The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-02
DOES BRIDGEPORT NEED A CITY ATTORNEY, A CITY ENGINEER,
 AND A PAVING COMMISSION:

 watchful eye upon the party in power, and that from this criticism helpful results may come
 The idea of self interest lies at the bot tom of such criticism, and censure of the 'ins'' by the outs should always be carefully scru- tinized, for partisanship nearly always tends to exaggerate the faults and to minimize the virtues of opponent.
 Most men, however, have the power of judging the truth, when the facts are present ed, and can nearly always select from two bias ed statements the truth in either.
 The facts which come from the side friend fly to measure under criticism will usually be most valuable. for they will be either inadver- tantly given, or will necessarily appear as part of the, argument which those under attack feel obliged to offer.
 Consider the Warrenite contracts, not from the viewpoint of Democrats, Socialists. or even of the public, but in the light of facts and in formation furnished by Mayor Wilson, or by those in his administration who have the strongest motives for being friendly to him and his government
 Mayor Wilson himself obtained his office upon the strongest claim that he desired to pro mote efficiency He represented all previous administrations as lacking in economy of ex- penditures and promise to combine efficiency and economy in his own administration.
 Professedly to promote efficiency he went out of town for city engineer, and the office was given to the man of his choice, who now holds it.
 The city engineer is the city's expert on all matters relating to paving, and public works generally. It is ordinarily his duty to prepare Specifications, and to take steps necessary to see that the work is we'll done.
 In the interest of efficiency also Mayor Wilson named a city attorney, presumably be- cause he is an expert in the law.
 Mayor Wilson, in part also, named paw ing commission, to which the charter gives the special duty of contracting for pavements and 71ci,o oi1p Vofia
 Mayor. Wilson also named director of public works, who in the matter of paving is subordinate both to the city engineer and the paving commission
 l The mayor declared, when the fever for office upon him. that the purpose was to consolidate the public works department un- der the direction of the engineer The city engineer whom the mayor ap- pointed is Alfred H. Terry. MT. Terry appear ed before the aldermen Monday night. Alder man Meaney asked this question:
 ''Was your opinion city engineer ask ed about these contracts?' ?''
 MIR. TERRY: "NO, TT WAS NOT.n Mir. Terry further declared that while War renite is as good any bituminous macadam, he did not regard it suitable for streets through which trolley tracks run.
 In making the Warrenite contracts Mayor Wilson-although committed to efficiency- ignored Mr. Terry his engineer, ignored the paving commission to which the charter con I fided this particular duty and ignored his own city attorney, who has rendered his opinion that the Warrenite contracts illegal.
 In place of relying upon his legal adviser, his experienced engineer and his competent paving commission the mayor choose to ignore them.
 I It is the mayors duty to explain this re- lmarkAble divergence from ordinary procedure. If he is wise he will further justify the pub lie policy of contracting for ANY PATENTED PAVEMENT, WHETHER WARRENTTE, OR SOME OTHER.
 He has thrust this obligation upon himself T through the medium of two letters, one from James A. Dayton, commissioner of public works in the Borough of Queens, New York and the other from G. Rowland Leavitt, Super intendent of Highways, in the same Borough, in which it is specifically said that the charter of the city of New York and the laws of the state of New York specifically forbid contracts for patented pavements.
 When Mayor Wilson signed his name to a release from competition in Warrenite con tracts, he approved reason why competition waS not to be had. The reason given was "WARRENITE IS A PATENTED PAVEMENT 5
 So the mayor not only ignores his engin- ney when he has paving contracts to let but he remits bidding, a most unusual thing in l matters involving $160OOO and gives as his req son for the. latter action 'HThis is patented pavement" though the very act of contracting for patented pavements is deemed against pub lie noIicv in A great state which lays more nave