Evening star., 1901-08-28
PRESENTS HIS ESTIMATES
PROPERTY CLERK BECKETsTs
STATEMENT TO COMMISSIONERS.
Increase in Business of once the
Basis for Demand for Addi-
tfOns to Force.

The annual estimates of the property
clerk of the District, whose duties are to
make the purchases for the various de-
partments of the city government. were
submitted to the Commissioners today. The
report, which is signed by F. O. Beckett,
as property clerk, states that for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1901, the sum of s777,-
800 was spent for supplies, the money for
these purchases being available through
various appropriations.
In submitting the estimated cost of run
ming his office for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1903 Mr.. Beckett asks for two
additional clerks at salaries Of 81 600 and
$500. respectively, making the total esti-
mated cost $3.50. The estimates and rec
concentrations are as follows:
Property clerk. s1.6oo; deputy property
clerk, 81. 400: two clerks, at S.2O0, s., 400;
one clerk, 1000; one clerk, $500: one mes
senger, 500; rent of store rooms. $780,
I'm explanation of the above estimates,
Mr. Beckett states, Il have to say that the
Office sadly lacks the necessary force to
enable it to introduce modern methods in
the transactions Of the business Of the Of
flee, and until this is furnished We can
not see that any Improvement In our pres
ent methods can be obtained.
'The clerical force of this office today Is
no larger than 1t was ten years ago, not
withstanding that within that time the
cent. Ten years ago there were only twelve
fire apparatus companies to make pur-
chaseS for. whereas today there are twenty
four. There were then about nine police
stations, while today there are eleven. In
Guiding the House Of Detention. The work
for the public schools has increased at
least fifty per cent, for during the past
ten years there have been added thirty
three school buildings, new departments OF
manual training. etc, which have to be
equipped and constantly supplied through
this office. The purchase through this Of
flee of equipment for the two manual train
ing schools, which will be used for the first
time this year. will add to the work of the
office during the current year, and each
year hereafter will be source of increased
labor for all connected herewith. Other de-
partments added, during the time since
Congress has added to the force of this Of
flee. and whose supplies are furnished en-
tirely through 1t, are the Freedmen's Hos
pital. Industrial Home School, Municipal
Lodging House and Public Library. Since
the work of cleaning the streets has been
done directly by the District, instead of by
contract as was once the custom, this too
has added to the labors Of this office.
Il firmly believe that, If the Increased
force asked for Is granted, it viii be decid
edly for the best interest of the District,
in that tt will afford me time to go out and
make purchases Of some Of the large lot of
miscellaneous supplies which are constant
ly required and are not covered by contract.
Could this be done, prices more advanta-
geous to the District may be obtained. AS
it Is now, my entire time during office
hours has to be devoted to clerical work,
and the only time afforded me to go out
and make purchases is after office hours,
when frequently find the stores wish to
do business with closed for the day.
Il might here call attention to the fact
that all other government departments,
before making purchase. generally know
exactly what the article wanted or the SER
vice to be rendered Is to cost, before an
order is given. This has led the account
ing officers at the Treasury Department
to require OF this Office that prices of all
articles not covered by contract be written
on the order. This Is supposed to be done
before the order is given but as a matter
of fact 1t is not done until some time after
not until the bill Is rendered. which gen.
orally Is the first Of the following month.
The price is written on the order so as to
give 1t the appearance of bargain having
been made as to the cost before delivery.
1t is physical impossibility with our
smalr percentage OF the supplies needed
before an order Is given; we therefore are
compelled to pursue the course above de-
scribed. Congress. I believe. will not COM
pei this state of affairs to exist, but will
provide the necessary force to conduct the
affairs of the office In proper and lawful
manner II the necessity is brought to their
attention.
'"The method recommended this year by
both the superintendent Of property and
myself, and approved by the Commission
ers. OF awarding the contracts for the
twenty classes OF general supplies by items,
instead of to the lowest aggregate bidder
on each class. as has heretofore been done,
has resulted In q saving to the District of
about 5000. 1t has also proportionateiy
increased the labors Of this office, in that
now we are required to make many orders
for each class Of supplies, whereas before
one order would suffice. The same increase
Is also noticed in the number Of bills rem
dered. This saving alone should be suff1-
cient to warrant the increase asked for
This office Is the purchasing office for all
departments except those directly under
the Engineer Commissioner, and Is the only
ofnce where the conditions of the appro-
prtations for supplies for the departments
as above mentioned can be obtained There
may be bills outstanding amounting to
thousands OF dollars which no other office
would know Of until they are forwarded
properly approved for payment This por-
tion of the work Of the office should be
always In that condition that the true
state OF an appropriation can be furnished
those having a right to know at mo-
ment's notice,
'One Of the clerks in this office is de-
tailed from another branch OF the govern
that department when the exigencies Of
the service require, and am compelled to
surrender him. When deprived Of his help
my own office is greatly crippled and en-
barrassed. Therefore I most earnestly
recommend that provision be made for this
clerk as a regular employe Of this office
at a salary of 81, 200 per annum.
Il had hoped to inaugurate, at the be-
ginning Of the present fiscal year, card
system Of keeping the record Of costs Of
all supplies purchased, which would, II
kept up, greatly facilitate the work Of
estimating the cost Of supplies and enable
me to more readily find when the purchase
was made Of a known article. The COM
plete outfit was purchased last year and
by my deputy remaining after office hours
he got 1t In condition for operation this
fiscal year, but so far. owing to the pres
sure Of other more urgent II not more i'm
portant work, he has not been able to
do more with 1t, and unless relief Is af-
forded, this necessary adjunct will have
to be abandoned entirely. I have asked
that the salary of my deputy be increased
from $1,000 to S1.400 per annum. and I
trust you will again try to induce Con-
gress to grant this small increase, which
is so well deserved. Deputy Hargrave IL
a faithful, weI-posted and efficient clerk,
who has thoroughly familiarized himself
with all pertaining to the office. His pres
ent salary Is surely not commensurate
with the importance of the duties he is
called upon to perform. He has been in
this Office for the past fourteen years. and
has at all times proved to be thoroughly
efficient.
There Is also an increase In salary
asked for the bill clerk, from S72O to 81 200
nor q Qnp11n h