New-York tribune., 1921-03-06
Fradus Merely
Treated White, >
Says Hirshfield
Commissioner Defends His
Part in Ashes Contract
Under Investigation by
Ex Governor Whitman
City Saved $40, 600
Assails Alleged Ring That
Prevented Contractor
From Obtaining Scows

David Hirshfeld, Commissioner Of
Accounts, yesterday issued statement
defending his part in the Jacob Fradus
ash removal contract now the subject
of investigation by former Governor
Charles S. Whitman. The Commits
sloner said the story of the contract
was very simple one" and "for the
benefit of those who, as in the Inspector
Lahey case, may not know where to,
look for the truth wish to tell the
true story of that contract as know
it,"
The Commissioner declared that prior
to the present city administration TAX
ing Office there had existed a combine
ton which controlled and monopolized
all street cleaning contracts for the
removal of ashes and snow. Owing to
the forfeiture of the contract of Daily
lvlns early in 1918 for the removal
and final disposition Of ashes and the
heavy snowfalls in January and Febru-
ary OF that year, the Street Cleaning
department was unable to handle the
disposal Of the ashes, he said. with tho
result that they were accumulated in
large piles at convenient places
throughout the city, the Commissioner
declared.
Fradus Lowest Bidder
When, on March IS, 1918, Street Clean
ing Commissioner MacStay opened the
informal bids for the removal of these
various ash heaps he found that Jacob
fradus was the lowest bidder. at 90
cents q cubic yard. Inducements were
made by other contractors to Fradus
at the time to withdraw his bid, it was
SAID, according to Commissioner Hirsh-
field, and when Fradus refused TO w;tb-
draw threats were made that ne would
not be permitted to carry out the con-
tract. o0"-
"Fradus, being the lowest bidder.
was awarded the contract with the con,
sent of the Board of Estimate" said
Commissioner Hirshfeld "and. nm
daunted BY all threats, signed the con
tract and filed surety bond for it's
performance in the sum of $780, 900. as
required. The Fradus bid meant saw
ing of $48,280 to the city over the next
lowest bidder.
From information received at the
~HPNoASN cHdt uO sooner hGO
the contract been awarded to Fradus
man 1nan some one got busy. and when
Fradus made arrangements to begin
work he found that certain interests
we're powerful enough to keep him
rom oota!nlng scows or any other
Doats IN which TO remove the ashes To
deep water, as he had intended. The
ashes piled up along the waterfront
with the result that he was comnel)ed
10 cart all the ashes in motor trucks
over the greensboro Bridge to certain
jumping grounds in Long island Citv
ana, OF course, under these circum.
stances Fradus could not complete the
WORK IN sixty days as required by his
contract. ''''
Wanted to Give Him Choice
Having done his best under tho cir
cculmstances, he applied to the Street
Cleaning Commissioner for an exten-
sion OF time to complete the work. and
IN consideration Of the fact that he
nao helped the city to break the there
to1ore existing combination, and that
the city saved by the operation s48.2sO
~ was deemed but fair to give him
chance and not take him by the throat
ana choke him, which would have heen
a source of qualification to those who
tailed to get the contract.
Now, this is the story of this mvs-
terious transaction, ard if treatinr a
man white is crime, then, am afraid
WIN the exception OF possibly q yerv
lew, all OF us with red blood in our
veins are criminals