Evening star., 1934-04-25

Continued From First PaeeJ
increasingly apparent during recent
years. In the earlier stages this
seemed attributable to an administra-
tive wish to standardize to the extent
possible without legislative authority.
Later it seemed a plan to encourage
industry to build standard equipment
more in conformity with the en-
gineering view of administrative off,
cials 1t is now openly asserted that
it Is due in some measure, at least, TO
high pressure salesmanship and a
purpose to favor particular concerns.
Wrong Tendency"
Whatever may be the reason, the
tendency is in the wrong direction II
the Government Is to continue to look
to industry to meet its needs through
supplying automotive equipment as
sembled in whcle or in substantial
part.
1T is appreciated that the problem
is not free from administrative difn-
culties, and that there is responsibility
to secure automotive equipment that
will reasonably serve the Govern
ment's needs. But this responsibility
must be discharged within the law,
tions are available only to acquire that
which is needed, as distinguished from
that which may be desired. and that
section 3709. Revised Statutes. requires
such need be so described as to per-
NIT full and unrestricted competition
in bidding thereon, with award to the
lowest responsible bidder
Guard Against Graft.
THE clear purpose of the law in
this regard is to restrict the uses Of
appropriations to the acquiring Of
actual Government needs; to secure
such needs at the lowest cost. and to
guard against injustice. favoritiSm.
collusson, graft, etc, in the transacting
of the public business.
Through stipulating in sufficient
details as to mechanical construction,
parts, etc, there can be excluded from
bidding and consideration all but the
particular vehicle desired, or by en-
ploying slightly less detail the field
can be so restricted as to exclude all
but the favored few with opportunity
resulting for collusion and excessive
prices.
Continuing his criticism. the con-
troller general went into the question
of the grand jury probe, saying:
1T was certain of the restrictive
stipulations appearing in these speci-
fications, especially for the smaller
type vehicles, that supplied the basis
for recent accusations that by so
stipulating no public interest was
served. but rather competition was
defeated and certain private interests
were favored. While grand jury
investigation resulted in no indict-
ments and it is thus to be accepted
there was found no criminal intent.
so long as such method of Stipulating
is continued there remains the basis
for criticism-and this in addition to
the legal objections hereinbefore
pointed out"
Higher Prices.
Referring to the objection he says
has been raised that rejection Of all
bids and readvertising will result In
higher costs due to the fact that
prices are on the advance, the con-
troller general commented:
1T has been administratively sug-
gested that rejection Of bids and re-
advertising will result in higher costs
due to the fact that prices are on the
advance. While the needs of the
government are to be acquired most
economically, what is most economi-
cally, Is for ascertainment by open
and unrestricted competitive bidding
on the actual and disclosed need.
While prices may have advanced since
the bidding to the extent there was
not afforded opportunity for full COM
petitive bidding on actual and dis