New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-24
MIR. THOMPSON'S REPLY.
THE CHARGES oFTHE COUNCIL OF REFORM.

only four charges which may reduced to two general
accusatons that he had "evaded" some provisions
OF law the other that he had been guilty Of clear
breach or certain statutory mandates A positive III
fraction OF law alleged in the last three of the four
charges he would for convenience of discussion first
consider those three
The charge made that for painting actually done
in the Department Of Finance, cOurtrooms and judges
rooms in the County Court House, MI
Thompson paid the sum Of $l,G73 Ia out
OF tie appropriation entitled County Court
House Completion Of" aud that this should
have been contracted for, the exceeded $1,000
The payments In question: he says were made from the
very fund which, at the request OF the then Commits
sOner Mr.. Campbell, July 10, $780, was transferred ny
the Board Of Estimate ana Apportonment upon sep
TENDER TO- 1880 from the fund for the construction OF
the Court House" to the appropriation required for
County Court House Building, completion or" MT
Campbell both Commissioner and Controller, ana MI
Thompson, Commissioner considered the title OF TINS
Appropriation ample TO cover expenditures Tor the pahE
ing In the Department OF Finance, which was strictly VA
nature Of completion and not OF repairs being laer
coats of paint walls which had never been fally
painted as also appeared to b the fact concerning the
other walls.
The charge that he had delayed the construction of the
elevator in the brown-stone building Mr. Thompson
by saying that he believes that he had full dis
erection when order the work done His authority Tor
procuring "A certain kind elevators given him oy
the Board OF Aldermen The sane answer applied 10
the repairs OF the armOrles Essex and Tompdns
Markets.
TIE fourth principal charge, Mr. Thompson says, Is
that as successor u discharged superintendent he had
appointed Chief OF the Bureau of Repairs and Sup
plies person disqua by for the position, he
not being practical builder. Mr.. Thompsons answer
20 this IL that Thomas H. McAvoy, the present supern-
tendent several years ago nominated by Mayor
Cooper to be superintendent OF the Building Depart
ment and that H. Is of the very few persons holding
| "A te
certifying his competency for that position under tine
Laws Of 1867. lie this certificate conclusive
evidence upon the question raised, but 1T Il true as
matter Il fact that Mr. McAyOy Is an experienced arch
tcct and builder"
LETTING JOBS WITHOUT RECEIVING BIDS.
1.-THE remaining charge" Commissioner Thompson
saws "s thar disregared aud eyaded the provisions Of
the charter and conducted the business OF the Depart
ment OF Public Works defiance ofald contrary to law
prudence economy. The law 20 which reference u
most particularly made part OF section OIL VI the
Charter requiring contra t. for all work or supplies IN
yoyiug the cxpend ure than $1,000. to be let
sealed bids aud proposals. IT, is charScd .at INV
subdvidcd entire JOBS 10 allow me- 10 make several
contracts each little less than ~ ,OOO without TecelV
ng sealed bids proposals" The commissioner denies
thai hc hee either IN fact or IN intent eVHded tne Jaw
H. understands that the AUTHORITY o. The head OF De
partuent is general where not limited, and tnat
| bis expenditures are 10 be made acc, rdng 70 us
best judgment ana upon his official rcsp'nIbilty Ac-
cofdngy bs bad alwnys felt No liberty - ioo" MS own
Judgment The public benefit. concerning exprnl
lures ~ 900. and have never ascrr anei
!
