The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-06-25
SULZER HIGHWAY
CONTRACTS HELD UP
Had Been Awarded by the De-
partmpnt without Com.
petitivp Bidding.
WANTS THE LAW AMENDED
Governor Asks Legislature to
Change statute His Com
mittpc Favored.

ALBANY. \ Y June - Acting State
Comptroller Michael J Walsh held up
to-day two contract orders given 10y the
Department of Highways for road con
struction and repairs He o,iesti ioned the
propriety Of letting such contracts with
out public bids. on the ground that such
method would open opportunities for
business arrangements and other forms
OF improper practices
The State Highways Department. which
got $3.30o 600 appropriation to repair
roads this year, thus finds itself without
the means 10 proceed without advertising
for public bids the work it wants done
When Charles r Foley Of I.ockport was
deputy under Supt { Gordon Reel. Gov
Sulzer appointed a committee to investi-
gate the roads contracts. John y Carl
isle was chairman Of the committee
which rcportei that favoritism was shown
10y the Reel administ ration to Tammany
cont ractors and intimated that there had
been hundreds of thousands Of dollars OF
graft in the repair contracts The con-
tracts were let without competitive hid
ding A. u result Gov Sulzer demanded
Highway Commission with single
head, and he appointed Chairman Carlisle
Commissioner Of Highways
PrOvisiOns Of the Law.
The law contains this provision:
The maintenance and repair OF the
highways may be done in the discretion
Of the Commissioner directly bv the
Department Of Highways or by contract
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder
at public letting after due advertise
ment
One contract held up to-day was for
resurfacing a road in Duchess county
This was awarded TO Samuel Baskim of
Fishkill The contract price is S2O, lss
II has been said that Baskim had agreed
10 swing Assemblvman John A. Kelley y
vote for the Governor direct primary
bill Kelley voted to-day against the
hill
The other contra was TO the Frank
u Fowler tonst tr,Iction Company 10
repair road in West chester county for
s.? 81; Comptroller Walsh writes to
Commissioner Carlisle about the Raskim
contract
'''rh" Carlisle committee Of inquiry APP
pointed by GOV. Sulzer made an invsstiga-
uou OF the maintenance OF state highways
aud In report in which they severely
criticised the practice of letting contracts
for repairing good roads withou, public
they say: The most vicious feature OF
the method OF letting contracts appears to
nave been tn" practice Of awarding con-
tracts for repairs without asking for COM
p-titiN" bids
suls~r Wants Law Amended
The practlc" of awarding repair con
tracts In this manner appeared to offer
such opportunities for wrongdo!ng that
tspN SulZpr uifbnu' at h.r
than the existence Of what appeared to
him Ia br vicious system employed a
famous detective agency 10 make an in.
r-s,tga'ion ~ conditions IN tn. Highway
Department, In order. II possible. to secure
the punishment of possible wrongdoers
and the Governor also had inserted In the
new highway law strong provision pro-
hibiting the practice Now he and Com
missioner Carlisle want this provision re-
p-aled. and the Governor sent special
message to the Legislature last night
recommending the repeal"
Comptroller Walsh says Of the sec
ond contract:
This contract specifies the use OF
kosyn grit, a substitute for trap rock.
as cover for the road. Roslyn grit IL
product Of the Ph9nix Sand and Gravel
Company of II State street New York city
Patented Material Prohibited.
Your attention IL called TO the pro-
vision of the new highway law which pro-
hlbits the use ~ any patented material or
article in highway construction or repair
except under conditions where ther. is a
fair and reasonable opportunity for com
petition. This Is not possible in this case"
Majority Leader Robert r. Wagner
In the Senate to-day announced that he
would fight ITO the bitter end" tho at.
tempt OF Gov. Sulzer and Commissioner
Carlisle to break down the safeguards
Of the new highway law. in their effort
To let contracts involving thousa nds Of
dollars TO favored contractors through