New-York tribune., 1903-03-26
SAYS CIRCUIT APPROVED.
Sturgis Declares He Is Responsible
for Acts Like Those He Criticised.
OLD PRECEDENTs WERE FOLLOWED

\ y -
Fire Commissioner sturgis. in spirited reply
to Controller CIRCUITS charge that he had Nl'-
lated the law in awarding contracts Tor up
ward of 81 600 without advertising, says that
in June 1902 the Controller and his assistants
examined, audited and paid six Mills amounting
to $12.45i 80 for contracts that were let with
out advertisement.
The Controller cannot deny responsibility
SAYS thu commissioner Equally with myself
is ha responsible for the acts of his suhordt-
mates"
Commissioner sturgis says that when he was
advised by the Corporation Counsel that ne
was acting In unauthorized way in letting
bids for eneI gency work. without advertising ne
stopped. but he says that in all such awards ne
followed the precedents of the office. and that
in no instance was a contract let without COM
petitive bidding The Commissioners letter ls ad-
dressed To Mayor Low and is ir response to thH
Mayors request for an explanation Of the
charges made by the Controllers examiners
His letter in part is as follows:
Letter lou geq@fst @ di thst sH e 2eg 9Th 9Th
viii he done at onre, You further request that
the Corporation Counsel upon the pr3prietE 2t me
procedure rngar1ing the repairs 10 the said 3uld,
The procedmre had become subject Of criticism
@ tne tav 3ha knowns he consIncton htheto
given to this section in its relation the Fire De-
enactments by which the city has at different
times been and %e 1hH gseg9 e6mm
sioners no doubt as to the legality and regularity
% h Pr9GasEf sNstea 5e r IN
poration Counsel this point than on any one OF
mhef be pTocedure has been Sanctioned by
Tbn ana FOR m Cncon Is gwen below
About December T. 1902 received letter from
the the e9bac from Tue ore Counsel
PTther Pfq al aoton 9H in m the Ire On Deceber
received the couHSfs TePy %hiCa TaT Ssre at Il
has been scrupulously obeyed
Mr.. sturgis cites the practice of the depart
ment for a period covering twenty years. with
particular reference to the repairs of buildings,
and continues:
It may be pausbly urged that controller Grout
Of his predecessors; that the precedents of twenty
years while WetEay are not ieb to ts detect
and the moral courage to right wrong. II So
then o sgans or 6 T9qt of n
The Bronx. repaired six derartmeInt + buildings @ sd Ss
ing being less than $io0, and the aggregate being
follows:
Engine Co No 5sI7s % Engine Co No. SO SO
Ensine CO. 10 81 1855 Headquarters buids $3.50 "A
In the last named building three jobs of work G
Is. 1t will be noted that the aggregate amount in
each case cited exceeds +g" Al ot H. thgSe e n
judgement for the best interests the department,
amned and ed audited and Psid for By he
Controller cannot deny responsibility Equally with
myself he responsible for the acts of his subOr
are his aud and aap @ and reSpectfuy
nit that. to use your honor,s language the pro %
the Controller formally sanctioned. ratified
the last year during which he has held Office. In
sincerity ask on what principle OF equity IN what
in official correspondence and without the courtesy
your Fire Commissioner vioat0r Of the char
ter for the acts done in October and November,
a acs Of EnfR ppeclseR Similar involving
dona h 9he e Gn onhs S
ceding; DO not beieye that the charter has mas
sponsbie spon H5T5a with myself He is lawyer and has
able counsel within moments call | am not a
TEN eommuncatfon @ to the CoTporation Counsel
ing this branch of the subject must add that the
schedules the Controller has submitted to you are
Stances his assistant cites work as having been be
before the authority t6 vas signed my by @
IN no instance did work begin without a being Tt
attention to clause Of the charter not generally
known viz Section T. as as asndnd 1t Is init
that certain contractors we're favored. and thai that
FIJI Ths % IN
in every instance taken from a number of reputa-
The IN % bndders were generally entirely unknown to
the Gas 1sd Rgf had Ia 6s
report the section Of charter cited protects the
city II is peculiarly sweeping and drastic. By its
terms all Jobs and supplies under 5000 in value
are subject to the Controllers audit and not paya
tie unless the auditor certihes that the charges
just and reasonable. And no evidence is adnis
agreement by any head Of department 70 pay any
larger amount than the audit No commissioner
has therefore, the power to commit the city to
any payment larger than the Controller chooses
to make
One thing should be plainly stated. Every item
Of the objected repairs vas done 70 ssys the health
For four years before you took once not a single
hrehouse was built in Brooklyn and no repairs
worthy TO be called such were made. Many houses
were practically without heat, many cellars were
flooded that have TO the depth OF