The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-02
SWEEPING CITY LIGHT BILL
GIVES COMMISSIONER MONROE
VERY GREAT POWERS.


He Can ignore the Ordlnsuees Regulating
| the Letting Of ContSaets and. u Seems
ignore the BIDS When He Has Oncs
Advertiscd--Good BliI. He says
Robert G1er Monroe Is going 10 Albany
this morning to appear before the Cities
Committee OF the Assembly on the bill
which he has fathered amending the Create,
New York Charter In reference to lighting
contracts and the power OF the Commits
sioner Of Water Supply. Gas and Electricity
The bill was introduced by Assembiyman
Finch, A close reading OF 1t shows that Il
may be construed as extending In a re-
markable way the powers OF the Commits
| sioner.
First OF all. the bill Ia 30 drawn that II
does away with the requirement that the
Commissioner shall prepare the terms
and specifications under which contracts
shall be made for lighting the streets. public
buildings and parks Of the city, In con-
formity with the. ordinance regulating
contracts. and permits him TO advertise
without plans or specifications.
1t permits the use Of illuminants other
than gas and electricity.
II makes the letting Of cont racts for
lighting by separate contracts for each
OF the boroughs OF the city or separate
districts. as may be determined by the
Board OF Estimate. permissive rather than
mandatory as heretofore, and substitutes
the Commissioner Of Water Supply, Gas
and Electricity for the Board OF Estimate
In determining whether contracts shall
be let by separate boroughs or districts.
1t permits separate contracts to be made
for the illumlnant or electrical energy
and for the lampposts. standpipes. service
pipes, burners. lanterns, globes, tops, re-
Electors, lampirons and other fixtures and
appurtenances or any number OF parts
thereof. and for the work OF lighting, ex-
tinguishing, cleaning and repairin & the same
or any part thereof. This 10 al, new, and
should Commissioner in the remote future
be interested In any particular kind Of lamp
or burner 1t affords an opportunity for MIN
to work Il in.
II strikes out the provision that Such
bids shalt be prepared and advertised for
and such contracts shall be executed IN
the manner prescribed for herein as to
other contracts entered into by said city
t Or the depar rns thereof and provide.
after advertisements for bids and public
letting In the manner prescribed for by law
or ordinance az TO other contracts entered
thereof"
This language might be interpreted as
meaning that the Commissioner can adj
vertise for bids and after" SO advertising,
II the proposals do not meet with his APP
proval, he may. under the other provisions
of the act, let by private contract.
Another change allows contracts to be
made for term OF FIVE years. whereas
heretofore the term has been not to exceed
one year.
1t strikes out the provision that a con-
tract made for a given borough or district
shall include all lights Of a given kind used
by the city in that borough or district then
ordered or thereafter to be ordered by the
Commissioner during the term Of the con-
tract, 80 that after contract Ia made for
the lighting Of the borough or district It is
left to the discretion Of the Commissioner
to make other contracts and substitute
other lights than those contracted for and
with other parties. as in his discretion he
may see At.
Mr.. Monroe thinks it's pretty good bill
that might be better worded In spots.