140 



Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



2. The West Park Board operates one laundry for 

 rough work but pays also approximately $9,000 annually 

 to commercial firms for laundry service. There has been 

 no public advertisement soliciting bids thereon. It is 

 suggested that the extra laundering be done on con- 

 tracts after competitive bids secured by public adver- 

 tisement. In this connection the Bureau is informed that 

 the Manager of the House of Correction will be glad to 

 bid on this work. All laundering for the 45 police stations 

 in the city is done at this institution. 



3. The Lincoln Park laundry (recently erected) ap- 

 pears to be fully equipped and with economical manage- 

 ment should secure a considerable saving in laundry ex- 

 pense. It is suggested that only the actual cost of service 

 rendered be charged against the functions and activities 

 served, as is now done in South Parks. The charging by 

 the South Park Board of laundry equipment to a miscel- 

 laneous park equipment account and failure to charge any 

 depreciation to operating costs and the charging by the 

 Lincoln Park Board of all laundry equipment to the op- 

 erating costs of the year in which it is purchased are 

 equally bad accounting practices. 



