New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-17
DEPARTMENT TROUBLES.
THE MENAcED CHARITY COMMISSION.

DEPARTMENT TROUBLES.
THE MENAcED CHARITY COMMISSION.
| PROBABILITY OF AN INDICTMENT FOR AALrxAsAiscs
| THE ANSWER or THE CoMMIssIoNERs TO IEn
CHARGES.
The Grand Jury Of the Court Of General
Sessions are present engaged 10 investigating the
charges Of recently made Bafesu
of Chafifes and Correction These eherges bessd
upon Commissioners Howes report relative TO tho man
ner of carrying business In that Bureau. and Mr..
Howe having seen yesterday 70 como ont OF the
Grand Jury-roo called upon last evening by .
TRIBUNE reporter and asked what. any testimony no
had given before the Grand Jury concerning the
Bureau of Charities and Correction. BE replied thas
he did not think would be proper for him TO disclose
what occurred when he before that secret invest
eating body. It ascertained, however, and nom
another source, that Mr.. Howe simply s1ore 70 eno
truth OF his report upon the Bureau 10 question: IL was
also ascertained that Indictment against 10 wonid
most probably be ordered. and that t would en-
body be based upon the report referred TO. Thas
report was published 10 THE TRIBUNE Of the ith inst,
and the following among it's prominent points;
81 nnd," says Mr.. Howe, bills for purchases OF sup
plies exceeding upon their face In value q 600 were GER
titled by COMMISSIONER transmitted to the Depart
OF Finance and most Of which were paid as fol-
lows Goods furnished in June, 1878, by II. K Thurber
.
ter Charnberian October 1873. by Spencer Have
meyer, Woodruff & Robinson. and H. x. Thurber & Co.
November. 1873 BY Armstrong Morrison In Febru-
ary 1874 by Ten GrIswold Co. aud II. X. Tnureer d
Co.; In March. 1874, by H. K. Thurber q Co.
and Tefft, Grswod & Co.; 10 May, 1874, Dy
H. X. Thurber & Co. In June. 1874, by Spencer ID
Havemeyer." The Charter requires that all sup
plies exceeding 1900 in valne shall be advertised foe
and the contract furnishing them be given TO the
lowest bidder The Charter also provides that mo
subordinate In any department. shall receive greater
salary than the salary paid to the head OF tho depart
ment" and yet, SAYS Mr.. Howe, "the highest salary
paid to the head OF the Department OF Charities and
Correction the President Of the Department whose
salary by section OF the Charter Is Fixed nc
Sc 500. On Oct IA, 1873, the Commissioners OF tho
Department, by resolution adopted at the meeting
of that date appointed Charles G. Cornell Purchasing
Clerk OF Meats for the Board and fixed his compensa
made by him / find that between Nov. 10. 1873, and
June 49, 1874 being little over seven months MT So
TO 500 sos s5 and that he has paid compensation
salary. Purchasing Clerk during this period the
sum 1870 Az being equal to salary OF more than
double tue amount paid to the President OF the Depart
ment." -, =, ---.,..,.....
was expected that the report OF the Commissioners
OF Charities and Correction 10 answer TO the charges
Commissioner OF Accounts Hove before the Board OF
Aldermen would be presented 10 the Chairman OF the
Committee on Law, Alderman Cooper, at 10 a m yes
erday. The answer was ready, ana Conmss'9 9o
rection, went down town early 10 Alderman Cooper
office the wa Alderman %as t aDs he sDu
hearing In the City Hall Going there the gentlemen
noon however, and Alderman Cooper said that he dld
not believe that he could possibly get the committee
the answer be postponed until p. today This wa:
ell that could be done though the Commissioners sau
public Copies OF the answer have been printed and
bound pamphlets but will not be distributed untl
the answer has been delivered INTO the hanus vi 'no
Commissioner Stern explained yesterday that the
report would show the true facts Of the case. we
were obliged" continued Mr. Stern, "to accept such
report as YOU see exhbitlng one OF the copes) Of tho
answer Of the Commissioners shows that we nave re-
The lowest bids. Here is recapltalation, o,
the amount OF supplies 9. .na ise nseV quantity
OF beef flour, beans Ash. starch, potatoes, &C. e..
amounting thousands Of dollars all OF which mas oe cen
purchased by contract Our answer shows Also rs you
see OF these proposals. and now tney Neie Tn
vertised for These can any OF tnem oe ferpo than
month after tn present Board came into Juice
you see, tue dat June 90 1873 Aud 50 on al drV %
the whole term The answer shows Just eAScuy no"
we have done business and exactly what we nave
IN regard the meat contraets-that ls tIe ,
for purchas,ug cutting and dstrioutmg-aDout wbieu
so much has behn said When the present Board ssno
INTO office cent pound was oein no p se done. nor
the suppl, what IL should De; ihe boaau ,rsSss
cut store aud distribute to the various institutions.
The lowest responsible bid was at compenSaTT1 oa
Uers1p who takes this contract for purchasing and dis
rlbuting Is obliged purchase good deal oil nee, e.
ploy men and carts, and 10 considerable
execute the work The Commissioners are bound tuas
the Institutions shall have good bee and they are now
receiving the best beef that ia given ont ny any oepa
meat and at a less cost Why, the report OF tue Sonl
missoners Emigration will show tnat tney nave oe
and orr Institutions been more Dounuuly suppnou.
and With better quality This Is fully set ior,n 10 OBI
answer. Ia regard 10 the hour puteusso,,' sno a"
tract according law The Commissioners lounu nas
no merchant would eter into contract 10 iurlsh nor
unless margin was allowed him 10 save MN from Pcs-
sibe loss should the price rise before delivery We also
found that this OF purchasing was great oss 10
he civ aud that often had TO pay Inuch more per
barrel than we could to the noor OF tue rrouuee
Exchange aud buy for. BY buying LOT ourselves no
nave thousands OF dollars 10 the city, and how NO
have done this fully given in our answer 10 Coms
| siOner Howes charges a.. Ill, 40.
What is the real truth the case and how uiJusty We
have been accused. Why the representatives oi Euro
ropean and other charitable Institutions IN tns county
have come and when shown our lnslutos, haso
wondered at tn way under our charge nave oeen
| kept No pei pie under charge OF COMMISSIONERS y.
| Charities have Deen 80 well fed or 'e,otne1 as
those under cur care: 5es al ., 'n' litae over
90 cen when they see these things the directors OF
other Institution astonished, aud nyarlsDy
their surprise at our MANAGEMENT We nave oansa Nc
IN 40 ali this "a will be in our answer because NO
have sfudousy abored TO procure the most posoo ior
| the least money. Under the Board whch We suPei-
seeded the meat largely made up OF Done when
of course useless waste or nearly So lne ",
"Reminiscences which will be handed 10 the Commiteo
OF the Aldermen submit full oeef That our course
will be clearly explained aud entirely Justlnsu
,ry seat at Tensy yesterday afternoon ne carried the
answer OF the Commissioner OF Clarifies ana
| 70 the charges of Commissioner OF Accounts MOVE,
with him. He Is TO return with the doeumens ,a'
| mornins and at / D. m. announced above ihe an
/ swsr WI be laid before the Adermanlc COMMITTEE
on Law OF which Alderman Cooper is the chairrnAn'