The Detroit times., 1910-04-25
MAYOR GUILTY OF
VIOLATION Of
CHARTER
Michigan Cut Flower Exchange, in
Which He Is Stakeholder, Sells
Goods To the Park
Department.
Executive Says He Had Asked That
Practice Be acknowledgements
From Office, Laws Penalty.

Inc fact that Mayor Breitmeyer lis
stakeholder In TWO companies which
have done a small amount of business
with the city has resulted in bringing
to the notice of the controllers Office
In this connection the very stringent
provisions OF the charter which forbid
any city official TO be directly or in
directly interested in a financial tran
sactiOn with the city.
The mayor holds stock in the MichI.
gan Cut Flower exchange. a floral Job
hing house and in the Lohrman Seed
Co. Both OF these have had dealings
with the department OF parks and
+keulevsrds.- William bigger, superin.
tendent OF Belle Isle, is also interested
III the Michigan Cut Flower exchange,
which has sold goods valued at some
" hat less tifttff StS6 to tire park depart
ment this fiscal year
This office was not aware that
Mayor Breitmeyer had stock in the
Michigan Cut Flower exchange" states
Deputy Controller William j. Nagel.
I'VE cannot know all the stockholders
in corporations which may have bills
against the city Such things are never
winked al when we know OF them and
we shall keep this matter in mind.
The law applies TO corporations in
which a city official is a stakeholder"
says Corporation Counsel Hally. The
words direct or indirect cover that.
Mayor Breitmeyer is frank in stating
that the corporations referred 10 have
dealt with the city.
II was not aware that the Michigan
Cut Flower exchange had had any
dealings with the city since | became
mayor" he said II had asked Mr..
Dilger 10 see that this did not occur
But | suppose there may have been
such purchases by the city. 1t may
be that the park department has also
made purchases from the Lohrman
Seed Co.
When | became park commissioner
| asked Corporation Counsel Tarsney
for an opinion. and he told me that ne
did not think that the intent OF the
! law was TO touch such indirect mat
( ters. AT another time, when John
Breitmeyer's Sons had been hired to
I decorate the city hall took the bill,
amounting TO about $500 TO Mayor
Thompson and asked him his advice as
to its legality. He advised me to put
it in.
Il know that the park department
has at times bought small supplies
from the Michigan Cut Flower ex-
change That concern is a jobbing
house and can furnish the park de-
partment with goods % per cenc
cheaper than others could. OFTEN
things are wanted in a hurry which
would otherwise have TO be got from
New York or Chicago by express, and
II is quicker and cheaper to buy them
here in Detroit But | do not think
that there has been any profit 10 speak
Of 10 the Michigan Cut Flower eX-
change from these transactions: they
have been merely an accommodation
to the city"
There are three sections in the char
ter affecting dealings OF any elective
or appoiutive officer with the corpora
ton or its departments. Sec. -
reads.
If any member OF the common
council. or other officer OF the cor
poration. after his election or APP
pointment, or while In office.
shall become or cause himself to
become interested, directly or in
directly, in any contract or agree
ment. written or verbal, TO which
the corporation shall he party
I'm interest or TO which any officer
or board under this act shall Of
fCially be a party. or in any sub
jet, question or proceeding, pend
ing before the common council
with intent to gain, directly or in
directly. any benefit. profit or pc
cuniary advantage. he shall be re-
moved from his Office. and his Of
fee declared vacant by the com
! mon council and he shall be
deemed guilty of MilfuL and COR
rupt malfeasance in Office, and
may be prosecuted therefor, and.
on conviction. shall be punished
! by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, or Imprisonment IN
/ the state prison not exceeding one
year. or both. at the discretion of
the court