New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-21
A MUNICIPAL INVESTIGATION.

MODES OF PURCHASING SUPPLIES in IhE pr'"
MENT or CHARITIES AND CORRECTION
The investigation of the charges presen'eu
by the Grand Jury against the Commissioners OF Cna
tics and Correction was begun by Mayor Havemeyer'
Yesterday afternoon at the hall OF the Commissioners
at Third-ave and Eleventhst The Mayor WAS aecom'
papied by Jonathan Sturgis, who with commissioners
Iaimbeer Bowen aud Stern, compose the investigating
Board During portion OF the investigation MI e'uf
eis and Mr.. Bowen withdrew, and Mayor HaVemeyef
dropned into q doze, leaving Commissioners Laimbeer
and stern conducting by themselves an Investigation
into their own affairs. The testimony presented before
the Grand Jury, and the charges made by that pody
frat accepted in evidence and read to the Board
Commissioner Bowen was the first witness called lie
testified that there was agent whose duty 1t was to
purchase goods for the department. except dry goods
the purchase of which had been assigned to Commis
sloner Stern against the witnesss protest.
Mr.. Sturgis asked why he protested, ana MI Bowen
replied that he thought 1t would be damaging 10 the
character Of the Board and would fnjure MI sterns
reputation. In reply to questions by MI stcrn ne sara
that some purchases had been made by the Board He
remembered the purchase Of hats which Mr. Stern
had made for so cen apiece OF the same KIND ana quar-
ity as the purchasing agent W. p Lamsor had bought
at g. Lamson had been purchasing agent from Janu-
airy, 1873 until last January. The purchases maze py
him had been made mostly at one house, Teft Grlswou
& Co. He remembered that Commissioner Stern had
declared house could not keep all the various kinds
in reply to questions by Commissioner Laimbeer,
Commissioner Bowen stated that he had never known
the Board to purchase any article at price higher than
that paid by Lamson. but the Board had frequently
lowered the estimates presented by the latter. Mr.
Labeer then cited several purchases which the Board
had made at prices ranging from 20 to 40 per cent
lower than prices for the same articles paid by the pur
chasing agent, but Commissioner Bowen could not re-
member the circumstances
Mr. sturgs again asked IL Commissioner Bowen OBJ
ected Mr. Stern purchasing goods purely as matter
of principle. Mr. Bowen responded somewhat exciedly
that he did and that he knew 1t would be fatal to the
Commission. 1t seemed scandalous, TO say the least
that any Commissioner should 20 into the market and
purchase bills goods which he atterward to audit
Mr. Stern interrupted in an equally excited manner,
and said that il the best way TO do Commissioners
could save their salary I've times the city by
dong snch work Themselves instead of leaving il to
agents who he Influenced by commissions anu
percentages. He wished that he had all the purchasing
George A. shaw. Assistant Auditing Clerk in the Con-
trollers ONCE testified that he usually examined the
prices everything for payment from the Commits
siOners Of Charities and Correction but was not espec
aly expert IN any line OF goods His method was to in
qure the prices OF sample articles from any merchants
and compare them with the prices in the Commission.
ers bills and TO see that The city was dealing with rep
exopSita pp'' 'O "'" "''''
W. p. Lamson late purchasing agent OF the Commits
siOneIs testified that he appointed on jan 90 1873
the resolution of Gen. Bowen It was then the old
Board. He remained in Office until January last. His
instructions as TO purchases were simply to buy the best
be could at the lowest rates. He bought dry goods
chiefly OF Tef Grswold Co. He personally examined
the goods himself He had purchased OF A. T. Stewart
and Of II. b. Cafin. but after, close questioning
by Commissioner Stern he could not say that
he had bought a dollars worth from either
of these firms. lie found occasion that he could
purchase for p cents a dozen thread for which Mr..
Stern paid IS cents and subsequently, admitted that he
had paid 81 u for il. When he took samples OF goods
lie usually left them about the building OF the Commits
sioDers. one lot of samples he had given TO Gen.
Bowen. He received commissions from any one.
received shoes but mad offered to
for them. He never kept any memorandum or
purchases.
During this testimony Commissioner Bowen was alb
sent. AT Its close the investigation Was adjourned until
tomorrow afternoon.