New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-26
ooMMISSloNER rH0MPS0NS METHODS.
TUE COUNCIL OF REFORM REITERArEs IT'S CHARGES
OF VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Fdward Morrison w u WHITING I a.

TUE COUNCIL OF REFORM REIIERArEs IT'S CHARGES
OF VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Edward A. Morrison, W. d. Whiting, j. c.
Sanders, Noble Stearns Joseph Haight, g. III. Boyer
and Horace Winans, committee OF the Council OF Re
FORM yesterday called the Mayor and presented their
answer to the reply of Commissioner Thompson, with
reference charges of Illegal transactions I'm tic De
part nent Of Public Works They reiterated the charge
thst Mr.. Thompson had violated the provision OF the
which requires all purchases for supplies involv
ing an expenditure of than 81 900 10 be made ny
contract. The main parts OF the follows:
Orders gwen for 1888 tons of coal in 1881
ing 5000 and LIB tons III 1872 costing SlO079 for
the high service pumping works at Niney-sey enth-st
and Ninthaye and orders Tor 2,l2s tons In 1881 cost
Ing $i0444 and Tor 322 tons In 1882 costing $l3Ai6
for the high service ~ High Bridge These works
quire regular, fixed and known quantity of coal week
by week and year by year II supplying these works
the relating to contracts 1t is impossible TO frame
language that will express definite idea Tnls
law intended TO take away all dsc ton from the
city officials regard to the manner In which such pub
works should be done and such supplies furnished.
1t has been decided by the Court Of Appeals that this is
the meaning and effect OF this law One OF the grounds
which Mr. Ihompso tustlies mis- practice OF evading
ORDERS Is that Quantity OF coal Tor these pumping
works as furnished ~ is5 Sy pdCe n eIhg When wa
this method OF obtaining coal has been abandoned by
contracts afford for testing the quantity and quality
OF COAL any other supply, than puDhc contracts II
Another dsienoe made by Mr.. Thompson is that he
has had the sanction OF the Counsel OF the corporation
Gil due pect for the learning honesty and ndepend-
enee Of the average monuments oi TINS once, we sun
think that under the circumstance In which IL has been
aud perhaps administered IL has not been con-
ndered as altogether uninpeachsbe authority on
the Interpretation OF Law. Its opinions are not bnding
on city officials bat merely advisory. Whatever
sneet they may have III other respects, they cannot
shield the Commissioner OF Public Works from the effects
o. allowing the property OF the city 10 be wasted by
oss or cupable neglect OF duty In paying 20 per cent
nore for coal than the market price Another defebce
tha Mr. Thompson makes Tor this practice Is that there
are no accommodation for storing coal al the stations
lir fiUe Iipre TIVE nj VII
acres OF public ground AT High Bridge and ample room at
Ninety -seyenth-st. Tor years supply.
f0r the particular purpose OF laying Crotop pipes
private orders ere given 10 julius johnson amounting
os5l, SIG during the year 1881 and nine months VI
1882 for furnishing hydrants under this appropriation
We eau furnish you with positive evidence that
a n equally good could have been procured BY
eonract at 40 cent less than price paid by this
Department. The defence made by Mr. Thompson for
WIS evasion and waste 10 that this work could only lie
oobe under the dire ,tion OF Common Council and
tnat the amounts called for by these ordinances with
one or two exceptions, were less than 81 OOO Just the
reverse OF this rs the TACT as you will by consulting
the records OF the Common n the amounts
Leqnred by these ordinances had uniformly less
Than $1,000 EACH contracts for supplying these castings