New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-23
bringing charges against those who we're in 1t was only
q struggle for plunder
AN INQUIRY PRACTICALLY ENDED.

AN INQUIRY PRACTICALLY ENDED.
THE MAYOR roREsHADows DECISION IN FAVOR
OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND COR
RECTIoN.
The investigation of the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction by the Mayor was continued
yesterday afternoon. The Mayor and Commissioners
Laimbeer and Stern were present. Jonathan sturg's'
who accompanied the Mayor at the last meeting, Deihg
out Of town. Some preliminary discussion ensued
regarding the published reports OF the last meethS
when Mr. Stern said that some exception had been
taken the examination of witnesses by the accused
and that he would prefer to have the Mayor himself ask
the questions The Mayor declined to do this asserting
that Mr.. Stern and Mr. Laimbeer were both acquainted
with the circumstances of the case.
Thomas X Fletcher, dry goods expert who has been
I'm the business for years, testified 10 the quality ana
value OF certain cloths aud hannes, samples Oh wn!S
produced, and which had been purchaseu Nv tse
Commssioners-the cloth at IS cents when samples OF
similar article offered at from 81 cents To I'll ~ anu
agent aud the fannes at IS cents, for which Iamson
paid IS cents. The witness declared tnat tho
purchased by the Board were OF quality 10 or IL cents
valuable than the samples offered by tue purchas
John T. Flacker general storekeepar OF the depart
parGment, said that his duty was the recep dstlou-
uon and examination of all goods used IN the depart
except drugs. He kept accounts OF all sucn re-
ceipts and disbursements Of goods document was
shown him which he testified was transcript from ms
books, showing the amounts paid for goods Dy Tue De
partment from May, 1872 May, 1873. The amount is
<6oS3o 49, Another paper shown HIM was recapI Is
showing the amount to be siS,i56 SO. ,.,
Mr.. Lamson purchasing agent during four months
OF the time named the first statement OF receipts,
and nine months OF the time named IN the last Tue
amount of garments made up from the purchases in
1872 and 1873 6272 and the amount In 1873 up TO
May, 1874 8272 being 1000 more garments made on he
smaller expenditures OF money man on ne n
creased the later years nearly 1900 over the
SHOWING AaO'sSr had
all dry goods from Teift, Griswold e Co., except
few dollars worth OF linens from H. Wallach,s sons
Certain thread purchased by Linson from Tent Girls
void Co. for 81 IS was bought subsequently Oy me
new purchasing agent OF sernback FOR ST. p per cent
OIL. Another transaction showed that sternDaek had
sold the purchasing agent certain tire 81 Tor %
cents with percentage off, for which Teft Grswold
Co. had received 81 IS. specimen of hannels Shown
purchased from Teft Grswold Co. for 50 cents Dy
Lamson, bought OF sternback for a cents Other
instances representing the lberay OF Llmson anu the
economy OF mis- given; among them Leg
horn hats purchased by Commissioner Stern himself Tor
50 cents dOzen and rough straw hats purchased tue
agent for 81 3d. and line combs also purchased ~ otcfh
himself for dollar less per gross tnan the agent gave
Mr. Iaimbeer. in explaining the method VI auditing
the bills and acquisitions OF the PuTchasus Agent SAD
that Bowen had once refused 10 sign acquisitions
because other members reducing tue amounts
in each requstIon too much. ,
The Mayor desired TO hear testimony relative 10 the
allegation that Mr. Sternback had purchased goods Tor
the Commissioners and turned them over to the city at
Increase OF 10 cents on the yard Commissioners Sisrh
replied that Mr. sternOack mad never been purchasing
agent OF the Board, but had sent In his samples and
prices along with other merchants, auI had SOFA NJ
goods to the Department az other merchants had He
made money by the SALE but tue COnmlssioher.
saved money by buying from him Tho trouble had
been that purchases we're made from one house alone
by an interested purchasing agent There mad been no
competition. The -four had been purchased an roh one
man. until the Board found they could get h)ur tIly
as good rs cents dollar cheaper from another hrm
The same trouble had existed III the purchase OF every
article used by the 0mmssioners Nncu Tue Cohuls-
soner found that he could money by going into the
market himself he believed 1t best 10 DO IL.
Louis sternback testified that he had sold the goods re-
ferred to at the lowest price he codld atrd IL hr,t
mad To buy goods, he did not keep them on baud
looked around in eight OF ten places ana iouhu the
goods after considerable bargaining, ut 30 cents He
had received commission for services, ana had
never been purchasing agent OF the department Com
missioner Stern had hrs suggestedto Nun 10 Sehd sam
pies and prices to the department.
Mr. Lalmbeer testified that he had seen Mr.. lAms0n
into xcaed several times during business honrs and
clerk in the Controllers office on several occasions:
L. II. Bradley, clerk in the supply department or
the Board, testified that he had seen inemorJndum
book in Mr. LamSons possessOn wherein certain usucs
marked opposite eacn purchase, indicating per-
centage commission paid on each.
Commissioner Stern, III summing up the testimony,
melted by people discharged frou thc employ or
the Board LasOn had had friend in the Controllers
office in the person the examining clerk. Shaw, and
the two had doubtless made money by purchases. Ii
was a he believed for clerks In the Controllers
office forward particular DIls ana delay others, Tor
some reason unknown To the speaker. Tue Controller
could not examine every BILL aud hal - leave them To
examining clerks. The eXtraNagance OF Ldmson
had led 10 his discharge, aud THIS led to TINS pOsecu-
ton.
The Mayor after some general discussion. announced
that he would adjourn the hearing until a time to be
named hereafter lie would probably be satisfied with
the testimony already received. The Mayor subse-
auently stated TRIBUNE reporter that lie did not
think it worth while TO hear any further testimony.
Mr. Stern was as honest a man as any IN EcNNOrk lie
believed that Mr.. Stern would rather lose thousand
dollars than steal a cent. The proved pretty
clearly and in fact he had the necessity for
an nyestigaton This, doubtless foreshadows tie May
ors decision in the case.