The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-02
ATTACKS ALDERMEN
ON BUYING FOR CITY
Bureau Head Figures Up ST.
10000 Spent without
Competitive Bids.
EXPENSIVE AUTOS LISTED

Tho present Board OF Aldermen. i'm
mune from serious hostile attack up &
this time. is charged with abusing on
Of its greatest powers" In an open lctte'
sent to Mr.. McAneny yesterday b!
William Bullock. director OF the Burea
Of CITY Inquiry. which Is under Tam
many's wing.
The abuse alleged by Mr.. Bullock II
the letting Of S~i.l3o.5oo worth of cit,
contracts without competitive bidding
since January 1. 1914. He say he |
informed that this amount far exceed.
the total for any previous period o.
eighteen months since consolidation.
Mr.. Bullock charges that contracts
which before 1914 were awarded by free
bidding have been let without competi'
ton OF any kind. lie says "the presen
Board of Aldermen has persistently con
tinued to Kill competition In bidding
thereby leaving the city treasury at the
mercy Of individuals In power, as
elected officials, appointed heads OF de-
partments, or otherwise" He goes on
Tho city Charter stlpulates that M
contract exceeding $1,000 sha be let
without free and unrestricted open bid
ding. except by vote Of the Board OF
Aldermen. Experience In the pas
proved that opportunity TO let contracts
without open bidding led to favoritism
and graft. BY removing contracts
~totaliing s~i.1so.50o from competitive
bidding the Board OF Aldermen In the
last eighteen months to that extent has
opened the door to favoritism and graft.
Tho purchase OF automobiles for city
departments has been n subject of
criticism many times within recent
years. The present Board Of Aldermen
has exempted from competition the pur-
chase Of an automobile for the Commits
sioner of Water supply, Gas and Flee
tricity at s2.O75; one for the President
OF Brooklyn at $500 one for the
President OF The Bronx at $4,000; one
for the President OF Queens at $1,000
one for the President of Richmond at
s2,50O and one for the Commissioner OF
Parks. Queens. al $4,000.
The Department of Parks. Queens. is
one of the smallest units in the city
government. yet owing to the Boar Of
Aldermen the Commissioner has been
enabled to provide himself with prob
ably the most expensive automobile in
the city service, and that without public
letting.
"1n all the board has approved Of the
purchase without competition of twenty
three automobiles. ten automobile am
balances, six automobile trucks, one au-
toinobile hearse and four tractors, or a
total Of forty-four motor vehicles"
Among the contracts approved without
competitive bidding and toialling sl.l30,-
500. as listed by Mr.. Bullock. are these {:
Fresh nsh. oysters and CLANS for
Department OF Public Charities
RESOLUTIONS adopted June . and
Trees shiubbery. privei and other ~
:aPPlie. ior pepar!ment Of
adopted April u. 1871. ....... 1000
MIX and cream for the Depart
ment Of Public Charities. Reso-
luton adopted February 2
Fresh nsh, oysters clans. fruits.
vegetable and agricultural and
botanical supplies Tor Depart
ment of Public Charities. Reso-
luton adopted February 2,
Flour FOR Department Of Pubiis
Charities. Resolutions adopted
April 10 and July 8. lsl5.... $1,000
tion system at certain point.
Department OF water supply.
Gas and Electricity. Res1iu-
tlon adopted July Z, isl4... 2se75
Repairs TO engines, boilers and
appearances by Department
OF Water supply, Gas and E,ec-
trigity. Resolution adopted
OF nitrogen gas fllel
lamps by the Department, Of
W ,yi.l,y snPR,y, ,s G1s ana od E !
December S, l9li. ............. 1000
Repairing engines, pumps, boil
ers. submerged mains and APP
pnrtenances Department Of
tr!city. Resolution adopted
March 70. 1915. .....:..... 1900
partment. Resolution adopted
February ?. sl5.......... :sssb
tan Museum OF Art. Department
OF Parks, Manhattan. Resolu-
tons adopted February ? and
Bicycles ana motorcycle. for 1900
Police Department Resolution
adopted April 10, lsl5...... $4,000
EIrsvatins in Slip and construct
third and ~For,y.atth streets,
for Department OF Docks and
Ferries. Resolution adopted
June ", 1914. ............ ?o.IaA
Books, chemical, physical ana
terial for Hunter College. Reso.
luton adopted February 2.
Labor, material, .npcry,slon ana 10000
transportation and all other OK
penses in connection with tho
exhibit OF the city OF New
York at the Panama-Par!
Exposition. Resolution adop,cl
June 3, 1914. ........,. lnooos
Furnishing OF supplies. SC. Tor
reception and entertainment or
United States Atlantic noet
BY Mayor and ommlttee Of
Hoard of Aldermen, Resolution
adopted Arril ~. lslb....,' 10 nm
Celebration OF independence Dny. ~
special committee, Board AZ
Aldermen. Resolution adopted
. june 20, lsl5....... IA nm
New carpets. desks, chairs. tables ''
Sc, to refurnIsh AldermaniS
Chamber and for renovation %,
same Resolution adopted june
city Han, Resolution adopted ~
June ., ,,nn
rehabilitation Of additional par,s ''V''
81 the City Hall. Including the
Mayors ontces Resolution
adopted April ~, lsl5.,.., -oo,