New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
TRUSTS WITHIN TRUSTS.
CONTROLLER WANTS LAW To STOP
SUCH BILLS AS MARKs'S-sCAN-
NFT.T'S DEFENCE

When Fire Commissioner Scanneu was asked
yesterday abou- the charges that his Department
paid TOO high a price for supplies ne expressed re-
gret thar he could not have Sunday a day OF
rest from office cares and said he would greatly
prefer 20 discuss the subject on week days. Being
pressed To look for a moment at a published re-
po-t that n the last s9G0 feet Of hose purchased
by his Department N1 feet were obtained from
companies OF which William l.. Marks was the
aSent. he replied that he had not the figures by
him as the quantity OF hose purchased but he
sure possible for the head Of a
great department % ne that il of good quality
and fair price also that the bidding for the con
tract open 20 all companies whether repre-
sented by Mt Marks not
1t was then pointed out TO Mr.. scanneI that the
specifications for thousand feet OF hose to be
bid for last December drawn that only a
company represented by Marks could supply IL
Mr.. ScauneH said he did believe that state
ment to he true. and IL II were true he thought
such companies felt themselves barred out un-
lawfully would have contested the award OF the
contracts before now. Mr ScanneH was then asked
why he had reported to the Board Of Estimate in
December. 1900 that considerable quantity OF
''Conqueror' hose bought by the Department had
showed such weakness that IL burst In spots even
under low pressure of water. while he had not
made similar reports concerning other brands OF
hose He replied that ne reported the quality OF
the hose exactly ne found II. and evidence
Of his sincerity pointed to the fact that the firm
ment also represented by Mr.. Marks and that
Mr.. Marks had given assurances that the manu-
facturers Of the hose would make proper amends
the city" MIR ScanneH said he had fear of
thorough public scrutiny of his Department. Mr.
Marks could not be seen yesterday.
Controller COler when at his home, No. 2+t
Hancock-st, Brooklyn. yesterday said that there
was nothing to ne said reply to Fire Comms-
siouer Scannelrs remark that perhaps he could
NAL investigation into the Controllers depart
ment-" Mr.. COler said he glad that certain
dealers supplies had learned that their accounts
would be held Up unless they were equitable
I've ALWAYS thought the Democratic party
ouposed to trusts remarked the Controller. but
there seem TO trusts within trusts Marks wants
IN know why 7 don't TO court. Well, know
very well that when the Commissioner signs
order ALI I can do in going IS to show the
thing up 10 the public. I am pOweress. unless I
can show fraud cOlluSion. Otherwise the court
calls in only an error of Judgment. In this case
can show only combination
"Of course held up the accounts. and proved
my case The only good this publicity does is 10
beIn me get bill through the Legisla that
/ Gan hold up an account effeCtualiy unless the
nricss charged are down 70 the market This
hin was the only one | was beaten on in Albany
last year II fair. and there was reason
whv IL should not pass. But il died the way those
things always die There is a provision in the
charter amendments having the end nv
hill Until / get such a law ] will be helpless
Controller COler said he had had trouble
with the bills for Fire Department supplies than
for those Of other department.