The New York herald., 1874-09-18


the benefit OF competition In the open market.l
In two other instances which occur TO wherG
plies, the goods delivered were so poor we had tO
reject them at great loss and Inconvenience.
In another Instance when the bids were opened
and examined we found them generally Informal
and Irregular, and The prices so exorbitant thats
In the exercise Of a sound discretion with due
regard TO economy we lelt it TO be our duty TO re-
Ject all the bids made. In some cases we have ads
vertised for supplies and received no bids at ALL
hour in various lots from January / to July 1,
1874, amounting in all to 1916 barrels. Here again
Mr. Howe makes the Dlunder or IS will uly guilty Of
conounding the lots OF nour delivered or received
Win the lots purchased, the former being maze up
poses OF convenience and economy, would walg
Snn Se,ore making his deliveries until enough had
q the bills invoices which appear in the store
sseeper.s BOOKS exactly and correctly represented
and nrcn a as made as TO the date. quantity
Mo Wnonl the purchases were made, and by our pur-
amount than anS 6 eaca OF these bills were less in
impled by Mr.. Howe, thar any erasures of any
kn kln1 wnadeyer were made of the entries in the
enumerated In thus schedule. our department
requires Soo 70 so1 barrels OF nour TO supply the
The supply we have bought In open market at
the Produce u, Exchange. Of reputable dealers. at
port q Messrs: Archibald Baxter S ins ). HaT as.
rison, William l.. Boyd and John II. BoyntOn.
members OF the Arbitration Committee OF the
Produce Exchange, In matter recently submitted
F~a-The regulations of the Department of Public
Charucs and Correction including acteas to ss
reaeh the end buying in the open marSe on the best
aSS a. s s' that the
Secona.rhe purchasing agent carried out his nstruc
ana that comnited % II commenaaSis @ effort a toward
economy.
About the overpaymens to Messrs. E. w. Cole
man Co., the commissioners correct Mr.. Howe
In several particulars. But even admitting only
that Mr.. Howe's construction OF the section OF the
months examination OF our books and papers he
extending over more than years ume me- and n In.
volying the outlay OF over a million dollars some
value 81 900, and 1t not shown that the city has
suffered the slightest damage thereby, but on the
been benefited, and no corrupt or fraudulent In.
tent or Jobbery Of any kind Is brought light Is
1t fair to charge us with wiliu violation or eva
Ninth-Mr Howe charges that the arrangement
by which the agent IN charge OF the purchase Of
meats received one -haf cent per pound upon pur-
chases made by him rs violation OF that provision
OF the charter which lorbids any subordinate to
the mead Of department. This charge is but one
OF many instances where Mr.. Howe is wrong in his
obvious modification If he had sought explana.
tions, as wouid'be naturally sought by one whose
and the promotion Of the public good. The fact is
the supply OF meat TO the various institutions un-
pendtture ior horses and carts, for Ice and
icehouses, Tor men TO cut up and distribute the
manS arc ama d na1 rom az s OF er TINS
pound allowed above the purchase price, SO
tnat the purchasing agent instead Of receiving by
way OF commission nearly $4,000 in six or seven
months Mr. Howe charges, has made, in fact,
less than $4,000 in ten months. Conclusive evil
dence OF this Will be furnished you. We con-
hdent, also, that we can show that the manage
ment has been an economical one Tor the city, and
II is one which has long prevailed, except that
formerly one cent instead OF one-half cent was
paid. But the sum received rs commissions by
within the meaning OF the Statute. The purcaas-
ing agent Is only broker whose employment
continues at the pleasure OF the Board, and may
be oy them discontinued at any time, ana he Is
paid by percentage commission, rs brokers gen.
7eisth-Mr. Howe charges that the expenditures
made during the latter part OF 1873 were In ex-
cess Of the appropriation pro- remaining loT tnas year
held SO as to oe brought into the account OF 1874
The !act Is, that alter we had been In o1ice for
some time, we found, to our SURPRISE that the
former Board had incurred expenditures IN the
year 1872 to the amount OF s6s,ooO which had been
vailed, and which was excused by the fact that
next year. This discovery not having been made
found that we were in danger, through no iault OF
ours, OF being left without funds co meet the cur
ful consideration OF the whole matter We adopted
the only course which seemed possible. and d.
paid from the appropriation for 1874, certain ex-
penses for supplies ana otner articles which more
year. We subsequently learned that attn the boos. e.
keeper to WHOM we had referred carried over,
to the account OF 1874
| We have now, in all frankness and candor,
answered the charges contained Ia Mr. Howe's
| report. We naturally supposed out It seems most
erroneOusly, that the Commissioners OF Accounts
would be able. ready and willing to assist US in
putting into proper order the account books OF
the department, which We found in On unsatis.
factory condition upon our entrance into office.
But Mr.. Howe seems to have conceived 1t to be his
duty TO spend the SIX months he has been about
hts sO-called investigation In trying TO discover
by insinuations, msrepresen cations OF iacts sup
presslons and perversiODs OF the truth and sys-
tematic attempts to put an evil construction on
all our acts, however nnooent-how he can best
serve, not the puoc interest but the selfish pur.
poses OF those with whom he is now connected.
so an ss 9o M 70
charges that the purpose and object OF this attack
on the conduct OF our department. may be revealed
to your honorable Board and TO the general public
In conclusion, we desire to say that We have en-.
deavored honestly and faithfully to dis.
Gus and varied as they are. We have
never knowingly violated or evaded the letter
made errors and mistakes, but conscious of
our own integrity, OF our pure intentions and OF
ests of the city by the faithful discharge OF the
weighty responsibilities devoived upon us, we
the public the closest scrutiny into the condnct
OF our department and all our oficiai acts, and
such judement thereon, free from prejudice and
justice snail dictate.
Your ODedlent servants,
WILLIAM LAMBEER
MYER STERN,
Commissioners Of, Pubic Charities and Correction
COMMISSIONERS BOwEN'S LETTER
The undersigned, one Of the Commissioners Of
Public Charities and Correction, respectfully begs
leave state his reasons for withholding his sig
nature from the report Of MS colleagues herewith
submitted
He cannot subscribe to the Incorporate language
Of the report in respect TO Mr.. Howc's structures
on the administration OF the department.. Tho
conclusions OF Mr. Howe are IN many instances err
roneous; but the errors which he has made can
not be refuted by charging him with misfepre.
OF truth.
The undersigned fully accords to Mr.. Howe what
he claims for himself that he has In all faithful.
ness endeavored to discharge hts duty without
much regard to consequences. Respectfully sub.
mitted, JAMES BUWEN
To the Hon. 8. v. r. COOPER.