New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-18
MR.. THOMPSON'S METHODS,
NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE MAYOR.
MS REPLY TO THE LETTER SIGNED BY MANY
PROMINENT CITIZENS.

| his REPLY TO THE LETTER SIGNED BY MANY
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
On December 20, the following letter was sent 10
Mayor Edison, by G.. g. Williams, president of tho
Chemical Bank Wheeler II. Peckham. Austin Cor
bin, Jackson s. Schultz, j. & w. Seignan a. Co..
Horace X. Thurber. John Duncan's Sons, Van Vol
kenburgh d Leavitt, AmmidOwn a. Smith. f. o.
Matthiessen q Wiechors Sugar Refining Company.
Walston H. Brown. Charles Lanier, Kountze Broth.
ers II. G. Fahnestock, Edward Kemp, a. d. JUL.
liard'& Co., and d. b. Smith:
In view Of me reports concerning the Department %
Public Works printed in THE NEwYoRK TRIBUNE in re-
atOn to what known "a unbalanced bids, and the Civ.
Ing OF special orders for work IN amounts less than one
thousand dollars respectfully ask you request the
Commissioner OF Public Works TO giving such ORDERS
especially those to Maurice b. FLYNN and his companies
and Richard A. Cunningham and TO advertise for prOo
sails for the work ana materials supplied by these
parties.
Mr. Edison has written the following letter IN re-
ply sending a copy TO each person signing the letter
of complaint:
Mayors Office, New-York January II, 1893
Gentlemen have the honor to acknowledge tho re-
cept Of your etteFef the 26th utimo In which you ask
In view OF The reports concerning the Department
OF Public Works printed in THE NEwYoHK TRIBUNE in
relation TO what IL known as unbalanced bids, and tho
giving special orders for work in amounts less than one
or of Pl,bc Works m cease giving sch orders esneeial
ly those TO Maurice b. Flynn and his company, and
Richard A.. Cunningham, and to advertise for
pTSgSO'a now Tor the b wSk sRd o Sp
words you ask me 10 request the Commissioner OF Pub
lie works TO cease giving orders for work and materials
costing less than 81 900 especially the persons
firms named by you and TO request the commissioner 10
advertise for proposals for the work and material
supplied by them, while al the same time no evidence
bearing upon the subject accompanies your eommunca-
has been 10 any extent Investigated by you your
number, with view to asceraning whether In this re-
spect the interests the city have been dsregarded
not.
In response to your communication have 10
say that contracts at public letting required 70 be
made for coal supplied through the Department Of Pub
lie Works which has for years past been supplied
without such public letting. Representing other mate-
ais and supplies which has been the custom Of the De-
parmeDt to purchase without contract made at public
letting and respecting work done in the manner
have TO say that / examined the matter with great
IN the months OF March and April last with the as
sistance of Mr. George Andrews the Counsel 10 tho
Corporation and Mr. Allan Campbell, the then Control
Ter, and became convinced that the pubhc interests
could be better served in many by making pur-
ehases and doing WORK a. private corporation indi
yiduai would do the same In similar clfcunistnccS
Furthermore an examination at the same time - 10
prices paid by the Department for such work ana nate
ais did not show them to be excessive. Respecting mo
examinations referred to- have In writing the views OF
both the Counsel 10 the Corporation and Mr.. Campbell
well as the statement oil the Commissioners OF Pubic
WOrts-sghich were given TO me At my request at TIA
time, and which may be examined at my office.
In view Of these facts, and in view OF the fact that the
affairs OF The DEPARTING Of Public Works now being
investigated by tie Special Grand Jury OF tho Court Of
oyer and Teminer, 1t to unjust and unwise 10
condemn in advance OF the conclusions reached by me
Grand Jury. persons connected with or methods en-
ployed oy the Department In the matters especially
referred To In your communications. have no dispose
ton to Shield TO any eXteut excuse, dereicton or
dishonesty in any public official; and, rs nave stted III
my annual message TO the Board Of Aldermen II unon
investigation by The Grand July which trust ana believe
will be 81 the most thorough character II snail nlp ar
that the methods OF the department ere oI nav, eu
nimca 10 the public interests or thatahy ptson OF Per
connected with the Department nave dIec. 0i III.
directly derauded the city; 'hal' 10 lhe sA9ot ~ g
powers, such methods to be corrected anu SUCH
persons t. be punished. ,,,,,
Incident upon the close Of the year mas longer
than would wish my response to your 'a'ueu cOHi'
Yours, very truly, fkANhLlN lDSoN' +i'S"''