New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-14
PRICE THREE CENTS.
RUBBER STAMP MINUTES.
THE FASSETT COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING
THE CITY RECORD"
MR.. CosTIGAN's wATCHFUL METHoDs-IN'
CREASED EXPENsEs-PECULIAR ITEMS
WHICH COME UNDER THE HEAD
or CT Arr0,rrpX


Superior Courtroom No. yesterday where the state
Senate Committee investigating at present some OF
the peculiar methods OF the Board OF City Record In
the absence of Senator j. S. Fassett Senator Pierce
presided at the hearing, and assisted In taking
testimony by Senators Van Cott and Hendricks.
Thomas Costgan, ex-Mayor William II. Wickham,
Corporation Counsel Beekman. De Lancey Nicon,
Frederic L. Coudert and Richards Newcombe were
there Mr. Boarlman opened the days work by
reading the law of April 80 is73 together with fhs
amendment OF 1875, both defining the duties OF ths
Board Of City Record. This laws provides, primarily
that 1000 copies OF The City Record" shall ba
given to the city, and two copies to all local news
papers and libraries Ii further places tho purchase
and distribution OF all stationery. printing and blank
books necessary for the city government IL inc
hands OF the Board of City Record
The testimony during the day consisted principally
of statements by officials OF various departments as to
the number Of employees in those departments and
the quantity and nature Of the stationery used by those
departments. In addition, Editor Costigan Of The
City Record" gave the committee an idea OF the
presence Of mind Of the average NewYork politician
OPENING THE TESTIMONY.
Tho first witness called Commissioners II. IL.
Porter of the Department of Charities and Correction
Mr. Porter said that the employees Of the department
were between 1920 and 800 in number, all of them
using stationery. Besides the inmates OF nearly all
the Institutions under the caro- Of this departments
were supplied with leuerpaper, pens and ink by ths
department.
A. b. Boardman-Iow about steel erasersi
Mr. Porter-Steal WHAT
Mr.. Boardman-oh no: didn't mean that: only
desired to whether emDloye in the department.
Offices SUPPLIED with steel ink eraser
Mr.. Porer--oh. no; they are not We supply about
public institutions and they use I'd great deal
OF stationery.
Mr. Coudert-Many Of tn. employees IN those estsb-
lislrnents salaried. theyi
MI Porter-No. sir.
Mr. Coudert-Do YOU It probable. then. that
when they leave. they likely take some Of those
ink erasers with theml
Mr. Porter-L cannot mako any suesses at anything
like that.
Chief Bookkeeper Wilder Of the Department Of
Charities and Correction, and Chief Clerk
Caspar Golderman, of the Health Department, were
sworn, and Acknowledged that in emergencies they
sometimes sent requlsiton directly TO the printer,
instead OF sending It through The City Record" Office.
William J. Best, the expert accountant, was then
called. He said:
have examined the books Of The City Record" and
have found showing steady
in the Of getting out the In 1850 the cost
$4,000. Last It had grown TO s66sO0.
That is a loss to the city. because 1 find
the accounts TO show any receipts from the
sale OF the paper any other
Corporation Counsel BeeEman was called and testt-
fed that he had considered the conton Of The City
Record and felt certain that IL the city advertisements
published In The Register" given 10 Tho
at any lie thought that the loss TO the city Of
about $4,000 year could be remedied By legislation.
MI Cosdgan took the stand wei his 400
pounds would allow him. Mr.. Boardman having called
him for the purpose Of identifying number Of minute
books of the meetings of the Board of City Record.
Only large leather bound book
evidence.
Mr. Boardman-Mr. Co.tigan. is this book book Of
original entryl
Mr. Costigsn-It is and pn tell you why In the
Counsel L began incumbency supervisor.
One day 1 walked up with a man named Levy and
he told what line he had against the city In
suit Of his. As could away him
Office Of Nj Whitney and looked the evidence
the case / found that the minutes OF Board Of
City Record Of extreme importance in the
The city lost the case account OF those minutes and
order avoid anything like that during my incumbency
started this book and ceased writing minutes under
the supDoson that the City Record officials formed
board. After that kept rough from which
minutes could be made II necessary These were
always written the Office but be considered
orisid minutes.
PRODUCING INGENIOUS BOOKS.
The books referred 10 by Mr. ostgan were produced
by him in instalments, and were motley set The
City Record Supervisors strange reason for not
keeping detailed records generally admired more
for its ingenuity than for any other cause. Chief
Clerk Clifford Of the Department OF Public Works,
testified to the perfect regularity with which III,
stationery supplies necessary IN the department
procured. Then the matter Of Mr.. COsugsn's incom-
plete minute books again taken up. Mr. Board
man said:
IL may be OK advantage II l tell the committee some
thing about my purpose. IL was the intention OF the
should be kind Of competition re-
yards supplying the city with stationery The reQusi
lions by the different departments taken up
regularly until FebruarN2 ISL, and discussed by the
Board order that the cheapest prices might be obtained
for the supplies that there regular
ngs OF the Mayor Cooperation Counsel Commits
soner Of Pubc Works the Supervisor forming the
Board which the requislons examined In fac1
there were resolutions passed meetings attended Dy
40 one Nj Costgan. Mr. Best, you tell US the
dates such meetingsl
Mr. Coudert-Those books the witness is tesfying from
are not o record.
Dc Iaucey Nicoll (assistng Mr.. Boardman)-We asked
that the books produced and these what
Mr.. Cosugan brought However, what We want TO
get at Is the rubber-stsmp" period. Mr. Best when
rubberstsnp business boginp
THE "RUBBER-sTAMP" MINUTE8-
Mr.. Best-January 49, 1883. Before that time the
minutes meetings always showed who present
On the date named the minute book contains almost
every page an imprint OF rubber s'am2 That shows
plainly recording any real meetings OF the
Board which acquisitions disposed OF under the law
Mr.. Cosgan made rubberstsmp minute OF an imaginary