New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-26

had
D U,nst had been made. This conclusive eVioenco
Us too strong for Mr. Thompson, and he mas Deeh
obliged 10 admit his "error" as follows
o'"e DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
co,nussIoS.R's OFFicE No. 81 CHAMBERS SGskEr'
NEw-YoRK, December Is, 1883
NO., FRANKLIN Epson, Mayor. and Chairman Boara OF
Estinaie and Apporttonns ,, q, MY, Denartment
samate for iss4 of for Boring Ex& Pa
nations for Grading taSs Sna aemnt which had for
Thai purpose Through an error OF tne
ns therefore respectfully request that the sun 70, or
ten thousand dollars be appropriated IN and Sewer
lisa for Boring Very 1Tespectfay,
WuBFRr O. THOMSON, Commissioner OF Puonc WorAS
whether or not there was any error on the part
90 The corresponding clerk car easily be inferred
- ~ tIe fact that the total of all the
So in Mr.. ThompsoR's estimate as
Given in different places, agreed ex actly with the
items named excluding the $1O,ooo 1or Dorihss,
md also from the fact that there is no warrant III
law or precedent for any appropriation lot asSeSS
ment work.
THE RIGHT TO REJECT UNBALANCED BIDS
t. bas been shown that the change in the statue
has not had the slightest effect on Commissioner
lrbompson in regard to letting contracts on uhoa-
anced bids But able and experienced lawyers say
that the Commissioner always had the right 10 to
loot sncb bids. without regard to the Consultation
Act This right was particularly reserved 10y 'he
Commissioner IN all the proposals, ior 'heso oon-
tanned the following clauses ,,.,
The right Is expressly reserved by the CommissGner
of Public Works to reject any or All Diis WHICH ~ '
deem pIeudcial to the public interests -.
Each bidder agreed to these conditions III SUBMIT,
ting his bid by signing paper TO that elec'' anu
os a matter of fact the department mas hloIo
than once withdrawn advertised letting anu
returned the proposals of contractors without hA-
ing an award. r;u
Fxnerienced lawyers have given it as their opln.
nj ~, any On
+be citv TO carry out contract which was haudu-
L.. ON the face of il, SUCH for instance, as the
brady contract, where IS cubic yard was PAID
Cor aortb excavation the fair value of which, ac-
cordinp TO other contracts, was about my cents
crh;c ward OF the OCrady contract, where SSV
cubic ward was paid for rock excavation but tne
BRADY contract like many others, was let after the
law was changed; showing that Commissioner
Thomson had no desire to protect the city, ou'
worked rather in the interest OF the contractors
This is the more evident from the fact that men
who are his personal and polltlcal associates
are the ones who are most successful
- Getting remuuerative contracts while
o,ber bidders are sometimes made TO suffer
as IL TO punish them for their temerity in bidding
AGAINST Mr.. Thompson's friends. Contractors not
In favor with Mr.. Thompson complain that a rule
pf the Public Works Department, which requires a
bidder TO deposit with his bid certified cheek 10
the amount of five per cent of his total bid, worKs
to their injury. In this way persons IN the depart
ment now before bid is opened exactly what
rhetot,l amount is, because they have in their
osaossion check for five per cent of the bid. To
bidder who hands in his proposal at the last mo-
,oont this information would be certain to secure
him the contract.
SHOWING HIS CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW
In 1891 the Legislature passed an act requiring
aepartment heads to reduce their expenditures ior
the following year. with the purpose OF decreasing
The expenses of the City Government. The salary
NJ the Commissioner of Public Works was reduced
from $40 1000 to g.. 900, and he was expressly re-
opired TO make reduction of ten per cent in the
aggregate to be paid for salaries and compensation
of nersons employed by or in such de-
nortmentp This statute Commissioner Ihonp-
son has treated with the same contempt that he mas
shown for Others For the three months ending sep
TENDER 80, $780, the last quarter OF the term vi
Mr. Thompsou's predecessor, there was PAID out ior
salaries and compensation OF persons employer
nv the department the sum of SSOA.3SS' IhlS
;ncluded sums maid out from the CrotOn Water
Main finds and other funds not now IN existence.
For the three months ending on September 30
1888 for salaries and compensation Of persons en-
nloved in his department, Mr.. Thompson paid ont
Rsa6. S0O-an increase of 81 per cent. This is the
wav Mr. Thompson observes the law intended TO
reduce the city expenses.
Az has already been shown, he has increased
the travelling expenses of his department
over 100 per cent, aud the same ratio OF loss
TO the city makes other funds in which there are
opportunities for fraud, and for swelling the pay
rolls For instance the supplies for and cleaning OF
nublic offices cost the city $I5,59a for the three
months ending on September 80, 1880, the last OF
Mr.. Campbelps term. For three months ending Oh
September 80 1888 for the same purpose the city
paid So .s33, an increase of 40 per cent, under
Mr. Thompson. And it costs no more to clean a
private Office now than it cost three years ago
This with the instances already given of paying
men for doing no work for the city illus
trates how Commissioner Thompson swells thu
pay-rolls with sinecurists and politicians
ENTERTAINMENTS ON IRON PIPES.
The over payments on contract extends even Il
contracts for iron pipes On one OF these contract
let for $40, $40 Mr.. Thompson paid $3O,osS; OF
another contract let for $4,699 he paid SO,OJ4
ON another let for S5 I, geo he paid $6A,6O2 and
on another let for $aG,725 he paid $5@,5s7
Some curious facts to be given hereafter in regard
10 the pipe contracts with the relations existing be
tween contractors and the department, will throw
light ON Mr.. Thompsons methods. Even when II
comes to collecting money for the city the same
mal-administration is manifest on Mr. Tbompson's
part. The frauds in TIE Water Bureau of his de
partment are already occupying the attention o.
the Grand Jury. Since those frauds were mrs.
brought to the attention of the public there ha
been an astonishing increase in the amount O
>mouey turned into the city treasury from this
source There was a decided Improvement aftel
the legislative committee began an investigation
in 1882. But for the year 1881, the first of Mr.
Thompson's administration there was loss to thu
city of $49,sO8 from this source as compared
with the previous year. Aad this Notwithstanding
the fact that I,29I additional meters were put IL
during the year 1881, and 2,0s@ new building
were erected on which therewas an average charg'
of about Sis