New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-20
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM CONDEMNED.

THE NONlhhCI NO-NAA@-"-''%A'
SUPPLIES FOg THE DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND
CORRECTION TO BE BOUGHT IN OPEN MARKET.
The Commissioners of Charities and CoTrec-
tion have adopted a resolution offered by President
Inleer providing that the purchasing clerk shall buy
hereafter IN Open market all supplies required for the
Department that III all the supplies shall be
fought at the lowest cash prce that lists OF articles
needed shall not be gwen 10 individuals or hTms until
inquiry and examination shah have shown their goods
10 be The cheapest and the best that stOi all persons
FIRMS or of whom inquiry shall be made shall be kept by
The purchasing clerk and that samples OF supplies snail
be submitted 70 the Board for Inspection, before pur
chase IA all cases where time will permit. President
I,mbeer states that since assuming his Official duties
On NAV he has carefully studied the relative merits OF
the system Of purchasing supplies by contract ana that
of buying goods open market through saaried pur-
chasing agent appointed by and held directly respon-
SMILE 70 the Board OF Commissioners From nvestiga-
ton and from actual experience he became satisfied he
rays that the of purchasing in the open market
I'm the manner indicated would lie cheaper aud every
way preferable to buying under the old contract sys
tenn which Is open TO irregularities and has generally
proved more costly and unsatisfactory
Under the old system IL was customary 70 adveruse
for bids ioi various supplies in large quantities Whe
supplies needed in limited quantities were bought 10y
the purchasing clerk according 70 his own personal
preforence Advertisements for tenders for contract
MIR IAimbeer says have rarely received satisfactory
response. As a rule the bidders have been few ana
MANY il not majority of ITEM have been irresponsible
the larger wholesale dealers frequently hoidhg aiooI
and declining enter into competition Win blddeIs
whose we're inadequate TO the iuuIlheht OF
The terms OF contracts. Supplies purchased ~
contract nave consequently often proved inferior 10 the
samples upon which the awards were based ana ASIDE
from annoying DELAYS IN their delivery, they nave not
uufreoueuy been found Of scan weight; while goods
bought in small quantities have often proved unwar,
rantaby expensive as The purchasing clerk mas FURNISHED
sls Of the articles needed 10 favOntes, thus 10 great
extent preventing proper competition among extensive
and responsible dealers IN the articles from time To time
required. -
he new instituted by the resolution Of Pres
dent Iaimbeer designed, he says, 10 eradicate the
evils which existed under the old custom, ana
which could not be prevented except by thorough ana
absolute change the manner OF purchase. supplies
costing about $4,000 now purchased Tor the depart
meni monthly Deing at the rate CT SOcOOJ per snuum
very considerable reduction OF TINS amount, Mr. LAIN
heer thinks wall result from "a street enforcement OF his
resolution for the fahiment OF which however IL VIII
he necessary that purchases shall he MADE III sums OF
less than 81 600 each the law providing that acquisitions
for Goods aIgeI amounts shal De hed " COnIact.