New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
DE Wits CUNNING SCHEME.
HOW HE LOOKS AFTER TUE PRESENT COR
PORATION NEWSPAPERS OF BROOK
LYN IN TH/ GREATER
CITY CHARTER

fine piece Of underground work. OF which Will
lam c. De Witt. Of Brooklyn. is the putative
father. has been exposed in the charter 1t
relates TO the corporation advertising of the new
metropolis, and indicates that Mr.. De Witt has
been able 10 get in some remarkably neat strokes
for the benefit OF certain Brooklyn journals which
Hugh McLaughlin's incorporation Counsel thinks
are under lasting obligations to him.
The African in the woodpile Is found in several
separate sections. One is Section 6lS of Chapter
XI under the Department of Parks. which reads
The Board shall from time TO time. as shall be
necessary. advertise in The City Record" and the
corporation newspapers for not less thar ten days
for proposals for such articles and supplies shall
be necessary TO be used IN the parks. squares and
public places of the city and shall award the
same to the lowest bidders, who shall give ade-
quate SECURITY for the faithful performance of such
contracts etc.
Provision for advertising for other departments is
similarly made. 1t is out OF Section 1925 Title VI.
that the curly black poll protrudes, headed, "A
Board of City Record" II is follows:
There shall be published daily Sundays and legal
holidays excepted, under contract 10 be made as
hereinafter provided a paper TO be known as THE
City Record" And said City Record and the
newspapers now by law designated corporation
newspapers in the present city of Brooklyn shall
be the only papers 10 be included within the term
corporation newspapers as the same Is used any
where in this act
asked who was responsible for this remarkable
method Of taking care of the Corporation news
papers of the present city OF Brooklyn they re-
spondeG that the plan had been placed before
them by William c. De Witt According TO his
scheme the only newspapers in the Greater New
York in which the public can expect TO find ad-
vertisements for bids street proposals. bond sales
and other matters Of the new metropolis are the
CORPORATION newspapers Of Brooklyn" whose con-
tract of 100000 a year is TO be made perpetual in
the charter.
Ex-Mayor Groy said OF the proposition yester-
day: $3.50.
c. Dc Witt. l opposed it from the beginning and
am still opposed TO it. A majority Of the Commits
sion favored the clause. and IL was inserted,
ord means of making public all matters per
tanning 10 the business Of every city department
Mr.. W {. De Witt was Of the opinion that the con-
tract now in existence with the Brooklyn news
papers was the best and cheapest method OF making
known public needs. That contract calls for $4,000
per annum. 10 every possible publication that
any city department might legally require.
When newspapers are selected TO publish adver-
tisements for the sale Of bonds. bids for supplies
and large contracts for public works. it opens tho
way for the granting of millions OF dollars with
our giving the city adequate return; TINS was inc
position Mr.. De Witt held and. as ] said. was in
the minority As It stands now. The city Record
is the only publication ON Manhattan Island which
will contain Advertisements OF the puohc needs IN
General Tracy president OF the Commission, Seth
Low. Secretary Pinney and one or TWO DINERS
united in giving credit 10 Mr. De Wit for ialherlng
this plan of serving the Brooklyn papers Al The oX-
pense Of the rest Of Greater New-N ork.
Some Of the Commissioners admitted that they
voted for the section without thoroughly under
standing its purport.
When the attention of Senator Plat was called
10 the scheme he practically admitted that 1t could
not be defended but intimated thai there would he
plenty of time to pass a supplemental bill Tor me
correction OF the evil.