fur-s So "a Ia uring hem limit. AID then TO
call for sealed bids fience IL rcsults that It Is not
awaYs necessary wise to Aggregate similar sla cr
expenditures. ~ a. 10 make coI pound loo OF sup2,
| costing more than LOCO la.e Tor eHaini'.e me
coal Tor a9ucluct PURPOSES used at tie Itch service
! at tie TIg. Bridge aud That instead nave
frequently bought coal IN smaller qnantliie. costing
her # miles np4it aud pure ace OF coal FOR station
| u l1b' supply essentially disconnected with a
necessary purchase 1899 worth Of coal for caca
station. Il would not constitute snSe JpO or supp! o
~ the law but is the inevitable result Of the e1
rene, Of any person charged with supplying tnesc t"o
"Tnaliy my action ia entirely within the authority OF
Char.er nv the Court Appeals Ia tne case
OF Fapcs swift at line Mayor (s3 n. y 52sl. In tnal
services $500 per month, where e clear aud the
| many months A action for several thousand dollars
having been brought against the city upon thls ofh
contract the defence raised that the contract IN
| vovcd an expenditure OF more than $1,000 ana was
therefore invalid not having D,en lVlndeI on -saed oS
sud proposals. The Court OF Appeals ONerrle 1no uc
fence. Judge Rapailo signing he opinon 81 tue Hourt
h th, , ~ yaend III ~ more t5an 81 900 The en-
ploymcnt Tor service continuous III ia character
| bat terninnblc a. the pleasure OF the employer.
&" Ia Eo one day.. MI Thompson slys; 1 dd putehsse
for pace coal worth more Than 1000, ava III the
two thrre instances where Two orders we're gwen on
| one day, Tor HIN Bridge anu tue 0thef Tor
etyscycnih-st.. several miles away; The sane con,
| for bouevaris, roads and avenues, and for roads,
| streets ana avenues, unpsyed. etc. am Wiling 10
To- The ruth Of nv statement hgt they nave been
Ae' IN oT' ,i s o I'm nav, nr.fcrreG not 10 submit
their maintenance TO the risk Of competitive bidding
now MATERIALS WE'RE PURCHASED
| The purchases Of hydrauts, stolrcocks aud other
| castings from JulIns Jonson Co.. aud from Gay &
uotrLk.s Field A Coz were made Ia the exercise Of the
pow recognized "a be IA heads Of departments by the
| opinion already cited These materials were required
only a. solutions passed 10y the Common Council
from Time TO umc authorizing he laying Of WateFpipes
and there was aud Is no authority contrast Tor snch
articles In nhuci htloh or ANY hh'e Oh sun -, 100.
All OF purchases were mHue a. tue lowest prices
compeiitions instituted from time to time when
! the supplies required al one uhe WIe arg
lad upon the fact that some OF these articles were
nora, on delivered November 30, 1877, 10 the eject hat
section 10 oi toe charter concerning Patentei articles
lion 10 surh articles those under consIerton Inc
several purchases upon single day oi aIucs sad 10
| cisconuected This true TO the orders upon
Guy C.. liotcbkss, Flcd * Co Tor supplies III the
| These articles were required from time 10
time IN keeping IN good shape $50 miles OF pipes. 5000
stop.cocks. and $500 hrc-ht diants me teHs were
entirely distinct uuderekng- calling each Or us pecu'
liar kind ana number OF articles not capable 81 "huo'p"
his f. equally true a. to the orders upon the same
drm Tor manuoc Lends aud covers, required as occa-
sou demanded TOT the pa. 90 VI v ,ns No C,,
1890 receiving basins ana ZVOoO mano''s, 40 In
tive contract any since tho present charter took
! effect.
| THE ORDERS TO II. A. CUNNINGHAM
"Criticsm 10 made respect OF orders given to L. A.
Cunningham for restorng puycments over street open
ipgs Every ono of these rcstOraOus was single ana
disconnected Job involving never more than 80, ana
seIdom more than S1O. II the custom naugurated
by NY predecessor Mr.. Campbell approved by the theh
Controller and followed by me, not to give out each
lob separately but to group together number Of SUCH
order not exceeding S $780, and give them cut as one
The complaint made concerning the order Tor sewer To-
| pairs and cleaning given to Mr. cunningham 10 also
- =. ha.I eau nll
Brown against the Mayor 90 Howard SID, tuat II Is
innracticabIs to repair by contract Ana THIS
was because In advance the actual uncOyerlng OF the
no one can foresee the extent OF repairs necessary
| sufficiently prepare contract ~,
The criticised for settling new boilers at Hgh