New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-30
COMMISSIONER STERNS DEFENSE.

A REPLY TO MAYOR vANCE-HE SEEKS AN oPPoR-
TUNITY FOR vINDICATIoN IN CoChT-TwEED
AND TILE CONTRACTS.
Reconnaissance of Charities and COrTec-
ton Myer addressed TO Mayor Vance an open
letter with reference ms removal under charges DC
states that he s advised by counsel that the
letter of the Mayor announcing he reasons gwen oy mat
Official for his removal IL privileged con DuuIcatOn'
and therefore precludes action at law He challenges
the Mayor when private life 10 repeat 6s
charges ami give him an opportunity 70 Vind'case lis
character before legal tribunal. Mrsiern deciares
that the Mayor pOndence with the Governor
tissue OF ana that 10 mis- correspondence
with the members OF the Department OF Charities and
Correction he nal bis communications TO the puo
lie and Withheld the answers. With reference 10 inc
Tweed matter, MStern makes the following statement
NV action 10 regard To Tweed, Us far az ! am per
souay concerned, was IN perfect harmony WIN me law,
majority the Board. VIM N. Tweed. ever SINCE MS
imnrIsonent Garb OF the class OF prisoners
con ~ it Dr. Tor tm1sr convicted
OF fc.uies only. Distinguishing mdrh ot mat crime
The room - wLcL Nj. Tweed IL GO lined cUn-thutes 10
,nch mari q, r p,isun pi upcr a. tie eel. wherein the
lowest couvici -uhiinrl, II Der eu.i drd even
tean anv place IN tn prison: had iweed re-
moved from tie cet because vas convinced thit
coLdaenrut III ge won't have be- Il death 10
him, and I wIs In"L.ing TO act the par.
Of haIgmaI. L. tns action was solely
stlI,I o. corc4,ga;!Cns o.! humanity. ;'ni ~ giit
~ Office. however 81 cH,d nav ihn.ru iie W aoe
we're Il To mp uec,~lon ee no leOroache.
tor violation OF u"iy, out CONSCIOUS e"'''diion or
having ucr.0rn"" ~ day. 4ad hivr hJth'.s 10 LAX.
bacA. IN treatment when Tweed received at
my lands has D cx cnird to the mranr't prisoner.
ali NOR 50 W'c""v'? TIC ra,r h"nl"i,d n9l aih
aware that IL" e." C!s i"I ans thiIgcrc b safe ksel
Oh the prsoaIs "dd t;ir pr per Eu"E!!- OF tnelt
Hca..A Is ue " -acged I4i! any Oh', iinpVrrsu
upon tno,r mt hLvr "'LTse OF lht iSioay. Tue
AM personally an no! aware tna' 49, '''I pIi''Ies9s
tarOyn out tua: these .hdu Seh:.s "ete pu,eh
" GPrt %.
hood unwul ~ az - gentleman WHO occupies sncb
nGn postum. la lave % rs.t 70 n.As Gp vert
t.itn NUur dHiN you'd nave
,c and see - II mat to the of 70 ger sucn PUNISH
mcnt DE- melted hc deserves paD.:c oihcer WAC
Ian, IS cun " m me ins, Il mons ..ui 10 man.
IN. g,t he I.ol H. Is an yor.hy OF con Ldence =.
punlc pIV"te AZ, md deserves " Vc eASt ou' VI
with reference &c the charge that commissions were
cxactr ilcll those rom whom scpp's wtr" purchased
ior the D"pattn est. NJ stern says
Your charges "a regard Ia the purchase Cf supplies
are not imam those Ia regard to Tic treat
mpnt OF William ". Tweed. You agaD make me IT,
sponslule n erosion OF the law OF which all my
tute our ton - violation u il, were eqady gu,tv
with NE. IOu Eave accepted the TtsGnauh OF one az
;hcm WHO Is your personal and poll, eAi "1ead aud
transier the entire responsibility upon INT, who
tainy had greater share. Tue Commissioners, how
ever have shown that, taeir actions con ,iltuted
breach OF the Of the law they dd so III order 10
better comply WITH lie spirit which sought to secure an
economic, an Yea must adult mat the
cost OF supporting the Institutions has been REDUCED
under administration TO tue lowest minimum ever
reached OF cents capita per day There are no trans
actions. mas been fully proven on investigation
previously bad, were prcJudcid 10 Tie CITY, In
the transaction 4" through uiember OF Tvs family"
winch has the instrument OK raising any amount VI
dust. the cty. instead OF suffering ANY pr ludce was
benefited The goods purchased were obtained 81
lower cost goods were purchased Tor at
auy time previous and tile profit which Louis S;eDback
made upon awards OF contracts oy the Board was not
commission. but profit made IN legal transaction Nor
did he obtain because he happened 10 be
relative Uf hut because he offered the goods at zoe
lowest rates. he SINCE oUtaued couusc1 OF
the Department. because ne was Tue lowest
bidder. and will certainly Obtain contracts
from the Commissioners appointed oy you,
as doubt will award the contract 10 THOSE MO
can offer the favorable terms. Que OF the most
the prices paid Dry goods mucn ess during the
latter part Of last year anu the whole OF Is that,
although the daily number OF people under our charge
was over 1000 than In the ewo previous YEAR.,
TOR dry goods IN 1877 e9,&S 70 III 1879 p9,o1o
while ND to Dec. !, this year, the amount 10 onIy
99t4 o. and proUsDiy will for the entire year not ex-
coed eA6OOO. Such facts and figures require NO COM
The further statement that . merchant was only
allowed the custom OF the department after he had seen
q sou Of Nj Nyer Stern and through . middemsn bad
agreed Day such middeau6 per centum on the pur.
chases made and that after time the purchases
because the merchant would NOT incfease
his price for the goods, and pay corrvspondngy with
such increase spondng Increase OF commission,
brand false from beginning 70 end. have never
received, has OF mine received, any comnis-
sion confederation from merchant or tradesnAn
long wss IN ONCE, por Wa, with my knOwledso
anconsent or the knowledge and consent Of my 500.
such 9 commission consideration paid any other
person. and only repeat here aud nost empnat'
cally, hat received knowingly auy cUnsIdera-
ton commission or Involvement. IN Connection Win
my ottciaI duly aud action.