The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-21
ANOTHER TOMAKEPOLICEHAT
MUNDHEIH & co. ACCEPT con.
TRACT COL. KNOX REFUSED.
It's the Same as Last Years Drawn by Col.
Greene, Mr.. McAdOo Says-NO Union
Label CLAUSE I'm It's Hour and wages
Provisions Are Required by Law.

tI'b tne SSHlt Is hLASt DTaNu W wi
Greene, MIR. McAdoo Says-NO Union
Label Clause I'm It's Hour and Wages
Provisions Are Required by Law.
The contract for 1900 police helmets
which was rejected by Col. Edward NJ.
Knox on the suspicion that It had been
doctored In the interest OF the United Hat
Makers Of North America, labor union
whose members are not employed In the
Knox factories, has been awarded by Police
Commissioner N.cAdoo to Samuel Mund-
helm & Co., whose bid was the same as
Col. Knox's. Mr.. McAdoo denied en-
rhstically yesterday that the contract
had been tinkered to suit the labor unions
or that II contained q clause compelling
the use Of the United Hat Makers labol on
every helmet, as stated by Col. Knox.
This contract" he said, SIS precisely
the same in form as the contract OF last
year and the year before. This form was
originally drafted for Col. Greene when
he was Commissioner, and was approved
by Corporation Counsel Rives. 1t has not
been changed in the slightest particular.
It is identical with the Greene contract,
word for word, letter for letter, comma
for comma and period for period.
THE eight hour and prevailing rate OF
wages provisions to which Col. Knox 80
strenuously objects were put there in COM
plisnce with the plain requirements OF the
labor laws of the State Of New York. They
were included when the contract was made
last year and the year before, and know
OF no reason why they should be omitted
this year.
AS to any trouble that Col. Knox may
or may not have had with any labor union,
/ have no knowledge OF 1t, nor am I in
terested in the matter. The extent Of my
det lings with the unions in relation to the
helmet contract was limited to this:
After the contract with Mr.. Knox was
annu,led, he refusing to sign 1t, COM
mittee representing organized labor called
here and asked for a hearing on the matter
for The purpose of presenting to me reasons
why tie contract should not 60 to MIR.
Knox. AS he had withdrawn saw no
necessity for such hearing and twas not
granted.
sThere has been no pressure OF any kind
brought to bear on the department in rela-
ton to this contract. There Is no bug
under the chip. as you may see when 1t
is lifted.
'The committee which has charge Of the
hel,uet contracts was appointed by Gen.
Greene and its membership comprises the
same officials to-day as under his rule.
They are the first, second and third depu.
ties, the chief clerk OF the department and
the INSPECTOR OF tie borough OF Aianh attain.
Tie bids and samples were submitted to
then,
& Co. were the same bit the committee
recommended that the aT ard be made
to Col. Knox although Mundheim had the
contract last year. / approved their re-
commentator and knew no more about the
n after until informed by the chief clerk
= 4. - 4
tact. On learning that this refusal was
unconditional / annulled the contract and
scnt the matter back to the committee.
After getting expert approval OF the sam
pies submitted b. Mupdhcim Co. the com
mittee recommend del that they get the con-
tract, and ! approved their recommended
tion. At first Mundheim 4 Co: objected
to taking tho contract unless they could
be assured that they could also have the
contract for the winter helmets, which
will be awarded next fall. but they finally
consented to = awe this demand
Acting CORPORATION Counsel Theodore
Connoly eaid Yesterday that his department
had had nothing 10 do = 18th the Police he'll
net contract I he subject had not como
before it this year for consideration In any
form.
Il had the matter looked up this morn
ing said Mr.. Connolly, and found that
there was no record OF it here. The Cor
poration Counsel would take no action on
ss he has no jurisdiction in the matter.
The police helmet. contract does not cone
With the scope of this off'c, because it
s not n contract which concerns the mu-
ri icclitv, inasmuch as the hats are paid
for by the rembcrs of tho force and the
city is net in any way liable II they fail
to make good.
aThc Polio Commissioner merely acts
az agent for the members OF the force.
The contrac+ IA let by II IN for thu purpose
Of estobisl Ing standard OF uniformity.
The uniforms, hclrnPts and buttons of the
department must b, al alike.
"A sirilar question arose some time
ago in the Fire Department. It was as
serte that .Hvoritisn Yves shown IN award
Ing tho contract for cloth for the uniforms.
The Commissioner held that the men could
huy the cloth where they pleased, but it
had to to of the color and quality he had
decided upon.
'The police helmet contract being q pri-
~ate one the COMMISSIONS can put In or
leave out any provisions or restrictions
~.