The herald., 1894-07-02
CHANGES AS OC|TY CONTRACTS
Amendments Proposed to the
New Charter.
They Must Be Registered With the
City Auditor.
A Close Record to Be Kept of All Con.
tracts-They May Be Let to tho
Lowest and Best Bidders.
Important Additions.

. Some important changes in the mum.
cipsl laws with regard to contracts have
been prepared for insertion in the
amended city charter by City Clerk
Luckenbach at the request OF the char.
ter revision committee.
Thess amendments are designed to es-
tablish prescribed system for the let
ting OF contracts and keeping o perfect
record OF the same. In the first place
the amendments provide that all con.
tracts shall be countersigned by the aud
itor, go as to show the proper entry
thereof, and filed and registered by num-
Der and contents, in the office OF the city
clerk, and certified copies furnished the
city auditor, the contractor and the de-
partment in charge OF the work. and un.
til the delivery of such certified copies
the same shall not be deemed the con-
tract of the said city, and no work shall
be commenced or done hereunder until
such contract is so delivered, nor shall
the came be accepted by said city, or any
accounts, elaine or demands allowed,
audited or paid therefor.
One of the new features is a clause
which provides that all contracts shall
be let to the lowest and best bidder, in
stead OF the lowest responsible bidder,
as is now the case. All contracts shall
be entered in book kept by the auditor
for that purpose.
All contracts shall designate from
which fund the payments thereon shall
be made, and snail state the total
amount OF the claim or indie btedness
arising therefrom, and no contract shall
be approved unless the fund aud amount
are thus set forth.
Sec. 4. The council may with the
consent and approval OF the mayor in
writing authorize any officer by two.
third vote to bind the city without q
contract in writing for the payment of
any sum of money not exceeding $500
in the following manner, towit:
The officer desiring to enter into such
contract shall present to tho council
a request in writing, upon blanks to be
furnished by the city clerk, for the au-
thority to purchase supplies or create an
Indebtedness against the city; which re-
quest shall be itemiZed go as 20 show
each article to be purchased or the spe-
cihc character of the work to be done,
with the cost thereof. The council may
thereupon by two-thirds vote, to be en-
tered upon the record of their proceed
ings, approve the same, designating the
fund from which the indebtedness thus
created shall be paid. Upon the ap-
prevail by the council, the same shall be
certified to the mayor by the city clerk
and upon his approval and signature
shall be countersigned by the city audit
or and shall thereupon be aud become
binding and valid authorization to incur
AL Il 7
Angeles, and shall bs attached to and
made part OF the demand presented for
the payment of the indebtedness created
hereunder.
No such authorization shall contain
items to be covered by mere thsn one
demand, nor shall the copy of any au-
thorizaton be valid as a binding claim
against the city OF Los Angeles, nor shall
any such authorization be binding for
more than the amounts specifically set
forth therein.
The approval of two or more requisi-
tiona for the purchase of the same sup
plies or the incurriDg OF the same in
dsbtsdnsse which in the aggregate will
amount to more than $500, shal be in
valid and shall operate SO a revocation OF
the same, and any councilman or officer
who shall knowingly approve the same
shall forfeit his Office.
No contract for work to be done, or
property or materials TO be sold or sup
piled to the city OF Los Angeles, or any
department thereof, ahall BIZ made with
any councilman, officer or employee OF
said city, or with any firm, copartner-
ship. or association, of which such coun-
Gilman, officer or employee ia a member;
and il any councilman, officer or EN-.
ployee, during the term for which he
shall have been elected or appointed.
knowingly acquire an interest in such
contract, he shall forfeit his office and
the contract in which such councilman,
officer OF employee shall acquire an in
terest, shall be null as claim against
said city. and all moneys due. or to be-
come due, shall thereupon be forfeited
to the city OF Los Angeles.
No officer, councilman or employee
shall be surety upon any bond given to
the city of Los Angeles upon any con-
IVA