New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-30
SCHOOL SUPPLIES NOW.
Grout Probes IRto Another Depart
mcat-RepOrt Submitted.

Robert n Mcintyre examiner in the investigations
Department Of the Controllers oflss. has submitted
Mr. Gcout long report Of the Investigation MADE
by him into the purchase OF school supplies otser
than textbooks In the report Mr.. Mcintyre calls
attention TO numerous instances in which tho con-
acts were not awarded the lowest bidders. and
ia many instances were awarded TO the highest
bidders. lie ends his report as follows
whatever the explanation 10 be given for these
,liverseGces from the rule OF Awarding contracts
le ' TgeTarties 3I iTcres sngiy continue until
such time as the Board OF Educatlon shalt aookP'
o5s for the examination and comparison OF samples
The report says in part:
IN justice Patrick Jones WHO has superseded
arkeT p. Simmons as superintendent OF the ovis-
son OF supplies II should be stared lhat ne Is Hot
esponsi5e for the conditions Of the records or the
lie year 1908 During the greater part of the year
Nr. Jones assistant superintendent or supplies
%9SenabeT y 5.15 Following an inquiry into certain
5asrses Of incompetercy preferred against Super
iutendent Simu IS by Nathan S. Jones. member
len s'' Ar simmons resigned his position and Mr.
Ines has been regularly elected for the full term
examination of the contracts between the Board
Ts-@,n CSrnI,arv shows that cf the ninety eight
separate items awarded to the L " Ahrens com,
c,slpetiton. OF the remaining sixtynine items the
Ahrens company was lowest on only eight On slA
OF the items the bids Of this firm were tied d!
those OF other competitors. -.
John B Watkins. who appeared as the lowest
BIDDER on several Of the items for pads was inter
viewed by representative Of the Finance Depart.
IT. and stated that he had submitted samples oa
lie pads: required and that the sample OF the
Hat submitted by the Ahrens company: he de,
cared that II proper tests had been apphed II wour
1extfe strength He also agreed TO furnish any
water mark desired the mark B OF r. being tnat
,Ir. SIX .f a n viii be seen that they would have
cst Something less than SIS 600 had the contracts
been awarded 10 the lowest bidders
les Committee Of the Board Of Education in the
,Nercss OF its Discretionary power IN refusing 70
le-ed not 10 have been satisfactory, reversed its
corpsrteon with the 1903 contract awards will re
sult in q considerable saving TO the city Is II
tYeG sap 9eo. o. The rsTresertative Of the s T
ana that The goods now being furnished 6y II are
II VIII be seen from the foregoing table that in
high price paid in 1913 was $500 3d. Had the awards
en MADE 70 the io~est blooeTs' as was oore i S
have cost 81 ga difference Of S.244 So, or a
saving Of over l25 Per cent
The report also says that a number of bidders
have been seen and several Of them state that
they tried get book showing the results Of the
bidding but We're unable 10 do so. Some were told
hat they had been underbidden. though later they
learned that this was untrue.
Patrick Jones, since the first Of last December
superintendent Of supplies of the Department Of
Education said yesterday:
No contracts have been let by the supply depart
ment without care accuracy and honesty; have
contractors. and have designated the samples that
below standards.
Chairman DIX Of the committee on supplies said
don't care 10 make any statement now. beyond
saving that Il IS absolutely false that any favor
itsLa has been shown in the letting Of contracts.
When the report called 10 the attention OF
TIE senior member OF the Ahrens company last
night, he SAID:
The Controllers report written by one Nc
1ntyre, who has had grievance against for
some tine He has made several allegations which
ne cannot subsJantiate. We shall insist upon a
further investigation Of the matters mentioned by
Iii: Mcintyre. and shall AFFORD the citys Off
iaLs the fullest oDortunity satisfy themselves
that our firm has CT all times been conducting bust
ness on business principles.