New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-22


THE RIGHT To REJECT BIDS.
Referring to the letting OF contracts Mr. Thompson OK
planned that every contract had to be approved In writ
ing by the Cooperation Cjunse that OF each contract
three copies made, all Of which were signed by the
Corporation Counsel IL said that up 10 April, 1888
the law lnr,d tn C)nms5iOl.r Of Public Works, or
any other deparm mt award all contracts to
the lowest bidder He did not know that he had any dis
creOnTy power in the matter except where obvious
fraud existed, and he advised by the Corporation
Counsel AMI his predecessors. In April, 1883,
passed the Consolidation Act which
was supposed TO be Colihcaton OF
all the laws relating to the city government II not
sad Mr. Thompson. supposed to embody any new law
II was not until August, 1888, that NE appr'ed Of
the fac that The Consolidation Act gave the head OF
department thc right absolutely TO throw ont all bids He
| added:
It's very unfortunate that such power should ha given
to the head OF any Department. because you can fcAJlb
how such power could be aDu ed b. an improper
person; and 70 what imput atoms the exercise OF such
power would subject he head OF department. however
| cautious and careful ne may have been.
| Mr.. Whiuldgc-Do you not think the right to throw
! ont bids should be given to somebody
sir. Thompson-Ycs In 40, about the early part OF
| January when ] DepGty Commissioner OF Public
Works under Mr.. Campbell, there MAS introduced D'
which was drawn up largely In the C1poiaion COlhsciS
Among other things # provided by clause OF TINS
bill that contracts should DC awarded TO the lowest Dd
within five days after the letting OF the contract nofy
the Mayor that IA ms judgment an o. inc Du7 1Gu ~
TO the Mayor not as he saw tit think that
| would b. a very wise provision.
Mr. WhiiridIc -In cases where the lowest bidder
supposed 10 be an improper person was there no means
by which the Commissioner could change the letting OF
Mr. Thompson Absolutely mono prior to April. 1888
II was unfortunate tate or affairs, and c0np'ed is
sometimes 10 let contracts To whom we know to be
every way irresponsible Take the case q the
work I'm -iXty-seCOud-st. II was let hYe dlucrent
times. When / first entered the Department IN
March, 1859. II being let and sin being Jet when
For this The lowest bidder was person VINO
could not quality, and had irresponsible surelieS Ihe
they would not come forward aud sign tue contract
Early IN 1851 had conversation with number or per-
sons IN the Deparmeltandi was suggested nv somebody
tn1 ID act passed rqulliug contractors 20 deposit
certified check, cash, amounting to say about per
cent OF ne surely required none put frpohSi,ic men
would BIZ because 10 one would want 10 lose rue
wa passed by the LEGISLATURE oi 1851. II has afforded
much relief n you want TO do something practical to
10 pass I. % bin propose In 1879.
Nr Wmrdc.-Pror 20 the passage Of the Consolla-
Il way "a, To prevent .rIud.
Mr. Thomp3pn-f mad nothing to do with examining
me correct one statement. When said tie heal or
Department bad to award contract 70 The loves. bidder
formal bii-that f. for instance bid where only one
surety IL furnished when the law requires t"o or t9at
has other gIlaty-thi1 would ut apply, Under
the Old Sv~r-lciorc the certified check cI-n deposit
wa. r.nliir-d-tlprc was contractor named Jarnc
bidding under diiI-at eIs 20 it Wa assumed by
some people, no; by me-imd his Dondsmcn WgiN De
~ oi Pf Ti n Tsc c5ni !o Rd To- be- rsad
yc1t.cd 1T different times. Untn, through my iustrl
mentality, this law passed II was impossible 90 get
bOda iide bidder for that contract.
BIDDING UNDER ALIASES.
