The herald., 1893-09-28
Another Board of Education
Sensation Sprung.
Some Financial Transactions That
Require Explanation.
City Auditor TssIe's Letter to tho Board
Rcturnirr Bill and Giving
Some Startling
Reasons.

was deprived Of $40 through the supply
committee OF the board OF education.
TIE WINDOW CURTAINS ORDERED.
The story dates back to the llth inst,
4 when J. @. Patt. chairman OF the sup
ply comuittee, ordered the purchasing
Of 20 window curtains from the Southern
California Furniture company for the
Hellman-Vreet school. The price asked
for the material was SIP.
THE BILL PASSED.
At the laat meeting OF the board OF
education the bill was allowed. When
1t was presented to the city auditor for
approval, be declined to act upon it.
AUDITOR TEALE's STORY.
Yesterday the auditor sent the follow
Ing to the hoard OF education:
To the Honorable Board of Education OF the
City OF Eos Angeles:
GENTLEMEN: Herewith L return the
demands OF the Southern California
Furniture company, amounting to
$2l7.45, without my approval, for The
following reasons
First--The bill is approved by the sup
ply committee for $2l4.70, and by the
board for $217.45.
Second-There ie an item in the above
bill for 10 window shades for the He'll
man street school at 81. go each, amount-
ing to $112. Those shades can be bought
in tho city for &65.
Third-A certain business man who
has supplied the schools with merchan-
disc approached a certain dealer on
South broadway and asked the price OF
70 shades for the Hellman-street school.
He gave him price Of $63. The busi-
ness man heretofore mentioned proposed
to the ciirtain dealer that be put in the
bill TO the city for SIP. and when col
lected give him rebate OF $40, on the
ground that nobody would notice the
amount, as he had friend, member
OF the board OF education, who would
see IL WAS ell right.
The curtain dealer declined to enter
into such transaction and Immediately
informed me. The total retail price OF
euch shades only $l.25 each. A certain
member Of the board had priced them.
do not Gee how he could have over
looked this amount when it passed the
board.
decline to audit the above bill until
1t is reduced to reasonable amount.
Very respectfully,
FRED II. IEALE,
City Auditor.
Mr.. HILEs' STATEMENT.
The curtain dealer mentioned in the
auditors Communication were found to
be Measrs. Hiles & Sogno, 2ll South
Broadway.
Mr.. Hiles was seen by HERALD re-
porter last evening. He subetantiated
= ~ - s~~
TO the identity Of the men-there were
itor eaya--Mr. Hiles would not disclose
anything. He said that within anfew,
days the names OF the men who made
the proposition to cheat the city out OF
$40 would be made known to the proper
authorities. He intimated that there
was more back of the affair, but could
not be induced to divulge anything else.
MR.. PLATr SURPRISED.
Mr.. J. O. Platt, chairman OF the aup-
ply committee, was seen regarding the
auditors action in the matter. He was
greatly surprised on hearing it and em-
phatically declared that he had any
connection with any such affairs as
mentioned by the auditor. The window
curtain had been ordered in the usual
way by the board. Mr.. Platt explained
that the clerical error mentioned at the
beginning Of the auditors statement
was probably due to his inadvertency,
but he discIaimed all knowledge OF any
'.ebadyn ON illegal transactions. He
said he was entirely ignorant OF the af-
fair and knew nothing OF the two busi-
mess men who had made the proposal to
Messrs. Hiles & Sogno.
Mr.. Platt said that he ordered the
curtainn from the Southern California
Furniture company, but no price was
mentioned to him. The curtains were
OF an odd size, being 3xs, and had to be
made to order. which would necessitate
slight extra cost. The company from
whom the purchase was made took all
measurements and put up all the cur
tgins.
MR., sTEfN WANTS THOSE TWO MEN.
F. W. Sseip, another member of the
supply committee, was told Of the audit
or's action. He. too, was surprised at
the news and expressed desire to learn
mho the men are who wished the $40
rebate on the purchase OF the window
curtains.
lie was unable to throw any light
upon the mysterious case.
Mr., DIiLISGToN's STATEMENT.
Mr.. T. Ellington, manager OF the
Southern California Furniture company,
from whom the curtains were purchased,
stated last evening that he had always
sold such curtains as we're sold the board
at $3.50 each. He did not know how
any tiyn c0ul5 retail them at IL. 25 or sell
lot oi ~ for traction over 02 cents
each. Hi waa told tnat other frms had
given these 6Rufes on such curtains,
but he could NOT cell them for euch
prices. Mr. Ellington said that he had
no knowledge oi anything wrong in con-
nection With lbe purchase, as be sold
the goode to Mr. Platt. None other
than nsmbars Of the board had ever
puychaasd anything from the company
for the schools, said Mr.. Ellington.
THE rwo MEN.
Aninsfiectnal attempt was made last
night TO discover The identity OF the two
men who made thaillegal proposition to
Meesre. Hiles & Soguo. 1t ia thought
they Will be made known within very
short time.
Until these men are known there will
be no cIue sc to whether the rumor Is
true that the supply committee, or aome
of ita members. agreed with them to
fleece the city out OF money through the
manntf indicated.
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