DEALS. I received the following offer in a phone call from another department: "If you will arrange the installation of the new PC's by Christmas, I'll try to get your authorization for trucks through by then." Did the employee who made that offer do anything unethical? If so, what should I do about it?

FREE LUNCH. I frequently do business at lunch. Almost inevitably, those whom I meet with at lunch offer to pick up the tab. My lunch is always under $50.00. Is it ethical for me to allow others to pick up the tab (a) as a general rule? (b) when the person doing so is also in city government? or (c) when the person is involved in or seeking work for which my office is responsible? I'm pretty sure it is what my department does, not my cheery conversation, that explains so many offers of a free lunch.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY. May 1, a commissioner, solicit contributions from employees of my department after working hours (a) for charitable activities in which I regularly participate? (b) for referenda or candidates I support? I would, of course, inform all those from whom I solicited contributions that they may refuse without fear of repercussions. Would the answer be any different if I limited such solicitations to subordinate officials in my department? Would the answer be any different if the question concerned not employees of my department but outsiders with whom my department does business?

CHANCY GIFTS. One of the contractors with whom my department does business gave my employees tickets to a raffle as its Christmas gift. The contractor ran the raffle itself. The only people eligible to win were the members of my department. Given the number of tickets issued and the prizes offered, each ticket was worth no more than $10. But the prizes were substantial. For example, first prize was a 23" color TV set worth about $400. One of my deputies won the TV set. May he accept it? May anyone in my department accept such a prize? What if the prize were itself worth less than $50 (as a few of the runner-up prizes were)?

WHISTLEBLOWING. Two months ago, in the course of my ordinary supervisory work, I uncovered evidence that one of my subordinates accepted substantial payments to speed issuance of certain permits. I reported the discovery to my boss, with a recommendation to call in OMI. His response was, "Holy jeeze, I don't want that getting out. We can handle this inside." As far as I can tell, all he has done so far is to move the employee in question to another job of the same kind, but one for which I have no responsibility. Would it be unethical for me to notify OMI myself? Should I? (Would the answer be any different if the employee in question were a doctor who abused patients in a hospital or clinic?)