Note 85 — Chapter XI · MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS OF TODAY
Reading edition
A common pretext is to allege that the lowest bidder is not a reliable contractor, or that he underpays his workmen, or that on some previous contract he failed to do a good job. Any such excuse is good enough for city officials who desire to favor their own friends at the public expense. City charters sometimes provide that contracts must be given to the lowest bidder, but a hard-and-fast requirement of this kind may sometimes lead to difficulties.