The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-15

Board % Aldermen.
HARD KNOCKS on COMPTROLLER PLA00.
The following rscy document was presented 70
the Board of Aldermen at their last meeting, and
ordered to be printed. We are enabled to furnish
II for tho eafcation OF Comptroller Flagg before it
reaches him In an official form -
The Committee on Repairs and Supplies, to
whom was referred the Communication from the
tonapJ r fss ss 80 ,b TO h a'S sta
pervieors, the Bosdoi Health aud the de part nen,s
bureaux and officers Of The Corporation, respectfully
report -
That they have duly considered The subject, ard
find that, contrary 10 rhs custom hitherto pursu ID
and established b. tle ordinances, the Com & ,Usr
has, on bis own ree possibility, and withou; tie
sjghlest shadow cffarcess made seiections or och
Hucies rom the different proposals, AZ, aecprdu1e
TO his peculiar sys,on OF economy, he thought could
be had, the 10 ives. cost 70 tue emf cxciuoi OF
all The otber articles tnc list, and ~ithJlt regard
to the aggregate est m.tos presented by socl Did,
der. This course, Ia viii be psrseiyod, n entirely
unprecedented, ard, Il permitted ia tolls instance,
may lead to abuses Of The worst description here
alter.
That this b ,ard may he the bsttcr enabled 70 40.
pre- ciatc, to Us fullest sxtsbt the malrcr in which
tic Comptroller has performed the dulles OF his
Office 10 tbs particular, your commlstse deem IL
cecessaiy 10 state that II tho system which ha do
sires TO adopt IL carried out by the INN N Coun
Oh. vii be injurious IN the cry AND completely
nullfy the contract system altogether.
wiil appear. by TIE annexed papers, tina. tho
Comptroller sdyertised for proposals. for stationery,
and That seven bids vera made by the folio xing
named persons who are engaged in the husinca3:
Nathan Lane Co.. 60 *al street.
Myer Phiness, 100 William street.
Rich a. Loutrel, 81 William street.
Sloie Jsnes, 96 oton street
DO Ene a Co., $50 Pearl st-eet.
j. @ B.aIs, 2G2 Broad way ana 7S Wall street.
Now, !. appears that by the list Of articles select.
cd, the Comptroller desires 10 award % % IN OF
tie above named pers,n the privilege Of setting -
the city su articles only AZ have been selected by
hun, without regard TO the aggregate amount "
ing 10 DO fair and equitsbe, viii have the effect
practically, Of tbrowing the great bulk OF tho pat
ropagc into the hands OF one house, and, at the ful
retail prices, instead OF the low contract priccs
which appear on the face OF tho various bids.
Some bidders, owing to tire peculiar method adopt.
cd by tie Comptroller OF decid,ug on the va Nous
BIDS, have sixniGtd their intca,ion not TO supply
which thro IS the furnishing Of many articles iato
the hands OF the house referred TO- who stand ready
70 furnish all, any Riti lea not their CONTRACT
AZ such prices % they may think proper 10 charge.
Upon Inquiry your com nttee fad shat II is utter
ly In pcssiblo to procure even the most ordinary
description OF articles ut the prices oamed, and they
feel constrained To state In accordance vita theft
belief, that the Comptroller was as thoroughly IN.
fo med on this matter ss they we're. rs he should 81
tbis time he thoroughly informed In all tae details
Of stationery. having Ada the snbsct his especial
study at the time a., ever since, he occupied the
high position Of Comptroller OF the state.
Nov, it will be doubtless eyiden. to your honor
sble body, THAI II would be impossible for any sta
TONER matter hoa low his rates 70 furnish sepa
ratfly eny Of the tcles n the prices annexed,
without serious loss. Those who proposed for the
contracts never imagined the rule which had been
heretofore established would be infruged Ia this
Instance, and they consequently acted in accord.
snce with their ususl oustom In making out tho
tens, quitting down some u the articles a. an ex
nemelJ low price and depending on the aggregate
amount Tor their ofirs-
10 view Of these facts your COMMITTEES think II
would be most gdvieabls TO have contfac. made
vita some responsible house, instead of bargaining
with bslf dozen different persous, and % bod each
department strictly accountable Tor the outlay,
urc der their own respective expenses la making
this suggestion theJ are ac'uated b. the belief tat
II rould better further the ends of economy in
tubs particular, than the system a. present In ope.
ration.
While your committee agree with the Conpt .oller
Ia tho ne osly 81 reducing the exp.i OF tee city
government, they beg leave to d fer with MIN In
his peculiar MANNER OF accomplishing 40 desirable q
result and they OF tire opinion th - the ends OF
justice might be Eubservei In a more honorable way
city treasury. He has COZ ituted himself Ia this,
4 o. in Other msters, the guardian over tho con.
si6ices o. tie officials OF the various departments
acting himself with all the urques stoned auth ,rity "
nj Iiailbc teat. Tls ability IL not oonf poi % the
mere payment Of bills, but extends even 70 the most
| min ute cetsls OF wax and waters blo,ting paper
| ARD i1k bottles, all Of which he intends % keep
herehfieI stored in y room which no informed your
homo able b d. he has rented al the annual snm OF
two hundred dollars. This he bias considered no
cess AIRY TO reduce rho expenses of tbs city few
Thousand doars In the year, while ho pr3poses 20
increase IL Ia other matters Of expenditure BY mil
loIs exhibiting sgain In this Ills narkabe AbiIi
~ in dealing with details.
The citizens Of this great metropolis wonder at tbs
extraordinary degee Of attention wnich he has Civ.
en- TO such triiIDg matter, In view of the fact iat
no attempt BIAS been made to diminish the ex penscs
Of other departments. Your com mit,ee, therefore,
recommend that the award for stationery presented
by tho Comptroller be not confirmed.
WV. B. DRAKE, Committee
SAMUEL II. EosER, on
HgsRr HofrHnE, Repairs and Supplies.