Show SHUTTING OFF LEAKS A A PARTICULARLY significant phase of the report of the special auditors to the city commission on reforms in the handling and safeguarding of city money is that dealing with purchases If the city purchasing agent is to earn his salt he will be given the power to buy all the supplies and materials for all departments He will be given the power too to prevent purchases except through his office The purchase of materials and supplies by department heads independently of the purchasing department has led to graft ranging from petty thefts to the payment of excessive prices to personal and political friends It is to the credit of certain city of officials of- of within the last year that some em em- have been discharged for corruption This abuse could not have crept in had hadan hadan hadan an adequate check been placed upon all purchases purchases purchases pur- pur chases through the purchasing department and the city city auditor The system needs strengthening now along the lines suggested so 50 there can be no recurrence The big need in city administration is to shut off the leaks to impress upon city service serice a businesslike system that is no different from that followed by private enterprise The fallacy fallacy fallacy fal fal- fal- fal lacy that there is a difference between public and private management needs puncturing |