Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1909-12-11
News of Municipal Administration
Given Briefly and to the Point
for Eagle Readers.
Useful Information, Interesting Facts and
Personal Gossip Tersely Told
by One Who Knows.

ing light.
T. A. Cummings Foundry Company;
castings.
Seven lumber companies.
Western Engineers Supply Com.
pany; oils. packings, etc.
Robert r. Campbell; paints.
Christian Carr, Jr.; hardware.
Standard OIL Company; gasoline and
kerosene.
M. H. Rogers Z Co., Mueller Coal
Company; coal.
J. W. Fernald Company; straw and
feed.
Mclaughlin Building Material Com.
pany; sand and stone.
Parker.washington Co.: crushed
stone.
George B. Limbert Z Co.; pipe and
fittings.
John Mohr 1 Sons; boiler parts.
Machinist Supply Company; tools,
screws, etc.
D. J. Gallagher Z Co.; cotton waste.
W. H. Salisbury: rubber goods.
II. Channon Company; cordage.
nails, etc.
Chicago Fire Hose Company.
American Development and Engi.
neering Company.
Chicago Steel and Brass Company.
And o hundred others.
We do not look for results from the
Merriam Commission.
But there are q hundred firms that
ought to be asked by somebody 90 to
what their relations have been with
the city.
How many firms doing business with
the purchasing agents ONCE have been
asked to extend favors to friends" OF
that once?
A grand jury might find out.
Other people can.
Because other people have found
out.
II the purchasing agents once Il
run on business principles. there
should be no good reason for writ.
ing letters to people asking favors for
others. simply because these people
soil goods to the city.
How many city contractors have
been asked to favor this one. or that
one. because the city buys from themf
This should not be hard to flnd out.
from what We hear.
The purchasing agents once IL in
for II.
It will get what II has been look.
ing for.
Following are the latest discoveries
In the city purchasing agents investi.
cation:
That large amount of material,
such as cement. brick. sand. and gray.
81 for the Board Of Local Improve.
ments and the Department Of Public
Works IL bought on requisition. with.
out any saving to the city over the
competitive bid and contract plan.
That there has been q change In the
method Of handling acquisitions from
the purchasing agents department
since Nov. IL. Complete Information
regarding all purchases 10 now sent
to the Comptroller's once.
That w. H. Gantx. audit clerk In the
Comptroller's once. is supposed to
check the prices on all purchases made
by the business agent.
| That there was collision among the
contractors who sold feed to the city
previous to the time william Coleman
became business agent.
That the Merriam commission pro
poses to scrutinise the purchases made
through Business Agent Coleman from
the following fifteen companies. firms
and individuals: TIA. Cummings Toun
dry Company. Garden City Sand Com
pany, General Electric Company. West
ern Electric Company. Illinois Fire
proof Covering Co.. George B. Limbert
Z Co.. Meacham q Wright. National
Tube Company. Peerless Light Com
pany, J. w. Fernald Company. r. R
Campbell. Mclaughlin Building Mate
rial Company, Peter Olsen & Co.
The city purchasing agents depart
ment is helping, out too many "ofhcial
publications" according to many Arms
who sell goods to the city. This sort
Of h0ld-up was "all right" under Dunno
and Harrison, but we don't think
Busse will stand for what has been
done with city contractors.
Mayor Busse wants q free, full ant
fair investigation by the Merriam
; Commission. He sent the following
to the City Council on the subject:
1T has come to my notice through
J newspaper reports and otherwise tina
some opposition may develop in you
] honorable body to an additional an
preparation to pay the expenses Of tn,
commission on municipal expendi
lures. / hope these reports aye un
I founded. Strict ohicial etiquette woult
! prescribe that ! refrain from express
} Ing an opinion on the subject at thil
!. time (before the subject 10 ofaciall!
before mel. but the unusual character
: Of the situation will excuse me. hope
for taking the step.
II am In favor Of providing for TIL
commission on municipal expenditure