The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-20


The Department OF Charities and
Correction.
Mayor Havemsyer announces his intention
to commence an investigation into the
charges against the Commissioners Of Chair
ties and Correction to-day at the Office Of
the Commissioners of Accounts. The imme-
date cause of the inquiry is the presentment
of the Grand jury, III which it is stated that
sufficient to prove official neglect, if not cor
ruption. in the purchase of dry goods by the
Commissioners. Although the testimony OF
the witnesses has not yet been made public it
is pretty well known that it relates to large pur-
chasss of dry goods-some twelve thousand
or fourteen thousand dollars in amount-in
two months of person who is not o dry
goods merchant, but is brother of the son.
in-law of one Of the Commissioners of Chari-
ties and Correction, Mr.. Myer Stern. 1t is
said that some Of these purchases were made
in manner Inconsistent with the provisions
of the city charter, and it will be matter of
investigation whether the goods were sold to
the city by the agent at an advance on the
price paid by him to the merchant of whom
they were originally purchased. If SO, the
city will have been defrauded to that extent,
at least. ,4,.,.s..
We congratulate Mayor Havemeyer on the
decision he has reached to conduct this inves-
tigation with open doors. Damaging reports
are afoat in regard to the Department of
Charities and Correction, and the rumors may
be worse than the truth. 1t is very certain
however, that the department is in q con-
fused and disorganized condition. The
voluntary statements of the Commissioners
prove this fact. When we remember that
lars pass through this department in the
course OF year, that enormous amounts of
supplies are purchased and distributed, that
sums of money uncertain in amount are re-
ceived and handled by the employees, and that,
in the midst of all this responsibility, Commits
soners, bookkeepers and clerks admit them
selves to be in confusion and set about
condemning each other, We must admit that
the people have a right to be parties to the
pending examination. But the inquiry should
not be confined to the allegations embraced in
the Grand Jury's presentment. While these
allegations are sufficient to prove the necessity
of investigation, the whole system Of doing
business in the department should be over
hauled, and it should be ascertained whether
any other purchases have been made in Q
suspicious or Objectionable manner. The
Mayor should also be careful not to allow
the charges against the present Commits
sioners to be befogged by mixing them
up with alleged corruptions of the old
Tammany commission. 1t is not unlikely
that in the matter of the questionable dry
goods purchases on attempt may be made to
show what prices were paid for similar goods
by Mr.. Alexander Frear and his associates.
Such issues have nothing to do with the ques-
lions involved in the present inquiry and
should not be countenanced. In the instances
embraced in the Grand Jury presentment
it is the duty of the Mayor to ascertain
whether the dry goods were purchased
of person who is not dry goods dealer;
whether this agent charged the city twenty
Ave or thirty per cent. OF any other amount,
more than he paid for the articles; whether
the purchases were made by duly authorized
person, in regular manner and in accordance
with the provisions Of the charter whether
any alteration has been made in books, papers
or bills in the Department Of Charities and
Correction or elsewhere !; in what shape and
under what circumstances the suspicious bills
were audited and paid and what division
was made Of the plumber if the city has been
charged for the goods more than they cost It
is further the duty Of the Mayor to investigate
the whole business of the department, with
out fear or favor. and we are willing to be-
lieve that his new movement indicates his in
tention to do 80. But would it not be well to
assign their proper share in the investigation
to the Commissioners of Accounts They are
the officers designated by the charter for Just
such duties, and they ought to be competent
to trace out and lay bare transactions which
would be mysteries to the venerable Mayor.
ANorHEB MISSING STEAMSHIP From st.
John, N. B., we have despatch informing
us that all hopes of the safety Of the steamship
Trojan, of the Anchor line, have at last been
abandoned. The vessel has been out forty
days, and no tidings of any kind have been
received regarding her. Is it bad luck or bad
management The Anchor line must look to
its 1aurels
/ NORMANDY rejoices in the prospect Of an I'M
usually fine fruit crop.
The REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH con-
cluded.its council yesterday evening, in an
enthusiastic meeting for lay members. Several
important changes in the rubric and formula
relating to the holy communion were proposed
and agreed to. The feature Of the day was
the appearance in council of the Rev.
Stephen II. Tying. Jr., who was formally in
troduced by Bishop Cheney. Mr.. Tying adj