The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-24
CorrectiOn-Where Is the Promised
Report

The Department OF Charities and
Report!
The report of the Commissioners OF Ac-
counts on the condition of the Department
OF Charities and Correction and of the man-
ner in which the business of the department
is managed, has not yet made its appearance.
The examination by the Commissioners was
ordered several weeks since by a resolution OF
the Board of Aldermen, and while we can
understand that if properly performed it VIII
be a labor OF time, there does not appear to be
any good reason for SO long delay. The
Commissioners OF Accounts are appointed by
the Mayor alone. and, under the provisions OF
the charter, can be removed at his pleasure.
One of them is said to have secured his posi-
ton through the influence of one of the
present Commissioners of Charities and Cor
rection. We are not willing to believe and
do not intend to imply that for these reasons
the report that will be made will seek to cover
up the delinquencies of the department as
shamelessly rs they have been cloaked by
Mayor Havemeyer, but We regard these facts
as good reason why the report called for by
the Board of Aldermen should be published
as promptly as possible. There are some
irregularities in the department so notori-
GUS that they cannot be concealed in the most
friendly investigation, and when the Com
missioners of Accounts shall have made their
report it will be time enough to Judge of
its fairness.
In the whtewashing statement made by
the Mayor and Endorsed by two ami able
citizens allusion is made to 'report'
by the Commissioners of Accounts justifying
the management of the Charities and Cor
rection Department and certifying its honesty.
Upon application the Mayor has refused to
allow this alleged report to be seen or made
to the belief that the Mayors assertion
was untrue and that no such re-
port has ever been made II certainly
could not have been the report de-
handed by the Board of Aldermen, for that
must be made to the Board and not to the
Mayor. What was it, then d? MIR. Havemeyer
and his indorsers have used it as justifca-
ton Of the dry goods purchases made by the
Department of Charities and Correction as
certificate that cheaper goods have been pur-
chased by the present Commissioners than by
any of their predecessors that greater econ
omy has been exercised the last year than in
previous years. If no such report has been
made by the Commissioners of Accounts what
are the people to think of the gentlemen who
have pronounced it satisfactory and who have
accepted it as complete answer to the
charges of irregular practices leading to cor
ruption contained in the presentment of the
Grand Jury2
The Commissioners of Accounts cannot too
soon make their reply to the instructions Of
the Board Of Aldermen, for they have had
ample time to investigate the affairs and man.
agement of the Charities and Correction De-
partment, and it is imperative that some
reliable information in regard thereto should
be supplied. A large sum of money is at the
disposal of the department, and it is inn
portant to know whether it is likely to be
honestly expended, especially as the closing
of some of the institutions of charity is threat
ened. Besides, the department labors under
suspicious which if not satisfactorily re-
moved must cause an inquiry by the Grand
Jury. If the Mayor has not been guilty of q
misrepresentation when he implies that the
Commissioners of Accounts have already
furnished him with proof of the honesty
and legality Of Commissioner Stern's dry
goods purchases, we consider that he does
wrong to refuse to publish the statement
For this reason we insist upon an i'm
mediate report from the Commissioners of
Accounts OF the result of the investigation
ordered by the Board of Aldermen.