The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-02

speedily and noiselessly as pos slble. Officials are so skilled in this that they do it automati- cally.
 Here, for instance, is the ac- tual story of a. small cOntrac- tor and what happened to him, play by play, in trying to get Government contract. Every thing printed below is factual except the name. If the name was published, this contractor wouldn't even get in the door.
 JOHN DAWSON Is vice-presi- dent of general contracting com pany with offices in New York, has handled jobs as big as 3 1-2 millions in the past, but Is not big enough to have a representa- tive in Washington. So Dawson came to Washington himself, asked officials whether he ought to retain a representative who could help him bid on projects.
 'sNO indeed" he was told. "You need nobody here. We don't want to deal with agents. Just write us a letter to say what kind of work you've done and we'll get in touch with you"
 Dawson thought he could do even better than writing a let ter, so he prepared a display book with photographs of work his company had done, together with the records Of his engineers. It was a most impressive book let, and on May 8 he filed copies with the Navy, Army Engineers, Public Buildings Administration and National Defense Advisory Commission.
 Then he waited. But nothing happened. After month he came to Washington again. Going to the Navy first, he told Command CT Spalding that he would like to discuss his company's fitness to handle contracts.
 Sorry but I can't discuss it," replied Commander Spalding. My hands are tied" And he produced 8 letter from the Secretary of the Navy saying there could be no discussion of future projects be- cause 1t might reveal their loca- tion and character to the enemy.
 This sounded fine from the public's viewpoint, but obviously 1t meant that contractor had no way of getting business unless he happened to have friend on the inside. If you had friend in the Navy, for instance, who could tip you off when a project was under consideration, you were OK. Otherwise you had no chance to get busy until the contract was let.
 Commander Spalding did sug- gest, however, that Dawson make the rounds of public works of fees handling Navy projects along the Atlantic coast. Dawson fol- lowed this suggestion and trav- eled all the way to Savannah, Ga. But it turned out to be mere ly goodwill mission.
 THE 'svICE-PRESIDENT"
 Meanwhile, from a friendly source in the Army Engineers he got 8 tip that new Air Corps project was to be built in New York state. So Dawson hustled to Rome. N. F., to put in a bid.
 Sorry, my friend" he was
 told on arrival, "but you're about a month late."
 Another contractor had just been brought into the picture and the job was assigned, although no announcement had been giv- en until a few days before.
 Dawson was defeated in Wash ington. lost time in Georgia. and missed a contract in New York. Now he was back in Washington to start the unhappy merry-go- round all over again. But mean while a bright light came to Daw- son. He decided to get Q local agent.
 However, contractors are obliged Co take an oath that they ein- pioy no agents. But he had heard of a neat schelile whereby an agent was given e ttlq in ths