New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-27
T4nNANY CONTRACT CONES HIGH.
BALLOT PRINTING GIVEN AWAY WITHOUT
COMPETITION TO A FAVORED FIRM
COURTS MAY LOOK INTO
TIRE LATEST JOP
TIE LATEST JOF

A characteristic instance Of the methods now
being employed by the Tammany administrators
OF this city has come light The Tribune briefly
announced yesterday that the Police Board rad
awarded the f5r the printing OF the official
ballots 10 the Martin y. Brown Company. Of No.
A. Park Place. There is interesting story be-
hind the award OF this contract
The Tammany Board OF Estimate has this year
appropriated $1,000 for the printing and dstr1b
utng OF the ballots. Last year the printing OF this
ballots cost $1,000 the work being done by the
Wynkoop-I Ialler beck Crawford Company OF No
~ Pearl-st This company IS controlled by Re
pub!icans while the proprietors Of the Martin B.
Brown Company are Democrats.
4, present orly about 100000 ballots have beea
ordered for this year. at cost OF 50 40 thousand
the total amount being over $500 But NOBODY VINO
knows anything about elections In this city b.
us,es that his quantity Will be sufficient. Ac-
co-ding 20 the contract there TO be L53coo bal
lots for the entire city about 1000 for each
election district with $3.50 sample ballots "hen
g. is remembered that many thousands or sanoie
ballots are distributed by each political party
while thousands Of the regular ballots are spoiled
r., voters on Election Day and that It is always
n.osssary 10 have d large number in reserve in
case Of emergency, II VIII be seen that ue
number called for is an exceedingly moderate one.
and that Il is practically certain 'hat secolo
order Will nave T. be given before eleC"oN-
The most important fact in the case, ho"eVe =.
,s that the contract for The work was not offer
for public competition as directed BY me ohaf''''
which provides that all contracts Involving an "a
repd,,,1re Of more than 1900 shall be a"4fut4 20
the lowest bidder. after bids have bceh iLN
.or and charCes the Municipal AsSciiHS u -
duty Of seeing that this provision - CO.
Tho charter also provides that eIHef Esi'y -
nav be let out by contract without DlI. "a" At,,nr
apr-oval OF the Municipal Assembly ana 'e la' ~,
MAYOR Van Wyck signed the resoi ,1 Ppord =
the CITY Council permitting the folet Do" 30 -,,.
lei the contracts for printing me Tor
ting IN he polling booths. without duN'l 1's'"s "
tids iIomediatelv after Il had been passeG; /, 81
II is not probable that this ACTON VIZ tJaii.r-
lowed 70 pass unquestiOned. Inc NynkooA
beck Crawford Company lid the eh.ile "a;
las ,,ear Tor s1s 90 Some time ago the coiHP'ay
Inc "a do The work again this year ior t,e 80, =
sno,r. II received answer 20 TINS mn w.,
cation Mr. Crawford seen by tino11ii.,rs p Z
porter Yesterday and appeared most ai'cetsi,eI,,
ebout The matter He would not gay pc ieea'l
whether or not his company WouIo I'm - co'Ise
measures 10 compel the authorities 10 sHV" -
WIN the contract had not been AoE i 49, Wv
awsrdSd 70 the lowest bidder. in the oTuliiiS
bu, b. hinted that such action was no. ui I'm 81
The company n declared would not nov ciI,,ics
work n Il was offered although. win IL - hi.
II coud print All the ballots in week ~ ~ - -i,
ossociates lid not feel that they had peor ",i,s
treated and might determine to put '"e
% the proof. - l,o..or New York
rbsr,er which provides that hye taHpayels -,
obtain n nandaTnus for any city of1ciaI 70 =.
cause WHY ne has not obeyed the law w ~ iou
contract Amounting 10 more than t"U 10 no,Tts
est bidder IL the case Is taken peIots Wy rter
Y VII be by means Of this clause In the eHA