Senator Dale't-WolA you De very much surprised TO
learn tult people were bidding under aliases uovi
M Thomp5on-I should The Dopartm mt hI' no Sis
pciou OF anything Of that sort being done. Very ilc
alrnty contractor will have nj, foreman bid while he
furnishes the -rIcuc~. O course the Department. AS no
official KNOWLEDGE t!a Ito contractor j. h' surely Inc
man h. whom TIE bid is awar.cdi@ tArouly man o whom
Department taxes official Cpnz4n"e, aId on the com
p,tioa Of the work he gets the contract money MINT
would bid FOR contract aud Il would aferward DO as
signed TO the contractor who furnished Tie surety IN 5h
case the surety would SIN the contract mat Woi De
Mr. Whiftils,-pror to the passage Of the Cousoida
ton Act in cases "uer' lneomet,n' or IMPROPER persons
had been awarded contracts was not possible or YOU To
sureties tina, wou. prevent MIN getting me contract
Mr.. IhompSou-Ih" approving OF suitilet rests apso-
u'ely with the Controller think would he very I'M
Vile thing for hctd Of department 70 20 % me Oo
rOcr and represent that certain BIDDER ought Ol 10
Mr. Whltridge-Pror to the passage Of the Con-oida-
ou Act would it not have been possible FOR you by rep
scnta.on, to the Conrolc - prevent ~ improper per
son from getting contract!
QUESTION or LAW.
Mr. Setson who appeared ~ counsel for the Pnblie
Works Commissioner, here said that the question asked
the witness which would not be permitted In a
court OF law involved point thar was SIN Ia
soue before the courts and the question implied that
the witness able to give an opinion on question OF
Senator Lansne-Not being lawyer. sir. Thompsons
opinion rs 70 point OF law would be OF no consequence
Nh Thompson answering the question: such case
has arisen. Il such case We're TO ARISE "Od IT,
fleet very seriously and len decide now 10 act.
bIr Whltridgc-0uPPosc IOa knew 81 iuln comlhg
here from Brooklyn, Tor instance and l9und th4t Nlgr
getting contracts from y"df DIt, ilht Iol T." ytdI-
ne getting rlcl-dO You mink that would put you on
Mr. TomoayI nave never been In the habit Of inqlir
ins into the means OF any contractors: 49,, l,,.,...
Act have you rclot many contracts!
Nr Ihonpsol-Siuce the certified check law we have
hale LIT ain mn flrf Igtff
senator LIn-ug-Dd they forfeit their money In those
Nr Thopson-In no cas-, dI they forfeit their money
according To my rccolecaon-l Woild not H"' 10 1893
Mr. Waiirtse-N hat would you consider proper
to exercise your discretion as To- itl ing toAti"''
Mr. ThompsDn-!hui would depend entirety go,
Mr. Wmlidg.-1aie thi, ca-e: lou nave heard Of The
nm uns,yory reputation ia come ton VIII tAat ring
makes me lowest bid Tor 4 contract would that De- case
which you would consider your uuty to order To-
H. fhomp4on n should hesitate very much about IT,
because rs 1 have already explained tor the h.aA o.
a contract to tho lowest bidder gl,.o matter Hell has
no rsli 10 presume Onj mat y!e "oih VIII DE- con- no
matter what the character OF the contractor may Dc
There il te law back OF the Department. and tho con
tractor has o 10 perform me @GiA aycoaini 10 rs III
Tee awarded to him unless there was some ovid nee Of
, ~ w hin Tric o. Two or three bdders all Of
whose bids exceptionally high
CITY Surveyors.
Mr.. Whi,rIsc-lTayc you in making estimates ut any
time employed persons not in til" salared employ at
Your office
Mr. Thompson Ia all department works city surveyors
alc employed Tfthcr' wa ga engineer that wanted
To- appoint ! Should appoint him. From tho time ap-
pointed him ho woGd be in the employ Of tho Depart
incnt
senator Lan,ius-Whlt DO you mean be city sur
VPycraf
Nr thompson City Surveyors are officers % the
city Tn"y loIzIas city surveyors by the Com
mon Council. ia mi! mrsrtIa ats required by la" city
slrVeyorl7 To- oo employ e. II" Is hot slaIirI officer
bat is paid hy fee, The Department never employs
CITY ,ur, cyor without full knoved e ~ his capacity.
Mr.. Whuidee-liOW many cNpltS do You use IN max
iae contract.
Mr.. rhomp,cn-O ont side of the watcr supply do
no; employ lyuoty VINO Is not regularly the payroll
excepting surveyors.
Nr. Whbrdgc-fnr statement ha. been made that ia
nabip@ ,.-i iutr, 'or what known unbalanced
N