Washington made
and where our own state does not
produce or manufacture the things
needed, they will bought of Wash
ington dealers and the profit thus
kept within the state. Local labor
will be used to the fullest possible
extent. In fact about the only thing
that will go outside will be the con-
tractors profit. The saving of several
thousand dollars by letting the con-
tract to the lowest bidder will be in
the taxpayers pockets where it be-
longs and l think nearly everyone
will be satisfied that the commission
ers did the right thing in letting the
contract to the lowest bidder even
tho he is a man from outside the
state. -E. o. KEENE.