New-York tribune., 1907-05-28
CITY IN "CYCLE" WAR.
POLICE SMASHED PEDALS.
Back Go Bicycles to Bidder, Says
Meta-Frm to Fight.

Tne seventy-five bicycles purchased three
weeks ago for the Police Department from the
Manhattan Storage Company will have 10 go
back. according to Controller Metz. because the
firm was unable to supply parts of the wheels
to the satisfaction of the police. Controller
Metz has ordered Commissioner Bingham to
cancel the contract
The bids for the bicycles opened last
February. OF four bidders. the Manhattan Stor-
age Company was the lowest The terms OF the
contract were to give the department six months
to the bicycles before paying for them. all
broken parts to be replaced free of charge. If
in the six months the bicycles showed any gen
eral defects did not give good service. they
were all to be sent back to the bidders, the
latter TO forfeit their bond.
The specifications in the contract were that
the Manhattan Storage Company was TO furnish
different style of pedal and handle bars from
those already the machine. This was done.
and the wheels were delivered to the de-
partment in the early part of May. Several
days later the bicycle policemen complained
about the pedals falling off. New pedals were
substituted. but few days later they met with
the same results. An investigation showed that
the threads made a poor hold for the pedals.
Inspector Titus of the supply and repair de-
partment, communicated with Deputy Commits
sioner Bugher who ordered special inquiry.
which held last Thursday John w Reed,
Of the Controllers office held a hearing in the
Police Department warehouse in Charles street.
A. V. Webb, manager of the Manhattan Storage
Company. the other bidders expert statesmen
and several bicycle roundsmen had gathered
there
Trouble started when two makes of bicycles
were brought out for comparison. Referee Reed
had hard time queIling the turmoil Of verbal
combat.
The question Of technical parts OF the wheels
argued upon. trying 10 prove that his
wheel good the other The hearing
lasted nearly two hours. when Referee Reed
finally arrived at a point where he thought he
had heard about all the mechanical arguments
that could be advanced. and adjourned the
meeting. Later the report was made to Con-
troI1er Metz
When Adolph Morris. OF the Manhattan Stor-
age Company seen last night. he said:
We'll not accept the bicycles under any cir
cumstances. It's nothing but pure jealousy on
the part OF defeated competitor bidders. because
underbid them. when they had the pleasure
to supply the Police Department with bicycles
for years.
AT the bidding we showed them guarantee
that our bicycles were as good II not Letter
than any in the market. They cheerfuly accepted
our wheel, and 1t was examined by all the police
officials. experts. etc. who were apI Arently sat
ished. When the pedals first came of. we sup
piled them with seventyhve new pairs and still
they are not satisfied l shall bring suit ut
once and viii fight them TO the end Our COM
petitors the cause OF all this. for poisoning
the minds of the officials with lot OF stuff TO
injure our reputation"
Controller Metz said last night he acted nc
cording to the report sent TO him by Mr. Reed.
"If the wheels such described by Mr..
Reed" said the Controller. they will certainly
go back I suppose II will wind up in the courts
We Will fight the case. and I don't think that
we will lose from what know OF the case"
The Controller did not care 10 discuss the de-
tails OF the case