The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-17
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.

The system of dividing and letting out the
work of the city, by auction, to the lowest bid
ders is by no means new; it is, on the con-
trary, u return to system which has beeJ,
tried in the past and under which some good
and much bad work has been done. At ftrst
blush the system would seem to- be founded in
error. 1t would appear that a corporation,
HkEE ah fndSiatals cdilH NJ itetowIhwprk more
economically and satisfactorily than by the
employment of agents or contractors. who
must Of course make money, either by the
legitimate profits on their contracts or BIZ
swindling the city. a.
Experience, however-which has been The
death Of innumerable theories and which is,
after all, the bestscboph for nations and cities
as well rs for individuals proves that public
work is best done by contract where proper
care Is taken In drawing up the specifications
and in supervising the contract from Its be-
ginning to its close with rigid scrutiny -
The great trouble in the past has been that
bids have been accepted by the city at prices
that left no margin fF honest profit, and
which reHdered # Imperative that the con-
tractor should swindle the city to save him.
self from becoming bankrupt. In making
these low bids the contractor counted unon
the dishonesty of some ut least, Of the Off
cials; he calculated, for instance, that If The
specifications called for six inches of good
lake Shells and he could hoodwink or bride
an officiHltnto rqe wing thfee INCHES Of infe-
riArsltefs, 1T woufd'be safe md Profitable for
him to put in bid at a less price than tho
ACTUAL cost OF the shells demanded by the sbe-;
cliications. There is not a contract to be let
out by the city which does not afford many.
opportunities for fraud, and fraud can only
be prevented by the most lynx-eyed wateh-
fulness sgl the part Of those officials whoss
duty it is TO guard the peoples interests iii
these matters
We regard the ca eful and thorough inLi
spection Of work do or the city by contract,
as among the most important duties that will,
devolve hereafter upon the Administrators,
There is and can be no valid excuse for the
reception by the city of work which has bdent
f l II. Sf b. lE An1tr hiqe should
be paid and good work required -"
With inefficient or corrupt officials the con-
tract system has been and would be AGAR, n
curse to the city. Fortunately the character
Of the present Council is such as to insptrei
confidence in the result of the present expert
mcnt
We are glad to see that district contracts, |
rs opposed to ward contracts, have been
lyEvbd sw@ u 6ssetAthd Hbmber of
ssst Rtss4 az / ~, S'at {sf'y y. sss
20 reduced it would be a further improve
nent n
1t is far better for the city to deal with III
ew responsible and large contractors than !
With large number of small ones. 4
disagreeable "reminiscences of the old CON
ract times is the number of lawsuits brought \
lgainst fthe.c By smalLeoptFsetors for thet
Of fahtied or tr,Ahp ped -utt damages.
let the Administrators be guided in this new I
rial OF an old system by the experience of
heir predecessors in the past. Let them
brow around the contracts to be awarded
very possible and proper safeguard, and bel
,uided in their awards not in all cases by the 7
owest for 1t is quite possible that the lowest !
nay be the worst bid, but by the ability Of f
hq qqqtpsctEr to4tpeyfq1R satisfa4o tory work +
7 o reasonable figure.
The attempt to secure work or material or \.
9th at prices below their actual worth always e
nds disadvantageouslya and is really Offering i
premium to rascality. What the people =
ant is work faithfully performed and ford
his they arc willing to pay living prices, ,
evere and long continued experience has
lugbt them that this is cheapest in the end 4
he poorly pafd clerk is apt to prey upon his
a poorly paid contractor is certain
} prey upon the city.
With proper care and vigilance on the part
the city authorities we believe the happestl
esults will flow from the contract system
ct it hive at least fair and full trial