The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-11-14
IDEAS OF TWO CITIZENS
EI-ALDERMAN TRUEMAN AND
 MR. RICH.

on Questions of the Day-Competittye
 Bidding Is Safeguard of City Treasury
 In Power of Finance Board to Re-
 form Present Conditions.
 The following two speeches were de- livered by ex-A1derman Trueman and MT. Rich at the public hearing on esti- mates before the board of finance on Thursday evening:
 Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
 Board of Finance:
 The purpose of these hearings, as understand the matter, is to give citi- zens an opportunity to express their views in regard to the estimates for the coming year, and to show where ecoro- mics may be effected, if any such are possible.
 It is my purpose in speaking here to- night to call your attention to a reform in the matter of awarding contracts that is well within the jurisdiction of your board, and that will effect great economies in the interest of the taxpay- CT,
 We are all aware in a general way that work done for the city and supplies furnished to the city are obtained by means of competitive bids, and that the lowest responsible bidder is supposed to be awarded the contract. The city charter provides that when the interest of the city demands it that other 5,, k, In n1 CT, that good reason be given for such action It is clearly the intent of the charter that reason so advanced must be of weight and not mere captious preferences.
 Under our present industrial condi-. tions the system of competitive bidding is the safeguard of the city treasury. To advertise for bids for work to be done or supplies to be furnished, and then to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder is a serious men ace to the interest of the taxpayer, and is course of action which only excep- tional circumstances can warrant. The good faith of the city demands that such transactions be conducted on a strictly impartial plane For if not re- putable firms will refuse to engage in public competition, and the city treas- ury be left open to the raids of the un- scrupulous.
 In the city of New Haven the adverti- sing for bids has apparently degenera- ted into little more than formality through which it is necessary to go to keep out of the courts.
 The knowing ones can usually tell in advance to whom contract will be awarded, regardless of the question of who Is the lowest bidder. It is said that ih certain departments of our city government 1t is very difficult to get up bona fide competition at all. Outsiders do not care to enter compe- tition where past experience shows them that their bids will be thrown out !! for some trivial reason, although their bids may be the lowest and the party | bidding perfectly responsible.
 | Another evasion of charter require ments Is effected by dividing up the l work to be done or supplies to be fur nished, so that the separate portions may fall within the two hundred and i fifty dollar limit for which no competi- | ton is required.
 | Now, gentlemen of the board of | finance, it would appear to be within your power to reform all this. You hold the purse strings, you pay the bills. { If you will come right out and say, and say it as if you meant it, that you will make no appropriation nor authorize any expenditure for supplies to be fur nished or work done unless the con tracts for such work or supplies be awarded to the lowest responsible bid l der, to the full intent and meaning of 1 the city charter, you can probably af- | feet a marked reduction in your esti- mates. Let it be understood by all de- partments of the city government that DO evasion of charter restriction will go with the board of finance and you will accomplish much.
 | Take, for example, the week by week sprinkling agreement of last summer. An agreement or contract that in the opinion of many was clearly violation of the charter. Was that good busi- ness? Was that an arrangement to command the respect and confidence of citizens or was it what it appeared to be, just an ordinary case of graft? Go over your estimates carefully once again and see if rigid enforcement of the spirit as we'll as the letter of the city charter in regard to contracts will not enable you to make some marked reduction. -..fG There is pending now before the city government the award of contract for public lighting. The facts are familiar to your board. The committee on pub lic lighting has recommended to the board of aldermen that an award be made to other than the lowest bidder, and has stated no adequate reason for so doing. Before the aldermen take ac- l tion in this matter I ask in behalf of myself and other citizens that your board refuse to make the appropriation necessary for such award unless there be some sound business reason for the committee recommendation. Their per sonal opinion in regard to lights or their appreciation of the past services of the present contractor is not sufficient
 Public policy, if nothing higher, de. mands that the city keep faith with outside parties who come here to bid. 1 By following the course outlined above you could save the necessity oi a veto by the mayor and consequent
 delay. It would further inspire conf. dence in the system of competitive
 bidding. It is safe to say that if the | af ,1I ,ay, koJy ,;e,e