Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-01-20
COULD ASK BIDS
FOR AUDITING,
SEAMAN SAYS

1t has cost the city $4,000 to date
for two-year audit of the city books.
/ None of the city officials seen today
could state why so large an amount
had already been expended and the
work was not yet complete, while
Harry Braverman, who claims to be
a member of the staff of one of the
most reputable accounting firms in
the country, filed a bid by which the
city could have saved more than
500. The explanation by city Of
| ficials is that they found it undesir-
able to award the job by contract.
According to Alderman-at-Large w.
| Guy Weaver the finance committee
conferred with several reputable
firms and decided that the PROPOSE
tion offered by Hunter, Stark e Com
pany was the best.
| Could Advertise for Bids.
| The plea of Democratic members
| of the Board of Aldermen is that
suitable specifications could not cas-
lily be prepared for the prospective
bidders. City Treasurer Charles X.
Seaman stated today that he told
members of the council last year that
| he thought he could prepare specifica-
tons upon which the auditors could
bid. He was unaware as to why he
was not requested to proceed and
says he does not know how or why
the work was given to Hunter, Stark
& Company.
In speaking about the receipts of
a bid from Mr.. Braverman, City Clerk
Wilbur La Roe said today that he
could not recollect as to the time
that occurred He said that bids
were advertised for on two occasions
to his knowledge and believed that
bids were returned after requests had
been made for speefi Scat iassssss ~ r.
| iRS tba -ssosd tsc1ossd work. Bids were
advertised for December Is, 1913 and
again June 1, 1914. The following
is from the minutes of June /:
Bids for auditing the city's books
were presented A communication
from the Audit Company of New
York, stating that they would quote
a definite price for auditing service
after they had seen specifications
covering the ground or inspected the
books, was received, and on motion
referred to the Committee on FL
nance. and the bids all ordered re-
turned to the respective bidders A
letter from the Universal Audit Com
pany also expressing a desire to bid
after specifications had been prepar-
ed, was received and referred to the
Committee ON Finance"
In the office of Collector of Rev
enue Richard F. White, it was stated
that it was believed that representa-
tives of Hunter, Stark & Company,
had completed the audit, except, per-
haps, for some preliminary work
which was being done at the COM
pany's headquarters at no expense to
the city. The collector of revenue
said he knew nothing about the
awarding of the work, 1t being entire
ly in the hands of the Board of AL
dermen.
Mr.. White did venture to state
that he believed the firm of Hunter,
Stark & Company to be one of the
very best which the city could have
engaged, and in his opinion an audit
executed by any individual or a |
small firm not having such backing
and the reputation of Hunter, Stark !
& Company, would be utterly worth |
less.
Alderman-at-large w. Guy Weaver |
said that the finance committee had |
awarded the work to Hunter, Stark |
& Company only after it had been |
decided such was the best course to |
pursue, SO far as the city's interests |
were concerned. He declared that !
the award was not made until four |
or five other reliable firms had been
conferred with and representatives
of about three had appeared person
ally before the aldermen to discuss
the proposed work.
Mr.. Weaver also stated it was far
better to have a reputable firm with
sound backing do the work, than to
place it in the hands of an Individual
Or a firm about which little was
known. Both Mr.. Weaver and Mr.
White stated that Hunter, Stark &
Company were recognized the coun-
Try over as leaders in their profess
sion, being employed by cities, towns
and municipalities generally, by
banks and large firms. Mr.. Weaver
asked as to who Harry Braverman
was, what experience he had and
what kind of references he might
nave.
Alderman Chris Jorgensen, chair
nan of the finance committee, stated
his afternoon that the firm of Hunt
,r, Stark & Company had come
highly recommended from Elizabeth
md other municipalities and, as it
,ffered the best proposition, he con-
,luded 1t was best to have the work
lone by them and done we'll. He told
# an agitation under way during the
'ast few years in which it was inti-
mated that the Democrats were ,
fraid to have an audit. Noting this,
lie concluded. 1t was more necessary I
han ever to hire the most reputable ,
rm possible. He declared that there ,
yas but one firm, which would work
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