New-York tribune., 1901-02-03
PRICES OF FIRE SUPPLIES.
MR.. MARKS SAYS NETWORK PAYS NO
MORE THAN OTHER CITIES.
COMMISSION BUSINESS is A LEGIT-
MATE ONE.

Controller Coler had little TO add yesterday to
the matter relative 10 the dealings of William l.
Marks. Commissioner scanneirs friend with the
Fire Department Mr.. Coler said that he had held
up bill OF Mr. Marks, adding;
I have held up this one bill because the hose he
Board Of Estimate 'af and Apportionment which pro-
vided that the city should not buy patented hose
will make test case Of the held up bill, not be
cause am confident Of winning IA GSue 90 eSaenE eH
law which will put in position to refuse TO pay pay
rates. 1t is useless for me carry this matter Of
excessive prices for supplies any further. shei
be helpless until the Legislature acts
Commissioner scannell when yesterday.
said that he courted the fullest investigation lie
continued:
For about twenty years one ne p & bo%rb naa
Maitess cross hose from the Gutta Percha Rubber
Manufacturing Company at 81 a foot. and its agent
Soko %9S up @ that monopd spadons %a"s to raise
the Prlce Of his h( TO 81 70 foot and diG oId nGt
be good as giving him certificate that his hose hose
Gus people and suppose disgrunted agents
have been 20 the Controller and asked him 70 20
CATION in nv Department-and what 40 you think
OF man who will send samples OF our & nose ,es 20 ~ a.
maybe could make an investigation in his Depart
ment, There more things entering into the
question of contracts than the Controsr Io nashTs
in supplies saying that they cannot afford to enter enter
contracts with us unless we guarantee tnat nLlT
SGfSan'' ofiiSei not DC "''" Up '''
Owing contention that the nose furnished
the city by .arks through his monopoly OF busi-
in the Fire Department. was not up to
standard great deal of interest was manifested
in the fire on the East Side Thursday night when
about three thousand feet Of hose was destroyed.
1t could not be learned yesterday whether this
hose was furnished by Marks secured before
Marks began his operations with the Fire Depart
- (troxe hPn lypI GAi8 w
a question OF no moment. however the fire had
Deen so herce that the hose burned. and that
was no test Of its merit
Marks gave out long statement yesterday 10
define his position. He prefaced II with affidavits
from Charles slsby, of the American Fire Engine
Company. and William Fslck OF the La France
Fire Engine Company. In his statement Mr.. Silsby
says that. owing to a trade agreement existing
between the FIRE engine manufacturers Of the
United States al prices were exactly and identi
,any the Same and fixed beyond any change
and It was immaterial hoEv the engines were sold
whether direct by the companies or through deal
local agent adding:
The American Fire Engine Company wishes 20
York FIRE Department purchases IT'S engines and
supplies. not only from them, but from all engine
the United states can purchase the articles; that
All manufacturers Of ensines In the United states
and supplies bought direct from the companies
not save one dollar or buy their materials one
cent less. than they have purchased them hereto
fore.
Mr. FaIck says:
Fire Engine Company. Of which l am the treasurer
and manager. and this amount was held up by the
tain the cause. and Was referred by him "a his
representatives I informed them that We DID our
business through our New YORK agent Mr, MARKS
that such business was done on commission ana
that had eontrac, with him 10 thai effect ]
declined 10 produce the contract or state the terms
of il, the ground that II was purely the huS-
nos nf ~or11a any md Il Te
noncI5si65 @ hsg 70 state most emphaticaiiy that
an sales OF apparatus BY the la France Fire En-
gine Company TO the city or NeW-loF nave oetn
agreement with all Of the engine manufacturers.
To this Mr.. Marks adds:
Regarding the furnishing OF White star and Con
queror IRE hose. the hose was sold 10 the city or
New-York by two Of the larEes. ano most reputa-
r. r Goodrich Company 81 New-York and Akron.
Ohio. and the Voorhees, Rubber Company. or Jer-
and used FOR years ny the New-Yo X Fire Depart
ment. and they bond tc fulhl all the speciH-
furnished by them under these contracts Is not
fulfilling It's mission. they stand ready 70 make
/ defy any individual or manufacturer to come
forward and show that hey were ever approached
tie agency for the sale Of their goods or that
could guarantee 70 place their goods IN any De
partmeut Of the city through influence pos
sessed by me other than my ability as salesman
Ny business Is strictly honorable and legitimate;
and does admit Of dealing in inferences and
innuendoes. my assertions are backed up 10y Iacts
and afiidavits The prices which the CITY OF New
paid by other departments all over the United
States. and these prices are publ, Rr9pttty. LII; lie
wanted and the prices paid for them, and II New
known. and the price paid by New YORK ory WouI1
for the same kind Of goods.
MORE MONEY NEEDED FOR THE POOR