Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1909-12-04
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.

Mclaughlin Building Material Com.
pany; sand and stone.
Parker.Wa Washington Co.; crushed
stone.
George b. Limbert 4 Co.; pipe and
fittings.
John Mohr q Sons; boiler parts.
Machinist Supply Company; tools.
screws. etc.
d. J. Gallagher 4 Co.; cotton waste.
w. H. Salisbury; rubber goods.
n. Channon Company; cordage,
nails. etc. Jf
Chicago Fire Hose Company.
American Development and Engi.
neering Company.
Chicago Steel and Brass Company.
And . hundred others.
We do not look for results from the
Merriam Commission.
But there are q hundred Arms that
ought to BE- asked BY somebody % to
what their relations have been with
the city.
How many firms doing business with
the purchasing agents once have been
asked b 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
sell goods to the city.
How many city contractors have
been asked to favor this one, or that
one. because the city buys from them?
This should not be hard to mad out,
from what We hear.
The purchasing agents once IL in
for It.
It will get what It has been look.
ing for.
Following are the latest discoveries
IN the city purchasing agents investi.
CATION:
That large amount Of material,
such - cement. brick. sand. and gray.
81 for the Board Of Local Improve.
ments and the Department Of Public
Works 10 bought on reQuisition, with.
out any saving to the city over the
competitive bid and contract plan.
That there has been change in the
method Of handling acquisitions from
the purchasing agents department
since Nov. II. Complete information
regarding all purchases IL now sent
to the Comptroller's once.
That w. H. Giants. audit clerk in the
Comptroller's once. IL 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: 7. A. Cummings Foun.
dry Company. Garden City Sand Com.
pany, General Electric Company, West.
ern Electric Company. Illinois Fire.
proof Covering Co.. George B. Limbsrt
= Co.. Meacham . Wright. National
Tube Company. Peerless Light Com.
pany. J. w. Fernald Company. r. r.
Campbell. Mclaughlin Building Mate.
rial Company. Peter Olsen Z Co.
The city purchasing agents depart.
ment 10 helping out too many "ofsicial
publications" according to many firms
who sell goods to the city. This sort
Of hold.up was "all right" under Dunno
and Harrison, but we don't think
Busse win stand for what has been
done with city contractors.
Mayor Busse wants q free. full and
fair investigation by the Merriam
Commission. He sent the following
to the City Council on the subject:
1T has come to my notice through
newspaper reports and otherwise that
some opposition may develop In your
honorable body to an additional ap-
preparation to pay the expenses of the
commission on municipal expendi-
lures. hope these reports are un.
founded Strict ofiicial etiquette would
prescribe that refrain from express
Ing an opinion on the subject at this
time (before the subject Is ofIicially
before mol, but the unusual character
Of the situation will excuse me, hope,
for taking the step.
II am In favor Of providing for the
compission on municipal expenditures
all the money 1t may need for carry.
Ing. to the earliest possible conclu.
sion. the most thorough possible In.
quiry into municipal expenditures.
hope such provision will be made
without delay. All Of 10. the mem.
bers Of your honorable body a. we'll
~ the members Of the executive and
administrative branches Of the muni.
cipal government. ought to bs inter.
estsd In having the work Of this com.
mission done - thoroughly % poe.
sibls and - quickly - 10 consistent
with, searching work 70 the end that
We may got q report which will IN
fairness and completeness Justify the