in the Indian Service, and again calling attention to the most important considerations presented in these last paragraphs, we respectfully submit our thirty-third annual report. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. DARWIN R. JAMES, Chairman. APPENDIX. APPENDIX A. REPORT OF THE PURCHASING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS, Washington, D. C., January 21, 1902. SIR: The purchasing committee have the following report to make of the business during the year 1901: Bids for supplies for the Indian Service, in accordance with advertisements and specifications, were opened at Chicago, Ill., at the United States Indian warehouse, 235 Johnson street, on Tuesday, April 9, 1901. The number of bids submitted and opened was 479. The number of contracts awarded, 134. Commissioner Gates was in daily attendance at the warehouse, assisting in inspecting and awarding, until the evening of April 19. General Whittlesey, of the Board of Indian Commissioners, was in attendance for the same purpose from Tuesday morning, April 23, until the awarding of contracts was finished. Roger C. Spooner, superintendent of the Chicago Indian warehouse, reports under date of January 2, 1902, that the number and approximate weight of packages shipped from the Chicago warehouse and from points under its jurisdiction was 87,085 packages, with a total weight of 9,046,831 pounds. The total number of packages sent by registered mail was 355, aggregating in weight 685 pounds. The following is a complete summary of shipments on account of the United States Indian Service under instructions of the United States Indian warehouse at Chicago, Ill., from July 1 to December 31, 1901, both dates inclusive: Bids for clothing, dry goods, hats and caps, blankets, small ware, and notions were opened on May 7, 1901, at the Indian warehouse, 77 Wooster street, New York, in the presence and with the assistance of Chairman James, Messrs. Lyon, Garrett, Walker, Smiley and Gates, of the United States Board of Indian Commissioners. Seventy-seven bids were submitted. Commissioner Gates, the secretary of the board, was in attendance assisting in inspecting and awarding contracts during most of the time until the awards were completed, and Commissioner Whittlesey was also in daily attendance for the same purpose for most of the period during which this work was in progress. Under date of January 3, 1902, Mr. C. F. Nesler, United States Indian inspector, in charge of the New York warehouse, reports as follows: "Complying with the request contained in your letter of December 23, for information concerning the amount of business done at the New York Indian warehouse 21 during the year ending December 31, 1901, I submit the following as being approximately correct: "A. The number of bids opened in May, 77. "B. The number of contracts awarded, 24. "C. The number of packages shipped by freight, 10,454, weighing 1,255,807 pounds. "D. The number of packages shipped by mail, 144, weighing 502 pounds. "Yours, very truly, The following inspectors of Indian supplies acted at the New York warehouse. With the name of each inspector is given the time during which he has served in that capacity. INSPECTORS AT NEW YORK WAREHOUSE. Herman Wischmann, inspecting coffee and sugar, ten days. The following inspectors of Indian supplies acted at the Chicago warehouse. With the name of each inspector is given the time during which he has served in that capacity. INSPECTORS AT CHICAGO WAREHOUSE. Henry W. Dudley, of Chicago, coffee, third year of service. Thomas Robertson, Milwaukee, tea, third year. Jonathan B. Young, Chicago, flour, beans, lard, bread, and corn meal, fourth year. Prof. John H. Long, Chicago, baking powder, soap, etc., third year. Benton W. Warder, Chicago, sugar, rice, hominy, groceries, etc., fourth year. Wilhelm Bodeman, Chicago, medical supplies, fourth year. George E. Watson, Chicago, paints, oils, glass, etc., third year. Edward Devlin, Chicago, stoves, hardware, and glass 10 and 15, sixth year. Lorenzo C. Bartley, Elkhart, Ind., wagons, agricultural implements, etc., sixth year. Allan W. Reid, Chicago, boots, shoes, etc., second year. William J. Ford, Chicago, crockery, lamps, etc., third year. During the delivery of goods at the New York warehouse in September and October a serious difficulty arose as to the quality of some of the clothing offered under contracts made in May. It is understood by the purchasing_committee that a brief report upon this subject is made by the Hon. Darwin R. James, chairman of the board, who gave personal attention to the matter at the time. The very limited appropriation for the expenses of the Board of Indian Commissioners did not permit the attendance of any members of the board at the opening of bids at San Francisco, Cal. WILLIAM H. LYON, Chairman, MERRILL E. GATES, JOSEPH T. JACOBS, WILLIAM M. BEARDSHEAR, Purchasing Committee. APPENDIX B. CLOTHING AND OTHER GOODS REJECTED AT NEW YORK WAREHOUSE. The failure of the Bay State Clothing Company, who had the contract for suits of clothing for the boys, to furnish garments equal in value to the samples submitted was an occasion of much difficuly at the New York warehouse, commencing in the month of September. The quality of the cloth used was, perhaps, up to the standard, but the goods lacked finish and were not equal in weight, while the material used for lining was inferior, and the garments were made in a slovenly and cheap manner. The inspector in charge, Mr. Dewitt C. Whiteman, passed the first delivery of clothing and also a very inferior article of cloth in the piece in fulfillment of the contract for "cadet gray" cloth. The objections of Superintendent Robbins were unheeded and the goods were shipped. The superintendent wrote to Commissioner Jones at Washington and also informed Mr. James in New York, with whom he had an understanding that when another delivery was made he was to be notified. At the next delivery Mr. James examined the clothing, also the cloth sent to fill the contract for "cadet gray," all of which were found to be below standard. Mr. James ordered that they be not accepted and that no shipment be made, and informed Commissioner Jones of what he had done, who, on coming to New York and examining for himself, approved the course taken and notified the contractor to take away the goods and furnish other goods equal to sample. He also dismissed the inspector, Whiteman, and upon his return to Washington detailed Inspector Nesler to the place of Superintendent Robbins, who was given indefinite leave of absence. As a compromise, the clothing was accepted at a later date and at a reduced price, the season being so far advanced that the garments would be needed before others could be got ready. It is said that the contracting company admits sustaining a loss of $10,000 to $12,000 upon the transaction, exclusive of the sum paid as penalty for nonfulfillment of contracts. The incident is much to be regretted because of the prejudice created in the minds of competitive bidders, there being a feeling that they were discriminated against in the first place, and that the delinquent contractor should not have been allowed to turn in the goods even at a large reduction. The contracts were fairly awarded and there is no occasion for fault-finding under that head; probably there would have been less fault-finding if the goods had all been rejected and fresh bids asked for, or the articles been purchased in open market. Such incidents are regrettable, although not always avoidable. Of the inspector who was dismissed it may be said that he was a weak man and unfitted for the place, if not dishonest, although his recommendations to Commissioner Jones were good. DARWIN R. JAMES, Chairman Board of Indian Commissioners. NEW YORK, January 20, 1902. 23 |