New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-08
THE DOCK BOARDS DEFENCE.
MR. EINsTEIN WRITES TO THE MAYOR.
TELLING WHY CERTAIN BILLS
WERE APPROVED

"I>iNb Ar iitON FL,
Dock Commissioner Edwin E,nstein who Is the
treasurer OF that Board. sent TO Mayor Strong
yesterday letter defending himself and his fell
observation-disclosures against charges that their ap-
proval OF certain bills. notably those OF Bell
Brothers for sawed spruce timber and Max Com
bossy for kalsomining. painting. etc. was Illegal
These the bills which the Controller refused to
pay.
Mr.. Einsten's letter contained. among others. the
following statements:
u the mater Of the bills for spruce timber fur
nlshed by Bell Brothers, l have to state that on
May 2S 1856, the following BIDS received by
the Board of Docks for sawed spruce timber: yell
low Pine Company, so per thousand feet. b. NJ;
G Ids r. Gates Co 80 per thousand feet b. NJ;
The Board did not believe 1t could properly award
the contract to any one Of the three bidders. as It
was evidently combination price. and accordingly
rejected all bids. believing ii to be for the best In
Controller was present at the meeting and offered
no objection to this action. The cost OF readvertis-
to upward of 500, and AZ the quantity or timber
desired for immediate use was only 1000 feet the
following resolution was adopted at a special meet
ing held on the same day:
Resolved. That the treasurer be and hereby is
required by this Department, subject to the limta-
lions prescribed by law
quests OH June d for prices for furnishing 10000
feet Of sawed spruce timber. under the same spec-
the bids were rejected, and received the following
bids: Bell Brothers. 81 per thousand feet. b. NJ !;
East River Mill ana LUMBER company vi per
thousand feet. b. NJ
that named in the rejected bids. inquiry was made
as TO the reason therefor and II was ascertaned
called for by the specifications had advanced in
value. and that 81 per thousand feet was the low.
made by one OF the firm OF Bell Brothers. certify
ing 10 these facts. and also statements showing that
for the same Quality Of timber covering this period
II seems that owing 70 an advance OF 81 per thou-
action of the Board In rejecting the bids and pur-
chasing under the Treasures orders made a ar,
during the nine months. From this must be de,
Quoted the cost OF readvertisins. 500 which would
on which we understand the Controller bases his
present objection has been on the over
twenty-five years, and examination OF the fecord5
OF the Department shows that hundreds OF DIS
dentically N" same in character have been pali
by the Finance Department heretofore. a great
her %'' urn,shed this DEPARTMENT under former adj
ministrations which viii be shown by afiidavits
hereto attached made by the Erglneer-n- Chet, MT
In order to rc-ve the Board Of Docks from future
embarrassment in the case Of lie b.. 6ds ana per,
on, imnSonrc,y the fole wing clause has been in
serted in the contracts and has Just received me
case there are TWO or more bids at the price:
which price Is the lowest price bid. the contract. II
bidders" This clause has been inserted IN Contract
No 5si. for furnishing sawed spruce timber which
In relation to the claim OF Max Gombossy. in or
der not to annoy you with too much detail, VIII
simply make the statement that saw Mt Fltch
personally and thoroughly explained the matter TO
him. until be said he understood II perfectly ne
however declined to pay the claims. The counsel
10 the Corporation advised this Department that II
had acted entirely IN accordance with the law, and
also advised Controller Fitch that the claim should
be paid Mr. Fitch stil refuses 70 pay i. and sub
fectod the creditor. who could III anord it, 10 the
hardship delay and expense OF a lawsuit when ne
claimant that the city had no defence, and allowed
Judgment 10 be taken The judgement has since
been paid. after levy by the Sheriff, which re-
celvei a good deal OF attention in the press
In view OF the fact that 50 much publicity mas
heen given these cases by the Controller. Il has
beer thought proper that this information should
be IT. your possession and be made public
Commissioner Enste!r Enclosed anidaviis made by
George s Greene jr. Engneer-in- Chief Of the Dock
Department: John NJ. Phelan. chief clerk. and VIII
lam r. Bell, Of tho rm OF humber dealers. which
corroborate the Commissioners statements