San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-01
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.

To the contract system much of the
corruption in municipal government is
attributed. In fact it is claimed by
municipal reformers that it is the
chief source of corruption. That city
councils and city executive officers be-
come the side partners of the con-
tractors who are given jobs through
fayoritism and personal interest in the
jobs No large contracts can be UNI
dertaken with a city unless city OIL
Gals become more or less interested.
Such has been the experience OF other
cities and such has been the charge
made in this CITY,. But 1t remains to be
proven where in any one instance cor
ruption was traced to the doors of our
city authorities. The letting of the
sewer contract, which is the largest
undertaking our city has ever engaged
in was, a source of scandal at the time
because the lowest bidder was not ia
yored. There has been some election
scandal connected with the sewer work
which has been set forth in the litiga-
ton growing out of the sewer work,
but on the whole the money has reach
ed much farther than was expected.
The ordinance regulating contracts,
as it appears in the revised ordinances
provides that all improvements shall
be contracted for with the lowest and
best bidder. No other class of work
or services is required to be let to the
lowest and best bidder. But later on
October 21st, 1895, the council passed
an ordinance introduced by Alderman
Holt, which was intended to be very
complete regulation. Section l, pro-
vided, mo contract on behalf of the
city of San Antonio for any of the cur
rent expenses of said city shall be
made unles same is authorized by law,
or is under an appropriation adequate
for its fulfillment nor when practicable
without due advertisement in newspa-
pers by posters or circular letters, sent
to principal dealers, or by both these
methods combined, giving as many
days notice as possible"
The ordinance contains sixteen Sec
tions and is modelled after similar reg
ulations in the bidding on contracts.
for supplies furnished the United
States government. This ordinance
covers the same ground as the ordin-
ance already in force, and yet it is in
trOduced as ma independent measure
and contains no repeating clause of the
former ordinance. Now which ordin-
anche is in force? This kind of city
legislation shows that our city council
pays very little attention to their bust
ness. If both these ordinances are
in force then the present city admins
tration can proceed under which ever
suits them. The proper rule is, that
there being no repeating clause in the
last ordinance, the old ordinance pre-
walls. The old ordinance being in
force it's provisions only cover public
The contract system
being the source of municipal corrup-
ton it is wise to confine Il to the few
est number of objects. The city should
go into the market and buy its sup
plies as any other business firm does.
The whole matter of contracts for city
work must be overhauled. We have
two ordinances covering the same sub
ject. A new ordinance should be pass
ed either repeating or affirming one or
the other. At present the city has
legislation upon this point.