Case Name: WILLIAM McDonald, Respondent, v. THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COMMONALTY OF NEW YORK, Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1874-07
Citations: 8 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 719
Docket Number: 
Parties: WILLIAM McDonald, Respondent, v. THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COMMONALTY OF NEW YORK, Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Supreme Court Reports (Hun)
Volume: 8
Pages: 719–719

Head Matter:
WILLIAM McDonald, Respondent, v. THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN and COMMONALTY OF NEW YORK, Appellants.
Gontraetfor puiblie work—mXhority io make.
Appeal from a judgment, in favor of plaintiff, entered on the report of a referee.
This action was brought to recover the value of materials furnished and used in repairing the public streets. The court were of opinion that if the several cargoes were to be treated as separate items, the superintendent of roads had no authority to make the contracts of purchase without the necessity therefor being first certified by the head of the appropriate department to the common council, and the expenditure being upon such certification ordered by the common council. (§ 38, chap. 446, of 1857.)
If the plaintiff’s demands were to be treated as arising under one contract, and thus constituting a single item exceeding $250, the proposal should have been made upon sealed bids or proposals invited by public advertisements. (§ 38, chap. 446, of 1857.)
H. Delafield Smith, Counsel to the Corporation, for the appellants.
Henry Pa/rsons, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Opinion by Davis, P. J.
Daniels and Bbady, JJ., concurred.
Judgment reversed, and a new trial ordered, costs to abide the event.