New-York tribune., 1910-01-15
NO SNOW CONTRACT
CITY TO DO WORK.
Estimate Board Objects to
Form Proposed.

streets outside, the Board of Estimate
wrested yesterday with the problem of
a proper form of snow removal contract.
1T is probable that no contract will be
let this winter. and that the department
viii continue TO remove the snow itself.
The report of President Mitchell of the
Board OF Aldermen and Borough President
McAneny. the special committee that had
been considering the question: was finally
approved, Mayor Gaynor deferring to the
recommendations of the committed
Strong language was used in the report
in condemning the area form of contract.
which the first presented by Commits
sioner Edwards. According to the report
1t was $50 unskilfully. clumsly and obscure
ly drawn. was so disadvanta geous to the
city and favored the contractor at so many
points, that it might with justice be stated
that no contract more favorable to a de-
sign to plumber the city could we'll have
been conceived or drawn" 1t was drawn
by man in the Corporation Counsers
office.
Before reading the report, President
Mitchell took pains to say that il was not
intended to impute TO Commissioner Ed
wards anything but the best of intentions
in bringing to the attention of the board
what he considered a good form of con-
tract
After the reading of the report, Mayor
Gaynor said to Commissioner Edwards:
My disposition, Mr.. Commissioner is to
follow the advice of the committee and
relieve you of any undeserved responsibility
for this form of contract"
AS for contract No. 2, submitted by the
Street Cleaning Commissioner, which was
for the cubic yard system opposed to
the area system of removal. the report of
the committee said that 1t had many de-
fects, but could be redrafted so as to be
satisfactory. In view of the fact, however.
that 1t could not be readvertised and relet
before February, and that Commissioner
Edwards had expressed a desire in such
case to continue to remove the snow him
self for the rest of the winter, the COM
nlittee said It saw no reason why the re-
quest be not granted
If this were not done, the report recon-
mended that the Commissioner be per-
mitted to let a cubic yardage contract. In
either case, the report said. the Commits
sioner should adopt a checking system
to prevent fraud, such a system as was
outlined IN a report of the Commissioners
of Accounts some time ago.
Edward NJ. Grout, former Controller, ap-
pearins IN behalf of the Bradley Contract
ing Company, the lowest bidder the
form of contract rejected after bids had
been received, argued that while the con-
tract was not ideal he believed il for the
best interests of the city not to delay in
letting some sort of contract at once 1t
had cost the city 100000 to remove the last
snowfall, he said, whereas he had been told
that private contractors would have done
ii for 100000.
DO you mean TO say" broke in Con-
troller Prendergast, that an economic
thorough and efficient administration would
not be able to do work as cheapy as pri-
vate interests?"
Il am dealing with facts" said the for
mer Controller. II do not believe il good
business for the city to spend so much
money in pursuing ideal form of con-
tract"
Our oaths of Office remarked President
Mitchell, would at least prevent us from
agreeing to a form of contract drawn to
the decided disadvantage of the city and
placing us at the mercy of this or that con-
tractor
The other members of the board seemed
to agree with this, and the report of the
committee was adopted
Commissioner Edwards told the Mayor
he thought he was prepared to cope sue
cessfully with the present storm and with
those that might follow through the winter
If the board desired him to handle those as
well.
Il am inclined TO authorize you TO go
ahead with the snow removal Yourself"
said the Mayor, until such time as a con-
tract may be redrawn and relet At the
same time, the public must be lenient with
you. You have great problem before You,
one that requires patience and persever-
ance."
The board then voted to appropriate
s201.646 II 10 complete payment of the bills
for the removal of the last snow making
total appropriation of about $4,000.
In taking up various requests for appro-
priations on the calendar yesterday the new
Board of Estimate showed itself inclined to
act with great caution. Most of them were
referred to the special member of the board
most interested: