The New York herald., 1874-12-31
COMMISSIONER BOWEN'S RE
MOVAL.

NEW YORK. Dec. 80, 1874.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HEnALD:-
hope that you will find time to read General
Bowen's defence. HIS removal and the pre.exs
upon which that removal was based are alike un-
Just and frivolous. The only purpose was 10 make
place Tor a man whom the people rejected in
November. The office was OF no Importance 10
General Bowen. He did not ask for or seek IL.
But ne discharged the duties with such diligence,
fdeli,y ana genteness as TO win the hearts Of
thousands and the respect OF al except those who
wanted his place.
General Bowen was not permitted TO know who
his accusers were. The proceeding was secret.
The orficers were divided between the incoming
and out going Mayors, the former taking two the
latter one; and. worst OF all, this "Jo0'' was -
secretly sanctioned By the Governor. Truly yours.
THURLOw WEED.
General James Bowen has published the note
f0liowing:-
seemed proper 70 make n. up the reso6 m n:
unasss @ sna @ hs = the report
DECEMBER g. j. B.
The late Commissioner then produces two let
ters ON himself to Mayor Vance, dated respec-
lively December and 10. The earlier letter ex-
plains the circumstances OF the impris onment OF
William NJ. Tweed. stating tnat he Is clad In the
ordinary penltentary garb OF prisoners OF hts
c.ass-that is those confined for misdemeanors.
1t explains the circumstances under which the
Board, under the opinion OF the chief medical
ofncer, directed that Mr.. Tweed should be allowed
to step out OF the closet in the hospital to which
he was originally assigned, on account OF appr6l
hended danger to his health. This letter also
states that in the cases OF two other invalid pYs.
oners convicted OF felony, they we're, on me0cal
advice, trans erred TO the general hospital OF the
department, the Board nolding Aself compelled
by duty tO Care for the lives OF convicts as well
to insure me community against their escape.
that Mr. Tweed was allowed unusual liberties.
I he otner letter relative to various charges
against the Board Is as i0ll0ws:-
sH-1 have the honor to .etnowsdss .hs receipt q
q Futile ' char,e. and with
%e 20 OF The 81 S IA s e G Az
and stern n M and stating that
subject that report to communicate to you be-
that decline sign
snsse inlemperAte and lenuncialory Of Mr. Howe.
s as ri, R.
so the entire sasac.on our Tness
sss M sss' to al s se0s: e
accounts were prom ani satisfactory NY colleagues
d.sisrss ncsmpsisa1 dssircyss h.
livelihood Nor, AGAIN, cOadl assent to many OF the
ad
2s my to The ss Sn IA R L there to m
RaoWiease and Which, H would have SesS S
improper Tor M ,ae 70 s. subscribe; Css .. o.,
partment we're Kept on deeGtivs aud Improper sys.
se w
tnat purchases have been made at private sale,
10 'ea Ts be %
partnent have been purchased ct private sale by
ana tnat his aSn has been n excess Of
ploye OF depsrtmen.
the moue Keeping the accounts Of the department.,
Ss 0 na Is
he Si pracnse when went INTO ONCE Il
approved and Continued ~ commisoners conspcuous
s"s
Moses il. Grinnell and Isaac Bell am asuie lawyers.
Surrogate wsst Recorder iiilou; soecied o the
these nanes Tor The ultried Of my col
leagues Msssrs Laimbeer and STERN even though ap-
Mr. Howe directs attention certain erasures in the
made made with vi faadulent intent Knew nothing Of The
n hn sd "a n rean n MS nr red then
drawn through figures erroneousiy entered by the
M a
the supplies have
frequently been male a. private sale in excess Of 81 90
p ss
sssa \, ss1' es s hs' from ss %:
iii quite recently has been restricted to tho
". e s Gse SS anS
made AZ private sale BIT nave no doubt ti,at sucn
been made and mat ,e circams,ances Of the case IL
sf u:
coal to run down 70 two Or three days appy or o. the
q s4rso s q sOS e Of oqr r.
purchased under these circumstances. ~
And in snis connection respseieily call your atten
purchases BY public competition and to the necessity OF
he conditions imposed merchants and others max
ing Proposals sal for supplies are 50 vexaols and aneces
market rates he law also declares thai the contract
In several M instances eai single proposal
one case there was bur single Did for sooo coal
sr the
s for %
ldy d,.o, o. Hour Il vas awarded under the com.
li ssn
e me S ns e G
invited ,n io n,y bales Of blsnkss TIey a.arsed
informed oaerea u. better g blankets Z i .ss.snysys
nsfS ss%s
possn s,s na A. general propoon mink may safely
cheaper ,han n thToagh is medium e prOposas ham;
T6e practice Of urchasnS the meats or the depart.
M %ent s 1rUag pTyate sale aSSSpss
sSn ae ne % s SS sSia
opinion the Legality OF the practice and he reported
tna IN the opinion OF counsel was III accordance with,
law More recently the written opinion OF the CORPORA
ton Counsel was obtained and ge ne expressed the
the practice he suggested thai would be expedient
contract the meats in accordance with the
spirit OF the charter. The Board immediately adopted
his suggestion ana the meats are now furnished by CON-
tract There be no doubt, so far as the inter SITS Of
the city and the welfare OF the inmates OF the nstu
ons concerned that the purchase OF through
a special agent Is greatly preferable.
As stated IN the commencement OF this letter, have
doubt that Mr. Howe entered upon his duties with
sngencss o. purpose 10 make lust exhibit OF the ac-
counts OF the department ] think that he has In part
failed to do 50 by reranng from asking Tor Information
obscure or doubtful points. Thus he states that he
discovered large sum 10 the credit Of the Commission
Of the banks, and Of which the Commis
soners Ignorant distinctly recoiect that in
formed Messrs Lambeer and OF fact the dag
after their accession office, and that the sum would
ICONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.]