The morning call., 1894-04-07
WANT MONEY FOR SUPPLIES.
An Expert Tells Them That the
Grass Will Be Short.
COMBINE FOR sELF-PRoTEcTIoN.
Municipal Butchers, Bakers and
CandlestiCk-M Makers Inclined to
Declare War.

There is every likelihood that famine
will strike the public institutions of this
town before The expiration of the present
month.
At the same time scarcity of fuel and
stationery and almost everything else will
be noticeable in all municipal Offices.
Tie tradesmen who have contracts to
supply the city have grown tired of fur
nishing material for which they receive
not pay, and are preparing to go on a
strike.
Pursuant to a call a number of these
contractors met in the Chamber of Com
merce yesterday TO discuss the situation
and learn, If possible. just where they
are at"
Sixteen men of business attended the
meeting. and numbered among the lot
were the traditional butcher and baker
and candlestick- few coal men. a
flour-dealer or two, several grocers, as
many more poultry dealers. stationers
without number, lumbermen and plumb
ers.
Thomas J. Parsons presided over the
affairs and acted as a general leader.
The meeting was called in consequence
of the recent action of Arthur NJ. Ebbets.
the gentleman who has the job to keep the
city Offices supplied with coal.
a year ago Mr.. Ebbets held a similar
contract on which there is still due sew
eral thousand dollars, it having been
found impossible 10 take from the years
appropriation a sufficient sum to paw for
the fuel used during the months of May
and June.
As the fiscal year drew to a close the
coaI-dealer concluded to take no chances in
the payment line, so after satisfying him.
self that did he keep on supplying coal he
would again become q forced creditor of
the city be quietly shut off the supply.
This action OF E0bets' part caused other
contractors to become bit shaky concern
ing the positions in which they stood, and
finally led them into organizing for self
protection.
AS the Supervisors had many times as
sured the contractors that they would
surely receive all the money due on their
present contracts, at the first meeting it
was decided to learn just what this assur-
aDce was worth before taking any action.
In accordance with this decision an ex-
pert accountant (AtBinson) was employed
and set to work to learn the exact cond-
ton of the city's finances.
Mr.. Atkinson completed his labors
day or two ago and it is the report which
be instrumental in bringing about the
strike of the contractors.
This report contains an exhaustive re-
view OF the city's money affairs and has
tendency TO demonstrate that il will be
just as impossible to pay every dollar due
on this years contracts as it was to pay
the money called for by the contracts of
year ago.
After the report had been read the neces-
sity of immediete action became apparent
to those present and a policy 10 be pur-
sued was quickly outlined.
This policy was embraced in quite
lengthy resolution, and in brief provides
that on ana after the 18th day of the pres
ent month no supplies shall be furnished
the city on existing contracts, unless in the
meantime satisfactory guarantee be given
that all bills will be paid when they be-
come due.
In order that DO person may 90 back on
this agreement each contractor will sign a
pledge and place on deposit ia some bank,
subject to the order of the Contractors
Association, a certain sum Of money as a
guarantee Of good faith.
Relative to the guarantee which the city
must give the con tractors in order to avert
the impending series of famines, simple
promise that all bills shall be paid will
not do.
The contractors have lost all faith in
promises and demand more substantial
security In order to appease their wrath
1t must be proven to their entire satisfac-
ton that the money to meet all bills which
may become due is available, and then an
ironclad assurance must be given that all
bills will be paid.
That this assurance can be given seems
doubtful in view of the report submitted
by Expert Atkinson and in truth very few
of those concerned believe that an attempt
to give it will be made. AS an indication
of the general feeling among the mer-
chants interested the accompanying state
ment made last evening by Arthur Nj. Eh-
bets is published.
Mr.. Ebbets is an active participant in
the contractors association, and in dis
cussng the existing condition Of affairs
said:
This movement has not been inaug-
urated for the purpose of making war on
the city, but simply as a matter of self
protection.
THE municipal government is now in
debted to contractors nearly 5000, 600 for
supplies furnished a year ago and there
seems to be no way in the world by which
we can get our money. Therefore. I
hardly think we can be blamed for refus-
ing to become creditors to the extent of
100000 more. We cannot afford to
do so.
THE city officials are not entirely to
blame in the matter, however. The Su-
Dreme Court is also at fault, for in the
case of the Spring Valley Water Company
against Auditor Brickwedel the court de-
cided that tie company could not sue for
the recovery of money due after the appro-
priatien had been used and incidentally
took the company to task for not keeping
an eye on affairs and ceasing to supply
water when the money ran out.
Now we have taken the advice given
by the court. We have kept an eye on
affairs and as there is no money with
which to pay US and we cannot be paid