The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-25
THE AERIAL LADDER CONTRACT.

Il
SECRETARY WHITE Defends HrMsxIg AND THE
FIRE COMMISSION AGAINST THE n1pUrArroSs
OF yoBBEny.
Mr.. W. B. White, the Secretary or the Board Of
Fire Commissioner In response 10 resolution
OF the Board calling for information relative to MS
connection with the aerial and dying ladder
contract, yesterday submitted a Communication
OF which the following is q digest:-
Mr.. White stated that on the 18Th dav OF Sen
TENDER, 1874. he entered into an agreement to
purchase from Mrs ScottUda, under certain con.
ditons, the letters patent OF the United states
and Great Britain, the sole right and interest In
the improvementin nremen's ladders FOR the sum
OF $4,000 and In support thereof he produced the
contract between Michael Uda and Mary Scott.
Uda, his vile, duly signed and attested. He
further showed that on September L. 1874, he
paid Mrs. scott-Uda the sam OF S., 600 and on
September II tue sum OF $1,000 as required by
the provisions OF the contract; and on the next
DAY received q complete assignment, the original
o. which ne submitted to the Board for their in
spection.
on september IS the warrant or the city u New
YORK Ia payment for the right 10 manufacture
and use for municipal purposes the said invention
was delivered to Mrs. scott-Uda by her attorney.
Three days alter he received from Mrs. scott.Uda
the sum Of $4,000, ana on October 10 the addl-
ttonal sum OF So ia So In full FOR ali moneys re-
naming in her possession alter payment OF out
standing obligations 10y her MADE dependent
upon the collection OF the claim against this city).
II having been lurther veFoally agreed mat ne
should purchase the ladder trucks Drought to rms
met the approval OF certain interested parties
abroad. on November 30 ne paid Mrs scott-Uda
4 as per such agreement, 81. 000.
4 On December u, 1874. he also paid her $500 for
O certain improvement mace py DER after the
issue OF the original patents Prom the ABOVE
fnro a. nrstfl
derived oy NJ. waite from the purchase or the
4 Sir. White iGrtner claimed that his statement
proved Lnat ne eAd purchased the invention, TO-
n two countries ABOVE mentioned aud not toe etfn.
pie purchase VI the Claim against tile caty and in
conclusion said:-"l do not ieel called upon oy
the COmlnssl On Or ysell bY a portion OF the pub
4 lie press, Jet will recall 10 your recollection the
fact that tie contract On wncu TINS claim against
tue ciIJ was based was concluded, As YOU arc
aware IN tne meeting q your honorable Board
mltted - the Finance Department by your
order or ayment on February l2--thaa Is to say,
seven months before THIS project 81 sale on the
part OF Mrs. Scett.UGa, wnicn Iact OF itself ex.
| ciudes any Intention 20 unauly tnduence IA my
own fayof or IN that 81 toe CoGmission the pay.
meat had indeed been drawn ~ the Comptroller
aud vas couatersened ~ the Mayor some lime in
the month u Nav, out was Withheld from the
II claimant Tor reasons nos assigned Some months
later the Comptroller ~ lssrenu usy opposng the
\ payment, SUIT was instituted with eyeiy prospect
o. al lndenuite pr0lOngati0n. Under these clrcum-
Stances MRS. scott-U da desiring to sell, tue pur.
chase was made BY me with view
81 OBTAINING possession OF patent De.
neved 10 be or value. Inc tnen pending aud m.
settled claim against TINS citT as y0u will see
( % reierfing % the agreement. was not made tue
subject ~ aay speclal menu0n " Arrangement,
put IKE various other NEGOTIATIONS more less adj
vanced 10 Otucr cities, naturally aud inevitably
came INTO my possession with the patent suisse.
quent 70 my purchase l carefully reiraned from
| attempting, directly OF indirectly 10 Influence
the same. Tue claimant had closed her neR0ua.
lions Win tae Fire Department. tAe contract aad
| pegu stipulated At tue exact figures alterward
paiu. and had received every unlciai audit end
formahty which tue Commission or /, AZ tts secre.
I tary could give seven months De ore my Official
relations win lei we're ended. sac was, u. The
time Of NY purchase, engaged Ia litlgaiion with
the finance Department, winch preciudsd any In.
terlerence on ms part officially Or ULlerwlse.
knew ana know OF no law lOrDtddIug my enter.
ing as q private ciuzen into a transaction in
wulcn NJ Official influence and duty were no
longer c0ncei ned, ahd u not therefore eel that
Il WAS voating any Official obligation 70 cue " IA.
aloners IN en- erlng Int0 the ABOVE business con.
tract without tneif knOwleua8 or cOnsent.u
CONSCIOUS that tue CITY mas nOt ICst pao dollar
By ny actl0u IA lie premises, ana leehng tHAt
your hon eraDle commission bas been ~ no way
compromised BY he same, Az not leel called
upOn 10 Ohef Shy apologies lVr step takeu, 70
tue best o. iny gei!el "a tue entilely leNtimats
| exercise vi My rleaia ~ private olNaea,D