Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-29
SYSTEM
USED IN BUYING
5 MOTORCYCLES
CONTINUED From Page one.J

and was granted it. The Indian agent
stated that earlier in the year he had
been refused permission by the purchas-
ing agent to lend a machine for such
test, so in the fall he thought he had no
chance until he learned that Mr.. Ritter
was out Of town. Mr.. Ritter's assistant
gave permission for the test.
The police department used the Indian
and Ace for approximately six weeks,
and, according to the agent, reported
both highly satisfactory, but expressed
A preference for the Ace some motor
cycle riders stating they liked it's ease
Of operation. II is Of the fouF-cylinder
type. Captain Claude johnson Of the
traffic department, accompanied a rep
resentative Of the Indian agent to the
purchasing agents office and there stated
that he would like to see Ace machines
bought The purchasing agent said the
captain later qualified this Endorsement.
On Dec. 10, 1920, Donald I. Pope sub
mitted a written proposal to the pur-
chasing department In brief, he pro
posed to sell five Indians for 81 $50 OF
FIVE Aces for 81 ,9S5, and to allow the city
a 20 per cent discount from list price
on ell parts and to charge 81 per hour
for repair work. The proposals Of none
Of tn other bidders contained such an
offer, but Mr.. Ritter said the city had
an understanding with the Merz Motor
Company that it could get repair parts
at a 20 per cent discount.
The Pope bid on Indians and Aces
specified an allowance which would be
made from the regular price in trade for
five old machines which the new ones
were to replace. All the bids were on
this basis, however.
Pope, on Jan. 10, which was after the
police department had expressed to him
a preference for Aces, submitted a bid
on Aces alone.
HIGHER BID
ACCEPTED.
On Jan. II, however. the records Of the
purchasing agent show a requisition for
the purchase Of Eve Excelsiors at a net
price Of 81, 60oS5, which is $J0.S5 higher
than the Indian bid, was sent through
The requisition was approved by Chief
Of Police Jerry E. Kinney and George
W. Williams, executive secretary OF the
board Of public safety.
It was not until two days later that
the written proposal Of the Merz Motor
Company on the Excelsiors was made,
the purchasing agents files disclose.
The Merz Motor Company bid on both
types now used by the police depart
ment. The Henderson bid was $2,O55.
Both bids were on the regulation pro-
posaI stationery of the purchasing
agency. None Of the other bids was ON
such stationery, indicating that such
blanks had not been furnished TO the
other agencies.
The requisition for ExceIsiors also was
made before the bid on Harley Davidsons
was received. Ernest Hughes On Jan.
u agreed to furnish five new 1921 Har-
-Davidsons for $3.50.
The purchasing agent finally sent
through the order for the five Excelsiors
at the price S5O,65 higher than the low
est bid to the Merz Motor Company on
Jan. %. On Jan. IS, Chief Kinney was
ordered to turn over to the NGerz Motor
Company the five old machines to be
replaced.
AGENCY FAILS TO
ADVERTISE FOR BIDS.
The purchasing agency aid not adver-
tise for bids, nor did it notify all the
motorcycle agencies in the city that the
machines were to be bought, The pur-
chasing agency, however, interprets the
law to mean that it does not have to
advertise for bids, but can pursue the
CLOSED method" of buying In such in
stances.
According to one Of the motorcycle
sales agents bids were all shaded as low
as possible so as to get them below the
$1,000 mark in order that the law, pro-
viding that all contracts involving the
expenditure OF more than $1,000 must be
ratified by the city council, might be
evaded.
1t is no secret at the city hall that
the purchasing agent does not like to
have the council pass upon contracts en-
gineered by him because the council in
several cases has taken particular de-
light in refusing to ratify them.