The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-27

~ meeting of the Board of Supervis-
n ors yesterday which, If the charges
made by reputable business men in
open session are substanttated, promises
to shake the Fire Department from cen
ter to circumference.
The assertion was boldly made in writ
ing that the grossest fraud exists and has
existed for a long unexpectedly years
in the purchasing of supplies for the Fire
Department. The assertion was denied
by the heads of the department who were
present, TO be sure. but not in a way that
carried conviction to the Supervisors, and
the matter will be given a thorough VEN
tilation.
1t was charged that although the Fire
Department is supposed to advertise for
anything needed in the way of supplies
not more than 10 per cent of the articles
actually needed, particularly in hardware,
is actually enumerated in the bids, while
80 per cent is purchased in open market
at prevailing market rates, and that one
firm in this city enjoys a monopoly of
this fat patronage OF this Fire Depart
ment.
After disposing of the street railway
franchises and other important matters
the beard settled down to routine bust
ness and among other matters was the
passage to print of the bids for supplies
for the Fire Department as recommended
by committee When the bids came up
for consideration by the committee last
week 1t was shown that the proposals for
furnishing hardware in many Instances
were excessively high, varying from 60
to 200 per cent above present market
rates. Moreover, suspicion was aroused
by the fact that the bids of two competi-
tors, while away above market rates,
We're the same. This was particularly no
ticeabie in small articles, for furnishing
which they were the only bidders. Chief
Sullivan had quietly sent around to the
various firms and obtained market price
lists of the various articles bid upon, and
when the bids were read Oft a COMPARE
readily showed the discrepancy.
The two FIRMS. A. Shook d Co. and
J. f. Wulzen-were accused OF collision
for the purpose of raiding the treasury,
and the committee determined to recon-
mend the rejection of bids for all articles
on which suspicion was attached, award
ing contracts to the lowest bidder only
on such things as were shown to be with
in prevailing rates.
The suspected merchants were present
Yesterday determined to clear themselves
of the imputation of collision and at the
same time exploit certain conditions pre-
vailing in the Fire Department that few
outsiders were aware of.
Several bids were passed to print, in
GLIDING that for hose, despite the pro-
test OF the Goodyear Rubber Company,
which claimed it's bid was the same as
that of the Bowers Rubber Company, to
which was awarded the contract: and
then the hardware schedule was reached.
instantly tneTe was a cIdmOr Tor rSGOS-
milton from the waiting merchants. The
rules were suspended in order to give
them a hearing, and a representative OF
J. A. Shook & Co read long statement,
which was afterward filed with the clerk
of the board. The statement denied any
collision with Wulzen or anybody else
1t rectted the fact that the bids were for
a period Of two years; that the market
was constantly advancing and was likely
to advance much higher, which fact had
to be taken into consideration: that ON
some articles called for the cost of ad-
vertising was actually more than the to-
tai value of such articles supplied to the
department.
Supervisor Byington questioned the gen
tleman at considerable length. The latter
stated that his firm was Cne lowest bid
der on eighty-one items and the fire COM
mittee had recommended the award of
but five items. If the committees recon-
mendation was adopted he would ask
leave to withdraw his bid. He said the
department did not advertise for any
required and when Mr.. Byington called
his attention to the great difference be-
tween his figures, and those of Durham,
Carrigan & Co. he replied that If the
Fire Department would agree to purchase
all the hardware supplies not called for
in the bids from his firm at market rates
he would willingly furnish the articles he
had been awarded free of cost.
Attorney T. D. Riordan, who represent
ed j. f. Wuizen, was next permitted to
ten statement, the reading of which was
what caused the explosion. There was
no mincing of words, or concealment of
names, and figures were quoted to SUBJ
stantiate the charges
Beginning with a sweeping denial of the
charge Of collision and showing how such
would be impossible, it accused the
heads of the Fire Department of purchas-
ing all of the supplies for hardware not
called for in the bids, and even much that
had been awarded to other firms. to the
Durham. Carrigan & Hayden Company
In proof of this assertion the statement
recited that although Wulzen had been
awarded the contract for many articles
last wear his bill against the Fire Depart-