Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-17
is BUYER
ATTACK
IN COUNCIL
Special Committee Holds Pur-
chasing Agent Ritter Does
Not Follow Law.
REPORT SENT TO MAYOR

Little atten zion either to the spirit or
the letter of the state statute governing
the city purchase department has been
paid by Dwight s. Ritter, purchasing
agent, according to 4 report submitted
to the city council last night.
A special committee composed of Coun-
cilmen william 3. Peake, Russell Will
son and Louis W Carnefx has been in
vestigat ting the department for several
weeks due to certain alleged Irregular
ties that have been brought to the at
tention of the council.
MEANING OF LAW
CITED IN COMPLAINT.
There seem to be no gross irregulari-
tics in the department, according to the
report, although il was said that the
purchasing agent seems to have failed to
grasp the meaning Of the law govern
ing it.
During 1919 1t was said that the de-
partment handled 81 ,OST, GOO worth of sup
plies, most Of the work being done eff
cientIy and economically, although. it
was stated, the purchasing agent on some
occasions exceeded his authority as given
by law and did not follow the proper
method in conducting some phases of the
office.
The council accepted the report and
recommended that a copy be submitted tC
the mayor with a request that the irreg-
ularities enumerated be corrected.
REPORT MADE BY
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
The report read in part:
Under the law the head Of the de-
partment of public purchase is an agent
only, acting for the various executive
departments or officers. authorized by
law to purchase supplies aud materials
pif
rection, rules and regulations as may
be given or established by he various
executive departments or officers. The
present purchasing agent, We believe
has failed to fully grasp this fact.
Under the law he has no right to ex-
ecute contracts, but the same must be
signed by the various boards or ex-
ecutive officers. In some specific in
stances the purchasing agent has, we
believe, exceeded the authority given
him by law in this respect. This should
be Immediately discontinued.
1.-THE law requires that the purchas-
ing agent devise such forms. invoices
receipts, books. papers and files, together
with such rules aud regulations as may
be necessary for the proper operating Of
the department. The law also provides
that 10 personal property. belonging tC
the city, shall be sold without an ap-
praisement; It also provides that wher
a sum of more than $1,000 is to be paid
FOR purchase of any property. the same
shall rot take place unless such purchase
Is specifically authorized by ordinance
In some instances neither OF these two
provisions have been complied with.
purchases amounting to more than
$1,000 have been made without action
of the common council. and personal
property belonging to the city has been
sold without appraisements having been
first obtained The only such UnauthOr
lied purchase however. that we find was
an automobile. in which case the c.ers
Of the board of works neglected 10 send
the ordinance to the council. and FOR
which oversight he assumes full re-
sponsibility.
1.-THE law provides that the purchasing
agent. assistant purchasing agent. and
each other officer or appointee in sal /
department shall within ten days after
their appointments. execute bonds which
shall be filed with the city controller.
No such bonds are on file except those
Of the purchasing agent and the assist
ant purchasing agent. This, of course
should be remedied at once.
Your committee has advised the mayor
Of these conditions and is Informed that
he is taking steps to rectify them.
We recommend that 4 copy OF this
report be forwarded to the mayor with a
request that these matters he promptly