Evening star., 1933-11-29
Bidder May Withdraw.

II the SITUATION WlIn TeSpSCI W tHc
applicability of any code provision has
so changed since october 81, 1888, the
date of opening of the bids in the IN
Stant matter that any OF the bidders
NAV feel that a contract awarded now
on the basis OF its bid as then submit
ted would involve violation OF any
provision of the applicable code, such
bid may be Withdrawn, or better. all
bids should be rejected and the Gov
ernment's needs readvertised.
The question presented Is answered
accordingly"
In his protest to McCarl yesterday,
a copy of which he sent to the War
Department, Sabine also declared that
acceptance of the low bid to the War
Department would cost the Government
$4,000 more than the price he quoted
when bids originally were asked by the
Department of Agriculture for these
trucks
He said, too, that should speed in de-
livery be considered as factor, his bid
Yesterday of S671l0 would save money
for the Government though the Chevro-
let figure was s62919. There were four
other bidders, but all were higher than
these two.
Sabines charge that the War Depart
ment bids were asked in an effort to
circumvent the earlier ruling by McCarl
has been denied by that department.
In a statement issued In connection
with his letter to McCarl Sabine said:
1T was no surprise to find we were
not low bidders on the War Depart
ment proposal. In our protest to the
Secretary of War last Saturday we
pointed out we we're virtually excluded
by the terms of the proposal.
TT is to be observed that it will cost
the Government over $4,000 to accept
the low bid in today's opening over our
low bid still pending in the Department
of Agriculture
Il would like to make it clear I have
no quarrel with the rank and file of the
War Department. The Quartermaster
Generals Office continues to perform its
functions in fair and efficient manner.
1t is deplorable that the politicians
should place each man on the spot, and
hope the public will attach the blame
where it belongs.
Our bid was submitted today with
the cards stacked against us, but we
felt We owed a duty to our Government
to submit a bid and preserve our right
Of protest"
Skies Asked
In the letter to the controller gen.
tdI, Sduulc Sdlu Lnc equipment pro-
posed to be purchased by the War De-
partment is the same as that for which
Agriculture intended to contract but
that the specifications had been changed
from four to six-cylinder vehicles, al
though the former we're satisfactory.
This forced the Ford agent to bid on
eights.
ruling, an attempt is made In this pro-
posal to compel any contractor and sub
contractor to sign the approved code
applicable to his particular industry.
1t Is not enough that we are signers
and complying. Under your ruling this
is an unauthorized and improper re-
quirement. For the first time in our
national history we are confronted with
the strange and un-American PROPOSE
ton that the signature of the citizen
is required in order to give force to an
act of Congress. Either that, or the
proponents of the idea are desirous of
compelling the citizen to sign away such
rights as he has under the code and
the law. They have the act of Con-
gress, plus such enlargement of its
powers as can be made by executive
order Not satisfied with that. the power
of the Government is being used to
bludgeon the citizen into waving his
rights under the law by signing on the
dotted line. There are those who seem
to want to treat the American business
man with the same kind of automatic
authority as that exercised over buck
private in the rear ranks. Even the prl-
Vate has rights. and we are asking fol-
a recognition of ours"