Morning journal and courier., 1889-11-27
NEW RAVENS TOWN AFFAIRS.

NEW RAVENS TOWN AFFAIRS. Inc Investigating Commitsee's Re. port-Things the Committee Found worthy Of Critlcism-Needed Am- provsments and Needed Reforms-A Close Scrutiny BestOwed bv she Com- mittes-Abuscs That Need Correcting and . More Perfect system or keeping Accounts Hequired-Oeher massers
 Touched Upon fin sho Report.
 The special committee appointed to inves- | tieste the affairs of the town of New Haven, appointed for the purpose by the selectmsn of the town and by the General Assembly, Iswith full power to compel testimony" re- port that they viewed their appointment by the General Assembly as superceding their earlier appointment, and requiring them to make ia more general examination of the affairs and methods of the town government. than was called for by the selectmen's in- structions." The report says:
 "Having secured the aid of competent the committee made thorough examination of the town books and records with special reference to the transactions of tho last two years. In connection with this work, they took the testimony of all persons
  edge of the towns affairs, inquiring more into the charges and rumors of irregularitY, which concerned chiefly the management of the almshouse, the outside poor, and the labor on the highways and town farms.
 THE ALMsHoUsE ADMINISTRATION.
 The principal subjects of inquiry relating to the almshouse were the quality, quantity .c5 ,,-;oa oe th. ,rrv>l;a. ,,rrob aaad. whathar supplies, stock or produce had been given away or improperly sold; whether the towns purchasing agent had been given commis" sions or other inducements for town pstron- age; the food, clothing and general care of the inmates; the method of handling sup plies, and the matter of almshouse book- keeping. The investigation on these sub- jects has been very thorough. The quality of the supplies was in most cases good, and in no case so poor as to call for special men, tion. The quantities and prices in general may be fairly judged from those in the fol- lowing table:"
 Here followed the table mentioned, which calls for no special comment. Then is given the average number of inmates at the alma- house for each month during the two years.
 THE PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.
 "Most of the supplies are purchased from we'll known business houses, without compet- itive bids and without contract. The bread has for several years been furnished by one firm under contracts fixing tho prices at 234 or cents per pound." The committee find that "during the period from October 31, 1887, to November 1, 1888, while beef should have been purchased under the contract agreement at 51S cents per pound the amount of fresh beef bought for inmates was 25, 79S pounds at the average price of 6255 cents per pound. Out of a total of 36 purchases A were above the contract price, and the price actually paid in these 24 purchases ranged from 18 cents per pound for 66l pounds bought on September 13, 1888, to cents per pound for purchase of 3s3 pounds on April 8, 1SS6"
 "From November 1, 1888, to Nov. 1, 1889, the vouchers show purchases aggregat- ing go, 725 pounds. The total number of purchases during this period was 55, of which 2 were at the contract price of 4 tract price, the highest price paid being IA cents DOT pound for 218 pounds in May, 1889. There were also IA purchases at 3 1-2 cents per pound, at 8 cents, and at 3 1 cents. Those below the contract price are believed to be all fresh beef for corning. Between November 1, 1888, and February ], 1889, there were four purchases at 51s cents per pound.
 CONTRACTS DIsRKGARDED.
 During the year 1888, and up to about August 1, 1889, the contracts for beef were practically disregarded both by the superin- tendent of the almshouse, who made the purchases, and by the board of seleotmsn. whose business it was to see that these contracts were observ- cd. The committee cannot regard this ignoring by the superintendent of the alms- house of contracts made for his guidance and instruction in any other light than that of violation of good faith, not only to those who thus agreed to furnish that class of beef, but to the town itself. We think him worthy of censure for this utter disre- gard of the obligations entered into by the town and which were binding upon him. Nor can we acquit the board of selectmen of blame in the premises, for it was their mani- fest duty to see that these contracts were faithfully carried out by the purchasing agent. The finance committee, especially of the board of selectmen, are censurable for not having detected and put stop to these constant Attractions of the contracts"
 LOOSE AND sxwILpERrNa RECORDS.
 The committee find that horses, cattle and swine have been purchased, sold and ex- changed during many years without ade- quate or traceable records of many of these A censurable looseness of methods appears to have prevailed in these operations. Cattle, especially, seem to have been bought, sold and exchanged by the su. perintendent of the almshouse solely upon his own judgement and discretion. Within the past few years breed of blooded stock, known as "Holstein," has been introduced, apparently without record authority, and without evidence of the expense, at the in- stance of the superintendent. Pigs in large numbers have been raised upon the farm and sold by the superintendent at pleasure. No record exists of the number raised and sold; although upon the superintendent's cash book appear from time to time entries of 'pigs sold" at times involving considerable amounts, but without specification of the number, to whom sold or the prices per head or pound. A similar want of informa- ton exists as to the operations upon and products from the town farm. Large quan- titles of hay, potatoes, rye and vegetables have been annually raised upon the farm and in tho almshouse garden; but no systematic or connected statements are to be found dis- closing the disposition made of same. From the farm dairy large quantities of milk have been produced from which butter in unknown amounts has been made; but statistics are wanting which show quantities and the dis position of tho same. Clothing in considera- ble amounts for the inmates of the almshouse has been annually purchased; but the com mittee has found no records showing who have been the bsneHcisries of same. liar. nessss, boots and shoes have been manufac. tured and repaired by inmates of tho alms~ house, but no information exists as to the extent of these operations. Reports prevail that . number of harnesses have been manu- factured from leather furnished by the town, which harnesses were said to have been dis- tributed among the personal friends of the superintendent and of the town officials. The committee has been unable to trace these res ports to any substantial conclusions.
 FAX AND UNMETHoDICAL.
 The methods of receiving, keeping and distributing supplies of provisions pur- chased for tho almshouss have been lax and unnsthodical. No adequate system of acc counts of such supplies received and dis- tributed has been Kept, 30 that it has been impossible to determine whether the provis- ions received have consumed within the almshouse or whether some portion of them have been missppropriated. Rumors have been in circulation to the effect that supplies of sugar, tea, beef and other provisions pur- chased for the almshouse have found their way to tho homes of the friends of the town agent, selectmen and superintendent. The committee has been unable, after Q patient consideration of all the testimony that could be brought to bear upon these rumors and insinuations, to trace them to any reliable or credible source, and must acquit the superintendent and all others im- plicatsd in them. Had complete records of such supplies been kept and preserved-both