New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-12

| low price of s2475 It should be remembered that
the price year for mantle lamps in the borougn
| of Manhattan was 500. and in the Borough OF the
Bronx $780, and that the price for open name lamps
Sc t to 81 % and in the Borough Of The Bronx from
81 to $24 The fact was re2ognz ed however taa tne
haitian, and this led the department to ask the con
extended to the Borough of The Bronx so that the
city haze the advantage Of the bid OF 81 % per
city from it at once. The Consolidated Gas Com
l' AS already Stated, the Consolidated Gas Company
did not bid Tor the cpntraet Tor sa tn The 1
Company which is understood to be allied with
Consolidated Gas Company, bid the sum OF $29 g
The Bronx, and in fact was the only bidder for
that form Of ng2tpg IN that por09gh ~ Water
Supply. Gas and Electricity that if the contract for
the Wesbach company it will apply TO the Con-
missioner Tor per 70 aSSs4 ba me fat no m
will accept the assignment agreeing as consdera,.
viii furnish whatever mantle lamps may be re-
qured for the two boroughs at the price OF ~ 2
much lower price for lighting with mantle lamps
will be obtained than heretofore, and. in my opin-
The plan which l have thus outlined may seem
s0T o dnoheF HpS Of the
fajow in eainr with the subject The city is com
PEELED by the statutes to proceed as if there were
ctv Hghtfrg when as a matter of fact in the
situation IN which things really are, there can be no
b orssO'' The Gonsodated Gas comTany is
well known controls the supply OF gas ana oids
either in it's own name or through subsidiary or
wae aF sup S5ys Gs nd Eectrcfy and myself after
much consideration on our part and on the part OF
whole considered the best course to follow =
4S 0y 70 o Teec ali otheT b for the Of
and The B0nT b ana b TO att
TIE is reaay to fG!oT f
the opinion that ne should do so.
ADVISES ACCEPTING THE BIDS
If our advice is accepted, all that will be neces-
sary for the Board of Estimate and Apportonne
it IS for the public interest that the bid OF the Con
, Gas tbe 6 Of he as W9 20 be
Company as TO the Borough or Inc bronH De &c
II renains TO consider the third question raised in
peeteS that patented articles are be supplied. and
THAT E0Gr es "a Of the Smarter by
the Board of Estimate and Apoortionment. aeoo.
the action which should he taken by the Board Of
Estimate and ApPorGonmfnd o 9T TO wbebey Section
554 applies TO the present case at all The city is
0nrcbasng pate-ed articles as such There is no
reason Of which am aware to SHpPo5e tT be any
| through these proposed contracts. No CLAIM mas
Would VGT ev@H be using patented articles or infringing
upon patents Until some distinct claim Gf ms
city officials would hardly be justified in neglectng
of the possibility that some question as TO patents
might be raised. If there were any question OK
! This sort the proper time to raise IL would hove
been before BIDS we're advertised for the contracts.
and before the contracts approved as to form.
| / am Informed that it IS generally understood
by persons familiar with the subject that AT least
the principal patents connected with lighting have
| expired that the patents, If any. which DO exist
as TO lighting relate to various details connected
| Herewith end not to the main necessary elements
| of mantle lighting. Moreover. II there are valid
f5aen ndrs would be that the city might
| be compelled TO cease using them but this would
NOT affect ts rights and duty to light in proper
manner the streets and public buildings. SO far as II
| can be done without infringing upon patents.
| June 90.
| Commissioner Oakley asked last night
what he thought of Controller CIRCUITS state
rent. Mr.. Oakley read it carefully through and
said;
Il don't see how it can affect me. It hardly
calls for any comment on part / have no
hesitation in repeating that believe the con-
| tracts which l have made with the gas and
| electric lighting companies are good ones. OF
| course they are not ideal. but they do give the
city the best terms It has ever been able to OBJ
| tain"
Mayor Mcclellan would not discuss lighting
last night but intimated that he would COM
ment on the phases Of the subject to-day.