Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1909-12-18
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.

firms with the purchasing agents Of.
flce:
Hubbard, Spencer, Bartlett Z Co.. Of
which Investigator Bartlett IL the lead.
ing light.
T. A. Cummings Foundry Company;
castings.
Seven lumber companies.
Western Engineers Supply Com.
pany; oils, paclsings, 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 Z Sons; boiler parts.
Macaiinist Supply Company; tools,
screws, etc.
D. J. Gallagher 4 Co.; cotton waste.
w. H. Salisbury: rubber goods.
II. Chanhon Company; cordags,
nails, etc.
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 a hundred firms that
ought to be asked by somebody as 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
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 find out,
from what we hear.
The purchasing agents ONCE Is 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 a large amount Of material,
such rs cement, brick. sand, and gray.
ell for the Board Of Local Improve.
ments and the Department of Public
Works Is bought on requisition. with.
out any saving to the city over the
competitive bid and contract plan.
That there has been a change In the
method Of handling acquisitions from
the purchasing agents department
since Nov. II. Complete Information
regarding all purchases Is now sent
to the Comptroller's ONCE.
That w. II. Gantz. 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 scrutinize the purchases made
through Business Agent Coleman from
the following fifteen companies. firms.
and individuals: T. A. Cummings Foun.
dry Company. Garden City Sand Com.
pany, General Electric Company. West.
ern Electric Company. Illinois Fire.
proof Covering Co., George B. Limbert
& Co.. Meacham & 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 "ofnciai
publications." according to many firms
who sell goods to the city. This sort
OF hold-up was "all right" under Dunno
ana Harrison. but we don't think
Busse win stand for what has been
done with city contractors.
~eA
Mayor Busse wants a 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 an.
preparation to pay the expenses Of the
commission on municipal expendi-
lures. ! hope these reports are un.
founded. Strict official etiquette would
prescribe that ! refrain from express.
ing an opinion on the subject at this
Time (before the subject Is officially
before mel. but the unusual character