The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-22
aFsw Words More about tho Stationery Com
tract.
TO THE EDITOR OF rHI HERALD.

tract.
TO THE EDITOR OF rHI HERALD.
Having SHOWN how ,hssoly stationery eau be fur
nlshod to ths corporation by contract, when mad
~ Comptroller Flsgg, re vii nov give the modus
epsrasdi whereby the bills are settled under oou
1racts made by Mr. Flsgz himself, sni we wouli
with all due dsferen 30 tast earned and lndsfati
gable body known as the Municipal Rsforn Com
nttee. invite their careful examination o. our state
nents. II an thing viasicg foom the truIh SD Al
be found herein, 1t vii be found 30 be based on th,
authority Of tbs Comptroller nim.elf, in his "Rspor
u the Receipts and Expenditures Of the Corpor agio,
Of the City of New York, frcm July lst, 1853, I.
June sob, 1854"
The extracts taken from the proposition to supply
The corporation with articles OF Stationery at "oaly
sae cent each for all kinds Of necessary books ex
cept those bought by the dozen st tae same amount
u currency Of the United States, lux by the gallon
u enc cent, paper by the ream, at one caat, &o.,
WI be found az page l0'a; but surprising ~ these
Prioea are to ths upnnste 10 tie mysteries Of city
anancieriDg our readers vii no still more astonish.
ID to read that it is stipulated saat "she articles
and work shall be Of the best quality; the qaansi-
tics 20 he varied As may be rsqairsd and articles
not embraced in the list, tGaamay be needed, to be
FURNISHED at prices strictly proportOnate to those
spsoined."
Now VIC should much like TO know what is a
"skicdy prcporsionase pri to those specified" as
ae6Aed by our worthy C,mpsr lllsr; but as -Flagg
~ deah Ga figures. and II Is sn old saying Figures
went hs,' we 'will see from Mr.. Flagg's repor. if
sAsre is any truth In the statlonsrs proposal.
Ii il ssls truth lies at tie boltom Of 4 well; per-
hsps IL is SO with the UoDpr ,lers report. II 50 We
viii go 10 the bottom nnd IT, our past experience
s.afIt Mill h.. h.. .l..s
turning up" any where sao.t Of the bottom, where
Wo hope to ned the fossil reta AIMS O, Mr., Flaggs
sldsn time political 'rsn ls But as this mat
ter is serious affair, financial fact, . matter
q "peunts, shiliings nd pence" as MIR.
Flagg would express it il the phrassology Of
No socd cid times, We shall merely give the state
Aeats and brief Comment, aud lsave visible enjoy
Msat to .ae readers Of " SAM" and those who are
psasesssd Of oredulisy eaoaga TO believe that Mr..
Fiasg thought stausasr vas honestly sincere in
esHsrsosrg to furnish books worth $40 70 $50 each
for ealy I" one cent
Mr. Flsgg says, (mtnd not "a, "John Straw, Jr.'Y
bat the Csnptro,i says. " 1t ~a b. seen by rsfe-
rsaoe to document No. 6, that tho sum audited and
paid for stationery, for six months of 1854, In 3d.
szS u.s. mind the sum, genuernea reforners AMI
tAxpsJ ers-$l3,62s SO; "sdd,n continues Mr.
Doot - sA0 c@AAo 3s0 luz VIC OtQer n0M y0hr
saa instead o. $2,lSS Sc, wc have q total expspd-
s1e ior Stationery in year, under tho contract,
q Vfo56 76.r Nov make note Of the amount.
szto66 6 for tho ysar, uade the contract, accord
i. Flagg, and alec bear in mind the words
-, audited and paid" for six months.
y ~, ..,rea Mr.. Flsgg, who was SO simple minded
DIV. De lad to make a contract for only one cent
- every article on tho boasd,' except nIne seems
-.
eeny Gays" Those who are called ON to pay this
large svm s27,O5s 7s for st.sionery under con-
SEAot) viii naturally ask by what process 50 large
IN expenditure has bsen made under contract ap.
paxeady 80 fav0rable3" Tnis reasonable question,
ksm those who have o right t. ask it-(Qusry. Mc.
