The Portland daily press., 1884-02-29
That Coal Business.

That Coal Business.
Mayor Deering yesterday, to reporter Of
the Advertiser, made reply to the state
ments concerning the city's coal contracts
published in the PRESS yesterday morning.
We reproduce his statement in full that the
readers of the PRESS may know just what
he has to say in this important matter. He
disputes in certain points the statements of
the gentleman whose story we published
yesterday, and where they disagree the pub
lie must judge between them in the light of
the facts which are known and undis-
puted. Mayor Deering admits that he sold
the coal to Mr.. Sargent who was the con-
tractor to supply the city. He appears to
think this was justifable proceeding be-
cause first he had not, as he and Mr. Sar-
gent both say, made any arrangement to do
so before the committee of which he is
chairman had made the contract with Mr..
Sargent, and because (second) he knew that
he had good article which it would be for
the interest of the city to purchase.
How much faith must be given to the de-
NAL of these gentlemen that there was no
antecedent collision between them, when
confession of collision would be clear con-
fession of violation of law, is a matter about
which those who know them best have the
best means for forming correct opinion.
We shall not pronounce their condemnation.
Perhaps it is perfectly proper that after the
contract was made the contractor should
purchase the coal of the Mayor, If he had
not previously agreed to do so; but we think
there is grave question of propriety In
volved, grave in law as well as in the morals
of public duty.
The language of the statute is ssNo MEM
Der of any city government shall be interest
ed, directly or indirectly, in any contract
entered into by such city government while
he is member thereof. The Mayor, for
whose legal attachments we have not much
respect, seems to think that this applies
only to an interest that is arranged for
and agreed to, or, at least, understood, be-
fore the contract is made. We think there
isno doubt that the statute contemplates,
also, an interest originating after the con-
tract. At all events if the law permits such
dealings as these the Mayor and Mr.. Sargent
admit, the door is left wide open to corrup-
ton. Any two business men who could not
arrange divide of the profits of contract
without ITS being a matter of record would
| be dull indeed.
But this case has peculiar features which
are not explained. The Mayor stipulated in
in the advertisement fer bids that the con-
tractor should buy certain kind of coal to
be shipped from Philadelphia. We are told
that when he was asked by member of the
committee why he made the advertisement
in this form he said he did it because that
coal could be obtained nowhere else. Sup
pose it should be the case that Mayor Deer
ing was the only person through whom that
coal could be conveniently and proftably
shipped from Philadelphia to Portland,
would not that form of advertisement have
a peculiar significance?
There are other points which the Mayors
reply does not explain. Why was there no
stipulation that the coal should be screened2
In speaking of the coal he found in the
school houses he says the screenings which
were just as good for steam purposes we're
all used up" Are they just as good? If
they are why does not the city buy screen
ings which can be had very cheap? Anoth-
er pertinent question, since screenings are
very cheap, is, Why did the Mayor pay Mr..
Sargent for screenings the full price OF
screened coal? Anybody could make money
by being permitted to sell the city screenings
at the price of screened coal, but we do not
expect Mayors who lay claim to superior
business qualifications and uncommon con-
Germ foI the public interests to permit it to
be done. This explanation is too thin.
Another matter not explained by the
Mayor is the manner of delivery of the coal,
without notice to the city officials in charge
of the buildings, and without official weigh
ing. If there was no wrong in this affair it
demands public condemnation for its loose
ness and insecurity as business transac-
ton. A Mayor who does the city's business
in that way is plainly unfit, and should be
promptly retired.
As to the Mayors boasts about the supe-
riority of his coal, in the first place they are
not to the point. The law forbiding him to
be interested in any contract with the city
has no proviso allowing him to be interested
if he can supply the city better article. If
his coal was much as much better than any
other as he says it is, it would not excuse the
improperly or the looseness of this opera
ton, to stigmatize it by no harsher terms.
But unfortunately for the Mayor nobody but
himself and Mr.. Sargent thinks his coal is
the best. What we had heard about the
coal led as to make a thorough investigation
of the matter yesterday, the results Of which
are reported elsewhere. Any respectable
citizens can satisfy themselves of the cor
RICHNESS of this report by taking look at
the coal in the schoolhouses. We presume
the Mayor will show his sincerity by in
structing the janitors to admit respectable
citizens to see the coal he has supplied. We
suggest that the piles of dirt aid screenings
in the High School building, for all of which
the Mayor has paid the price of the best coal,
1915 ton, be inspected by the curious.
A word about the pretended economy.
The testimony of the janitors as to the
wastefulness of the coal is conclusive, and
it is apparent that the supply will soon be
exhausted. "One Who Knows claimed in
Wednesdays Argus that the Mayor had
saved $50 tons, valued at $500, by supplying
a better article. Let us see about this. He
says he sold to Sargent, Dennison 6 Co.
1141 tons. His advertisement called for a
quantity not to exceed 100 tons, which is
fifteen tons more than Mayor Libby adver-
tised for. If Mr.. Sargent delivered all to
tine city at $5.75 per ton his bill amounted
to $6560.7 Is. The whole cost of fuel, etc.,
wood and all kinds Iof coal) supplied to
the City building, the school houses and the
engine houses, for last year was $6506.79,
according to the auditors report. If we add
in Mr.. Sargent's unpaid bill, the amount is