Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-11-02
MAI. PHIPPS' PROFITS.
Plans of the Philadelphia for the 4 G.
cumui alton of Fortune stealing @
$3.50 900 in Nine Years
sunday Republican, Sentinel.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 21.-A remark
able exposure of Phipps' almshouse
frauds which is supposed to come from
the superintendent himself were
published to-day. The article says
that Phipps stole total of $650,00 in
nine years; that he made bargain
when elected superintendent in July,
1878, to divide the profits of his office
with four members of the Board of
Guardians of the Poor, and that, under
his agreement, $65, 900 was stolen every
year. He managed to steal $4,000
between January and July of the pres
ent year, after the city council had in
stituted an investigation of the charges
against him. Phipps Imported fifteen
families. Among them were those of
the poor guardians, five contractors,
and two discharged employees. A pass
book shows market supplies for the
various persons at Phipps' expense
amounting to $4,000. In 1876 Phipps
expended $4,000 for cigars, which he
scattered in electioneering. During
the nine years of his administration
the list of Phipps' dependents enlarged,
and his methods of stealing also multi
piled. The item of Sc, 900 in the
annual appropriation made by the
council for the board of resident physi-
clans, was clear steal. The item of
$4,000 for marketing yielded him q
profit of $12,6Co year, and the pay
roll of the almnouse produced an ad-
ditional $1,000, 30 here was start of
$17 900 toward the large total he had
to raise annually. Last year, when
119, 900 pounds of veal were paid for
by the city, only 1000 pounds were
delivered, the additional 102 900 pounds
having been added IN the preparation
of the bills. When the milk contract
or charged for 49, ,060 quarts of cream
and milk delivered, he supplied only
55, ,638 quarts. When the straw con-
tractor charged for $4,000 pounds fur
nished, he had not delivered single
straw, according to Overseer Snyder.
When contracts were awarded at one
figure supplies were paid for at
higher rate. The house receipts,
amounting to $4,000, were stolen.
Nearly all the money annually appro-
priated for outdoor relief, amounting
to $50, 600 was stolen; and so it went on
When supplies were to be furnished
Phipps would write a note to the con-
tractor, who, in filling the order. would
enclose blank billheads, which Phipps
could fill up for any quantity he chose.
Store-keeper Brown would mark it in
red ink Correct" Two guardians
would assume membership of the
committee on supplies, even though
they were not members of the COM
mittee, and would certify On the back
of the bill to its genuiness. The same
guardians would improperly perform
the functions belonging to members of
the committee on accounts, and would
endorse it. Then the bill would be in
cluded in the monthly schedule of bills
and would receive the written approval
of thirteen members of the Joint COM
mittee of the city council on prisons;
President James S. Chambers, of the
Board of Poor Guardians, would sign
warrant for the amount; Secretary
Williamson would send it to the city
comptroller's Office for counter-signa-
lures; Phipps would, on the stub OF
the warrant-book, which was in Secre-
tary Williamson's keeping, forge the
receipt of the contractor in whose
name the warrant had been issued,
and then the smiling major would
draw the cash from the city treasury
and divide it.