The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-13
c. T. MURPHY STRIKES BACK
WITH ODEEL DOCK LEASE AND
WI AAYCINESTER CEMENT CONTRACT.

Dock Board "sent Out From the
District Attorneys OfYioo" Daily Are
Reckless Nrisstatcmcnts with n Politi'
cal Object and That tho Board Served
tho City Better Than MIR. Hawkes..
Charles F. Murphy. leader OF Tammany
Hall, made public answer last night to the
charges against the Van Wyck Dock Board
of which he was the treasurer. which have
grown out of District Attorney Jerome's
John Doe investigation into the old board.
Gov. Odel's pier lease and the cement con-
tract, given at what Mr.. Murphy considers
a high price to the secretary Of the Repub-
lican County Committee. figure in the
statement, which is as follows:
need not dwell at any length upon the
motive that inspires the attack now being
made upon the management OF the ahairs
of the Department OF Docks under the
former municipal administration. 1t must
be perfectly clear to every fair-minded
citizen, no matter what his political affilia-
tions may be- The reckless allegations OF
misman cement made against the Dock
Board of which I was treasurer. and sent
out from the District Attorneys Office at
the close of each days star chamber pro-
ceedings, are, OF course absolutely ground
less They are given out without any
hope or possibility Of substantiation. and
consist merely Of malicious insinuations.
They are obviously framed for the purpose
of deoeiving the public and Of creating an
atmosphere Of prejudice against Tammany
Hall. The charges are based upon wilful
misrepre sentation and will, l have no doubt.
he taken by the people at their true value.
[ maintain without the slightest fear OF
successful contradiction that the interests
of the city of New York were better pro-
tccted and the affairs Of the Department
of Docks were more honestly, eficiently
and economically administered from Jan.
1, 1898, to Dec II, 1901. than under Mayor
Strong's Dock Board or under the present
Commissioner. I challenge tho District
Attorney TO prove the contrary.
The District Attorney seeks to create
the impression that treasurer orders
were used by the Dock Board OF which l
was a member as a means OF evading the
provisions Of the Charter 40 as TO- award
work without competition to favored
contractors at an increased cost to the
city. Although possessed OF information
to the contrary he would have the public
believe that a "treasurer's order was
Tammany creation He cannot fail to
be aware of the fact that such orders were
legal and have been used in the Department
Of Docks for thirty years, They were used
under the Strong administration and are
~~---
missioners ORDERS
A "treasurer's order" was an order issued
by the treasurer and countersigned by
the President of the Dock Board upon
requisition made by the engineer OF the
department. calling for urgent and neces,,
sary work or material. It was designed
for the purpose OF expediting the execution
of urgent departmental work. Each re-
QUESTION contained a memorandum OF the
assistant engineer in charge Of the particular
work showing the estimated cost OF the
work or materials required. Upon receiv-
ing the requisition the treasurer comfnuni-
Gated with contractors and dealers engaged
in the kind of work or articles desired,
and invited them to send in bids within
five days. At the expiration Of this period
replies were opened and the lowest bidder
awarded the order. In nearly every in
stance the price paid was lower even than
the estimated cost.
1t was invariably found, at least during
the four years in question, that better re-
suits rs to price and quality were obtained
under the system Of "treasurer's orders
than by advertising. 1t happened frequent
ly that in response to ono OF these orders
contractors figured on work or supplies at
a lower rate than they would accept u they
were bidders for a duly advertised con-
tract calling for similar work or material.
In order to show that "treasurer's orders
that they saved money for the city and
that thay were invariably awarded to the
lowest bidder, quote a few which were
issued in my capacity as treasurer. The
following statements set forth the number
Of each order the date on which they were
issued, the list Of bidders and the names
Of the firms or individuals to whom the
order was awarded:
TO. No. l9ss4-Repalrs 10 PieT l, N. r.. March "a,
1898.