Evening star., 1899-03-03
Question Of Purchasing Uniforms for
Police and Firemen.
CHIEFS OF DEPARTMENTS TO DECIDE
Action of Commissioners Taken
Late Yesterday Afternoon.
CONTRACT NOT BINDIN g

Ii Was uSClueu ny tDc IiStii iOt SobiAhh'
sioners. late yesterday afternoon. in view
of their attorneys opinion. that they have
nothing to do with awarding contracts for
furnishing uniforms to the members of the
police and fire departments; that they
would make no recommendation in the
matter, but merely refer the opinion of the
attorney to the chiefs of the two depart
ments, without recommendation or sugges-
ticn.
AS was stated in The Star, an order was
prepared yesterday, at the suggestion or
Commissioner Wight, who has immediate
charge of the two departments, approving
the recommendation of the committees of
the police and fire departments that the
proposal of Messrs. Rosenfeld Bros. of Bal
tmore, Md. be accepted, and suggesting
that 'Hn accol dance with the opinion of tie
attorney contract for said purpose he
made with said firm by the major and su-
perntendent CT police and the chief ergi-
neer of the fire department for their re-
spective departments"
Mr. Wight, having approved the making
of this order. it next presented to
Commissioner Ross for his approval, and,
had he approved it, it would probably have
neXt gone to Capt Beach, the Engineer
Commissioner, though not necessarily so,
for had it been approved by Mr.. Ross, that
would have secured for it the approval Of
a majority of the board of Commissioners.
Mr.. Ross, however, declined to indorse the
proposed order and requested a conference
on the matter with his associates. At this
conference, ii is understood, Mr.. Ross re-
ferred to the opinion of their legal ad-
wiser, suggesting that it would hardly be
consistent to make any recommendation or
suggestion in the matter in view Of the
statement of the attorney that the Com
nissioners have nothing to do with award
ing such contracts. His associates prompt
ly agreed with him, and it was then decided
by the Commissioners that they would
simply refer the opinion of their attorney
to the chiefs of the police and fire depart
ments, as above stated.
The Papers Forwarded.
The papers in the case, including the
opinion of the attorney, were this after
noon forwarded to Chief Sylvester of the
police department, and to Chief Paris of
the fire department, by DR.. William Tin
dali, secretary to the board of Commission
ers, and, in the words of the street, "it is
now up to- Chief Sylvester and Chief Par
ris 1t is understood that each of these Off
Gals feels that the examining committee of
their respective departments in recommend
ing the awarding of the contracts to the
Baltimore firm should be adopted and it is
therefore, expected that the contracts will
be PROMPTLY made with this firm for fur
nshrg the uniforms to both departments
for the coming year.
1t will be recalled that a committee con-
sisting of Captain Austin, three inspectors
and the various lieutenants of the police
| force, was appointed to examine the bids
submitted and the accompanying samples,
and in the fire department Chief Paris Sc
| lected six foremen to select the samples.
| Captain Austin, on behalf of the police
committee, reported that 1t would be to the
| best interest of the members of the depart
ment to award the contract to Messrs.
| Rosenfeld Bros. although that firm was
| underbid by a local firm. In the fire de-
| partment it was found that on the sample
| of clothing selected by the six foremen the
| Baltimore firm had bid lower than any
| other, although had d sample submitted by
| a local firm been selected by the foremen
| that firm would have been the lowest bid
der. Chief Sylvester and Chief Paris 1t is
| said take the position that their respective
committees were representing the members
| OF each department., position which many
| members of the respective departments as
! sert is not warranted by the facts in the
| case, it being contended by both the police
| men and the firemen that they were never
| consulted In the matter, and that the re-
| ports or the examining committees have
| never been approved by them.
Means to Insure Satisfaction.
! 1t is said that Chief Sylvester is of the
| opinion that the Baltimore firm will meet
all the requirements of the contract and
will give the men satisfaction, it being his
| purpose it is stated, to so word the con-
| tract as to insure such satisfaction. Chief
| Parrls said today that while he has not vet
| hnaliy settled the question, it did not seem
| that he could do anything else than make
| contract for his department with the Bal
| timore firm.
THE sample selected by the six fore
men, he said, will, L believe, prove sat
isfactory to the men, and think the COM
| mlttee fully represented them. Personally
| l would prefer giving the contract to a
| District firm, and as long such matters
We're left to me | always mads it a point
| 70 only invite bids for the uniforms from
| District people. 1t has been suggested that
| l take vote of the men of the department
in the matter, but the time is too short
| and, as l believe that the great majority
of the men of the department will be SAT
| lslled with giving the contract to Rosen-
| field Bros, will probably decide to award
| the contract to that firm
| Under No Compulsion.
| Chief Paris agreed with Commissioner
| Wight that the men of his department
would be under compulsion to purchase
| their uniforms from that or any other par
ucular firm. so long as they obtained uni
| forms which would meet the requirements
| of the regulations He stated that he has
been in the habit of purchasing his uni
forms from other than the contractor and
from local people, and every man in his
| department should and would have the
| same right Commissioner Ross also AGREED
| that the men of both the police and fire de-
| partmentS would, no matter to whom the
| contracts might be awarded, have a per-
| feet right to purchase their uniforms from
| whom they pleased provided they conform
| to the regulations, and he remarked that
| he doubted not that the men could obtain
| satisfactory results if they did So From
| all this. it appears that the Commissioners
| will not encourage or authorize the max
| ing OF any regulations, stringent other
| wise to compel the men of either depart
| ment to purchase their uniforms from the
| party or parties receiving the contracts
and policemen and firemen will, therefore
have the right to purchase their clothing
| from whom they see fit, whether they de-
eide to purchase 1t from local dealers or
| rot. they simply being under obligation
| to provide themselves with uniforms meet
ing the requirements of the regulations.