The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-11
INVESTIGATING CITY CONTRACTS.

Were this community not thoroughly
familiar with the tendency of certain
political agitators to grossly exaggerate
imaginary misdoings into criminal acts
of greatest magnitude, it would have
been thoroughly aroused by the sup
posed awful disclosures of the testimony
submitted before the committee now in
vestigating the management Of the af-
fairs of the committee on city property.
But the people learn by experience and
know now that it is possible to raise
large volume of smoke by very min
ute fire, and in the case in hand the
fire has thus far almost failed to show
itself at all.
Primarily Mr.. Fuller is reported to
have made charges against his fellow
members in the committee on city prop
erty. Yet straightway when the inves-
tigating committee begins its examina-
tion of the reported charges, Mr.. Full
Ter. under oath, declares that he never
made any charges, but that he thinks he
was discourteously treated by his fellow
members of this committee. The ex-
tent of this discourtesy has led Mr.. Full
Ter TO make some statements rejecting
upon the methods of awarding certain
contracts and the prices paid for work
under certain other contracts. 1t
appears TO be plain that in some
cases the contracts have not been
adhered to according to exact techni-
cality, that more money has been paid
to contractors than the letter Of their
contracts called for, and that in some
cases contracts have been awarded by
preference to parties who We're thought
TO be the more responsible. These state
ments are deserving of careful examina-
tion by the committee, but it is not so
much the question of the amounts in
volved as it is whether the committee i'm
its dealings has faithfully and Justly dis
charged its duties to the citizens and
the contractors.
If Mr.. Fuller can show cases of con-
tracts involving any considerable sums
of money that have ever been technically
adhered to by private parties, then he
will have more cause TO raise objections
than now. Practical experience of all
business men teaches them that such
thing is quite beyond mortal ability, and
what is not possible in the exact science
of private business to-day is not a CEN
surable act IN the case of a public officer.
One of the three things which Mr.. Full
Ter must show, and this is the essence of
the subject, is either that the committee
has squandered the city's money, or that
the work performed under contract is not
satisfactory and not worth the money
spent, or that in its transactions the
committee has been dishonest in receiv-
ing commissions for contracts awarded.
The vital interest is not whether the con-
tracts were strictly adhered to but
whether when any deviation from
the contracts was found to be
expedient the city received full
return for the additional money
expended under the changed contract
The city is business corporation and its
affairs should be managed as economi-
cally as possible, but the city on the
other hand can not afford to be unjust
toward any man, nor can it afford to
make cheapness so great a desideratum
that thereby il may run the risk of get
ting poor work from irresponsible
parties.
At the time of the present writing we
believe that Mr.. Fuller has not even in
timated that in any case the charges of
the contractors were excessive or that in
any case the city did not receive full
value for the money expended. When
questioned as TO whether the bills were
fair" Mr.. Fuller replied, - cannot
say as 10 that" Now, if Mr.
Fuller "cannot say rs to whether
the bills are fair or not then
is Mr.. Fuller justified in making
any statements rs to negligence on part
OF others? Has Mr.. Fuller so fully dis
charged his duties as member of the
committe that he can appoint himself a
critic Of the acts Of others, when he con-
fesses that he has not sufficient knowl-
edge Of the city property TO state whether
the bills for work were fair or noty Mr.
Fuller has evaded that point upon which
the whole value OF his statements de-
pended. II the city committees have re-
ceived dollars worth of work for every
dollar expended they have faithfully per-
formed their duties, and the question of
strictly adhering 10 the contracts is not
of the slightest consequence.