The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
DOCK BoARD MAY BE INDICTED.
Evasious OF the Public Letting Law to 80
Laid Before tho Grand Jury.

EvnetOns OF the Pubio Letting Law to 30
Laid Before the Grand Jury.
The Comptroller issued a statement yesterday
in respect to the levy made on pictures in tho
City Hall by Goldfozle & Cohen, attorneys for
Max Gambossy, painter, 10 secure a bill Of
81. 195 for painting done for tho Dock Commits
sioners. The trouble arose out of the Comptrol-
ler's refusal to pay the bill on the ground that
1t was incurred by the Dock Commissioner In
direct evasion of the Consolidation act, which
provides that all work amounting to over 81 900
must be let to the highest bidder. This bill was
incurred by the Dock Commissioners by divid-
ing the work up into three separate Jobs. There
seems to he trouble ahead of several reformers,
for several cases are to be laid before the Grand
Jury. The Comptroller says in his
,r ohs T 10 a ip5Sn Goiaioe eH nc Z co Rsrs IF. t a,to G9%D,
for Max Gam bossy. to make a levy upon city
property and threaten to sell the same before
pay ment was made to them on this claim. TIT
same course Will be taken in other cases arising
in several of the departments where attempts
have been made by dividing the work up and
giving out orders to evade, the plain provisions
Of the Consolidation act. that all work amount
ing to over 81 900 shall be omen to public compe.
tition on sealed bids after public advertisement.
Tho attempts to eyade this law by different
the Comptroller is preparing to lay the facts at
q later time. and when the proofs of several of
o sss% a to f naHs his o Ssa0T ]pos shf Gre eoar spESi it. /.
necessary that he should not pay until after an
Last year the Park Commissioner were in
dicted for disobeying this law by purchasing
asphalt on orders of less than 81 600 each, when
the same should have been purchased 10y public
competition. The Comptroller refused to pay
these bills. II the Comptroller had paid these
bills when they were presented. As he was asked
to pay the Gamhossy bill, he would have I'M
dolbt I'D ~ been indicted with the park Commits
sioners. The latter escaped from trial only by
the passage of a special act of tho Legislature
which was approved by Mayor Strong. on the
personal request of President, Low and other
prominent members of the her OF Com
merce. who believed thatt the Park Commission
es In that case had been innocent of any GRIM
inal Intent. Whether u special act can again be
obtained to cover such cases Ia at least doubtful.
"In this case the Dock Commissioners gave
Max Gambossy an order without advertisement
for painting tho outside OF the building at t Ter
A, North River, on which the words at the
lowest market price on the printed form were
changed by striking out tie words lowest
market so as to make 1t read at the price of
$S4O.' Then, while this work was going on,
they gave Gambossy another similar order to
paint a portion Of the inside of the same prem
Uses on another order for $500. in which the
words lowest market price had again been
stricken out, and again a few days later they
gave GRmbossy another order for the rest Of
the inside. on which again the words Lowest
market price'had been stricken out, for SIS.
Nothing except an actual levy and proposed
sale of city property will Justify the Comptroller
in paying bills so incurred"