Flagg.wh0 are they the Reform COMMITTEES )should
Ssnps!eisr that the Oss,,e~the hard.sstsd me- me-
ohanics and other workngmen OF tue city-havs no
night 70 "ssk Iii" but We VIII voluntarily endeavor
D answer 1t fairly. In Justice to him and to them.
10 quote again from Mr.. Fissg's report" Rsquis
niu0as for stationery could be made by some sigh
teen or twenty psrsoDs, and wheu the person se
lested By the head Of the department to procure the
stationery called % the stationer, he would be
GAoWa style Of iAkstands, PAPER, pens, d., OF a
superior quality 70 thst ebr ICED In tho list; aud
instead OF getting inksssnds ,rdisg 20 sample ia
tho contract. Nos. g. Q, At cent spieoe, the sta.
Goaer would persuade the that tae character Of
10 oily would be compromised by the use of these
cheap a1tioles, and the rquisitions would 20 filled
with inkstande 1t tive, thee and five dol ars," &c
his IL certainly very odd, when Il is to be remem
Herel tina. the articles ard york to be OF the best
nuality" was ths proposal OF the sAtoner. Ia there
better than the ''best 7" Paper At lone cent per
pean.' Ink a. "oHs cent per gallon and books at
Sssap, bat arc they good too? That il the ques-
don, Mr.. Flagg. How absurd In view OF con-
tract ct the ridiculous price OF one cent Tor nearly
oyery article Il tho assertion Of Mr. Fsgg, whea he
aye-"Undee such . state of Things, the contract
~ in . measure suspended by concurrence OF
Vievs betwsea the persons who made out the requi.
and - sax ers wSo n " rs :: truth
sestsis Articles at an absurdy low price, one cent
Oaoh" and other articles q strictly propo.tonats
SriCe, AID Afterwards auditing and paying Ounny,
NJ. Fiag9. paying" isn's n?) l3,52S SO for
aytiacs Gris6sd, the contract was in mea-
Uurs suspended by . concurrence Of views
AefveeC The person who made the contract for the
arSdos furnished and work cone and who audited
(1I3628 38), and the stStionefs Who furnished tho
SrttcIss! There must have been concurrence OF
views ~ TO thu noosensical proposition to furnish
nlmest "eyery article ON the beard Tor only one
win Kr. Flaxg please explain to us il Ia this
oass the contract fulfilled thnkiog tbs articles
heiDg "of superior quality" was worth the money;
8 Was s like the contracts Tor street cleaning pad
81 The Gem stroller, Notwithstanding the refusal OF
n. Glasier and the rapid accumulation OF hls1 In
ssr thoroughbred II i not sufficient for Mr.. Fagg
70 say no "sddreesed circular TO the several nesss
n dopaEtmelts calling taeir attention to the terms
q the contract or that "a list of the articles to
10 supplied under the contract was printed, leaving
cat the pri " and that ths list was put on paste
beard and prepared With loop for hanging one o.
them up ia eacn department and bureau" II won't
q, Mr.. Flagg. Why sere thsss lists printed leav-
nag eat the priccs7" Did the tesd Of the depart
meat In a1y one Instance attach price to the srt
Gle required II not, hoy wore the prices o. them
furnished but mot specified :, fixed? Is it "stric
II prcporiopste price, for "peDbolder TO charge
(hirtyeig cenis,' while gallon OF ink vas speot.
6ed az ope cfas2 IT NAV be ao considering the real
Saue OF the ink aud Of the pen5ooer, but We do
think shas IL penholders suitable for the Mayor 8
bfhoe could b. furnished for four oeass per dozen
(page I099) An article If the best quality might
Sc had good enough for the Com ptroller ics az
"sxictiy prcportionsx price, and not charged thir
" eight cents for oDe-not dozer. page Ill
This Is q small ma tier 1t " tree, bu. mas much rs
Mr.. Flsgg has thought proper 70 cas- dust IN the
- ~ NV arrin1 cnncuIrenca of via