New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-01

the means ne hsd OF meeIlng promptly tne DllIs
3. A transcript Of the account of Sullivan & Co.,
who supplied the bureau with cloths, indicsting
Please note the interest charges in this account.
4. A copy Of the resolution of the Police Board,
October ~, 1877, directing that the moneys, of
this bureau be accounted for and paid over under
'"' 81 i'' -'-'-' % ''' '''' ". ?. sHF1RMAN
Commissioner of Accounts.
Nerc York, July 80, 1879.
MANAGEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT BUREAU.
Before the appointment of Mr.. Wheeler as Police
Commissioner a doorman at Headquarters sold the
cloth to the policemen for their suits, charging q
slight advance to cover expenses and loss. MIR.
Wheeler, as Treasurer and Chairman of
the Committee on Supplies and Repairs,
established what has since been called the
Equipment Bureau, placing Mr.. Moe,
clerk in charge of it, who received the cloth from
the merchants and dealt it out to the men at price
designated by Mr.. Wheeler. The money received
from the policemen was turned over by MIR. Moe to
Mr. Wheeler, who paid the bills for tho cloth.
The statement furnished by Mr.. SheaTman
shows that on juno 80, 1876, soon after
Mr.. Wheeler took charge of the money received
from the policemen, he had q balance on hand of
So 757 Go, which increased from month TO month
until it reached 500, 600 March 81. 1873. Ii APP
pears further by the report that Mr. Wheeler did
not pay the bills for the cloth promptly, and that
he was frequently "dunned" by the merchants. The
cloth was sold by Sullivan & Co. on thirty days tmc
after which they charged interest. In the trans
crpt OF their account furnished by Commissioners
Of Accounts Sherman, several items of interest
appear, amounting in all to 1896 40. This sum
was paid by Commissioner Wheeler although il APP
pears that he had a large balance on hand of the
money received from the sale of the CLOTH and should
have paid the bills promptly and saved this interest.
The payments generally were madc at intervals,
sometimes in large amounts and st other times Ia
small amounts closely following each other. The
complaints in regard to the matter finally came be-
fore the Police Board, when the following resolu-
ton was adopted, October - 1877;
ReqoIred. That Mr.. Moe he instructed to order
from Sullivan & Co. cloths for police uniforms, TO
be sold at the clOthrOOm on commission Tor account
OF Sullivan, and paid over under supervision Oh the
treasurer,
This changed the system of buylng the cloth, IT
being Gfterward taken commission. payments to
be made as the money was received from the police
men. Mr.. Wheeler still kept control Of it, and as
the balance in his possession grew larger the
matter was finally taken out of his charge, as shown
10y Commissioner Sherman. by the adoption of the
following resolution by the Police Board on April
2, 1873:
Rcsolred That the Equipment Clerk make sales of
cloths and other articles mentioned, and deposit the
moneys received keep account of sales and receipts
and make reports under direction OF the chief clerk
At this time the balance against Mr. Wheeler was
more than $4,000 which amount was gradually
reduced as payments were made to the firm sup
plying goods, 10 SS,364 90 on November 80, 1878.
Mr. Wheeler saws as referred to in Mr. Shearmans
report, that he paid Miller Knight d Co, one OF
the firms that furnished supplies, -, 900 which is
not credited TO his account on the books. I he firm
is not now in business in The city, and there
fore the payment was not verified by Mr.
Shearman. although Mr.. Wheeler says he has
a voucher. Since the abortion of the resolution
by the Board on April 2, 1878, Chief Clerk Haw-
lev has received the cloth on commission. and de-
posted daily to the credit of the firm furnishing
the cloth such sums were paid by the policemen.
There is discrepancy in the books In this respect.
The balance of about $4,000 in the hands OF Nj.
Wheeler represents prots from the sale or the CLOTH
TRUMPED-UP CHARGE|
Mr.. Wheeler claims that this money is not due to
the merchants, anyone else unless to the police
men, and therefore that there is no deficiency
about it, he being ready 10 pay the money
over whenever it shall appear who Is entitled
to it, This is the view taken by Mr.
WheeIer's friends who claim that the charge Of
deficiency in his accounts is tTumped up to serve as
pretext for removing him, in order that the Iilden
Cooper Democrats may get control OF the Police
Board to force there nomination and election OF
Governor Robinson. Mr.. Wheeler, as treasurer,
il is said, Is the proper person TO keep
the balance, and the most that can be
said against him is that he was negileent
i'm paving his bills, and in this way allowed some
small items Of interest TO creep in perhaps unneces-
sarily. This, however was said not to be matter
of any great mpment and might have been mere
inaavertency Il occurred long ago, and IN fact the
whole subject dates back many months. Inc
Commissioners Of Accounts have made several
examinations Of the Police Department. aud
now bring this mp, it is said. at the in
stance of the Mayor, because 1T is necessary
to got rid Of Commissioner Wheeler, III ORDER tnat
the Tilden Democrats may get control OF the Ponce
Board,
The following is the section in the charter re-
feed TO by the Mayor IN bis letter to Df Wheeleri
SECTION 90 No officer Of the City Government, except
the city marsbas, shall have or receive TO MS own use
any fees, pequises commissions or any percentage
fixed salary and all fees and commission,
receyed p any s"G ocsp bo sbs receive any lees
perqusites, commissions percentages or other money
snail be entitled 10 receive any salary make, under
oath detailed return 60 the Controller, showing the
amount Of all such fees; commissions percentages per
quisites aud moneys received by HIM since the last
preceding report, the person from whom re;
shan produce the receipt of the Chamberlain showing
tie payment to him by said officer OF the aggregate
amount thereof All sums received as above shall be
paid over weekly. .
Under this provision Of the charter, the Mayor
claims. the $4,000 in, the hands Of Mr.. Wheeler
weekly as received and that Mr. Wheeler
has drawn his salary contrary to this pro-
vision in the charter The p0G 6ttr ol hoyy
Office. as other city employees arc; the sum being
drawn in one amount by the treasurer OF the Iolce
Department who gives bond of $4,000 for the
faithful performance of his duties.
COMMISSIONER wHEELgR's REPLY.
Mr. Wheeler last night sent the following letter
to Mayor Cooper lie not having received at the time
the removal papers prepared by the Mayors
Tie Hon. EDWARD COOPER, Mayor.
DEAR SIR; have seen in this evenings papers
what purports TO be a report by one OF tho Commits
soners of Accounts of examination into the books
Of the clothing and equipment bureau of the Police
Department.