New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-07
CITY PURCHASE or FERTILIZERS.

THE CONTROLLERS REFUSAL TO PAY BILLS
STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER WRIGHT
Controller Fitch has suspended the payment OF
bills for fertllizng material purchased by the de-
partments of Parks Correction and Public Chari-
ties which amount In the aggregate 10 some thou-
sands OF dollars although each Individual bill rails
below the sum OF 81 coo. The Controller holds that
the purchases unlawful because on private
orders and without public bidding The Consolida-
ton act requires that In purchasing supplies for
the city public bids must be invited where the sum
total exceeds $1,000 First Auditor Lyon. OF the
Finance Department. reported 10 the Controller that
each Of the departments bought more than 1900
worth OF manure. but cut the bills up into smaller
amount He said that the purchase OF manure
for the Departments OF Correction and Public
Charities was "A new thing for the city. No record
exists OF any purchase OF the sort by the old De-
par,ment Of Charities and Correction. The material
was received from the following dealers: Carl
Smiths Sons. J. Conkn and II. A. Peck q Co At
tempts were made 10 connect Commissioner H. j.
Wright OF the Department OF Correction with these
purchases because he was in the fertilizer business
before his appointment by Mayor Strong more
than year ago. II does not appear, however. mat
no has any interest In the concerns which sold the
manure 10 the city The purchases were made IN
the months 81 February and March.
When seen by reporter for Tho Tribune last
night Commissioner Wright ridculed Controller
Ftch's action In refusing 10 pay lot the
supplies ordered by the various departments.
'.It is simply another one OF Fitchs bids for
noioriety" he continued. "and the only he
makes Il is TO harass Mayor Strong's adminstra-
ton lie would never have meddled with this mat
ter had Tammany Hall been In power. and that Is
all there II to II. That is. OF course far he Is
concerned Now. 10 the purchase OF fertilizers,
IL was done In the usual manner. IL Is impossible
to purchase certain kinds OF supplies all one
time because there IL no way OF estimating the
amounts needed They ordered from time to
time as they required The matter OF the use
OF fertilizers In my Department IL largely ex-
detrimental this year. and 1t certainly imposs-
bic for o anybody else to tell just how much
would be needed. | have ordered the stun as the
gardener requested IL. 1t IL quite true that the
Department ordered fertilizers before. Black
wells Island never had garden before. We have
twenty-e!ght acres there. and We intend raise
all the cabbages. bees. turnips. carrots and other
vegetables consumed on the island. which the De-
partment has heretofore always had to purchase
Twenty eight acres make a big garden. and a great
amount OF vegetables. representing a large sum Of
money, be raised on II. IL viii save the Depart
ment thousands OF dollars
IL have not sold the Department pound OF fer
tilizer Such nimation Is simply nonsense I
have never thought OF doing l have not sold
any of the depar tments any fertilizers since 1892
At that time supplied all the fertilizers used In
Central Park"