Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-08

A.. sscord OF series Of In
his ,.,, ,be new Directors selected
s trrvsws W., 1T Thomas II. Smith, con-
y " ha'V, ri, pIans for the administra-
u their departments
,onplete inspection of supplies.
~ ,o,er will be the first targets OF
Z. u ssv pirector of the Department OF
~ ~ Ioseph s. MacLaughlin. The
sups@,, .,.o,ed by Mayor-elect Thomas B.
r. - head this important branch Of
w. .,,y,. government for the next four
'n' ..aov outlined his plans for the
'fe' :, the work, with which he ,s
''h,a bscause Of his former connec-
=. ,s,,'I !. assistant director of the depart
IT, ~. .,r, s TO give a progressive, eco
n and busIness-like administration
y's., =. pepartment of Supplies" said Mr..
/ |,s.srSurhlin. In common with the
I'm members of the new caoinet' l pc
~. nat this administration has golden
t.s,ortunty to make Philadelphia pet
..r nlace for everyone a modern city that
IN ,n Uot be tagging behind others In any
|Sins
4, !, n little difficult to outline plans
az department before actually taxi
~ Lila but from what l know OF 1t L
INA saw that two OF the most impor-
w necessities are a measure to ex-
..si,s the handling of small accounts and
x better system of inspection.
WANTS QUANTITY AND QUALITY.
u intend to give strict attention to
',.. lnspectlon Of supplies, to see that
',s. citv gets both quality and quantity
~ ~ money expended. No matter how
rsll drawn specifications may be, II sup
Lu,. ara not furnished In accordance
IN them, the city is bound to be i'm
-ossd on In these two respects. Nothing
[..troys open competition so quickly as
a lack Of rigid inspection.
IN IA obvious that when contractor
A.,ayss the inspection will not be thor
burh and vigilant, he may bid below a
I'M price in order to get the contract
.nd endeavor later to make his profit by
raIdnr TO deliver quality and quantity.
When the trade sees contract go at
rr3ce that It knows Is below the market
<.lue. other contractors withdraw from
la bidding and competition is destroyed.
because of this I believe the De-
sartmsnt OF Supplies needs n larger
<orps Of inspectors. Just how large an
Increase in the present force will be
1scsssary l would not care to say until
fhsve taken charge"
WILL URGE CHANGES.
The matter of doing away with red
|ape In the small accounts of the Depart
nsnt Ia looked upon by the new Director
y one Of the most important tasks he
b faclng. This will be a matter for
'trslative action, and he probably will
back bill to bring about the desired
changes.
hat under the present laws It is I'M
possible for any holder of a big public
chce 10 run that office In exactly the
sams way he would run a private
business Certain methods Of meeting
certain contingencies are prescribed by
HE law The = Office holder has no
huthorty to do otherwise
IN the case of small accounts. this
nsars that It costs the Department OF
Eupples just as much in office expenses
70 bu7 800 worth of meat as II does to
5hrs a contract for half million dollars.
What Is more important, It means an
'uurmous waste of time every week.
,,.n-s, .o a. nt.n.,e 10
49, 80 ~ Ie ny, sseI "n 1i INC beeisia-
M .,an h,."i- nL,, L.. i, ~ eAp
= now conducted small claims must go
hiough the same procedure as the larg-
n contracts. This has, In the past.
'ought the department in for severe
-ntcism from many merchants not IA
49,. y y WIN the iesai condltions surround
~ tlV cOntTaCtS.