The Jersey City news., 1898-12-09
SOUNDING THE PIANO.
Board Of Education Appoints
a Committee to Investi-
gate Mr.. Holmes
Charges.
MATTER 10 BE THOROUGHLY SIFTED
Director higgins Makes an Eff
fective Speech on the Neces-
sity Of a Searching Inquiry.

Directors Nimmo, Mulvaney and Egbert
of the Board of Education. were last
night appointed a committee to investi.
gate the complaint made concerning the
purchase of pianos. Director Mersheimei
made the motion for the investigation
and PRESIDENT Firm at once named the
members of that committee This action
of the Board was precipitated by the re-
ceipt of the following letter from Mayor
December S, 1898.
Honorable Board of Education:
Gently purchased nine upright pianos
from the firm of Bush & Girts. whose
salesroom is at No. 13 East Sixteenth
street. New York city. The price PAID
for the parlor grand pianos $4SI each
Before the warrants for said pianos were
signed they were examined by Mr. George
Hoehl of No 262 Hutton street, Jersey
City. who certified that the prices charged
the city were fair and reasonable. Since
the claims were paid, have received a
communication from Mr. Waiter q
Holmes, who is engaged in the piano bus
mess. charging that the price paid Tor the
pianos was excessive. If the instruments
arc what they are represented TO pc, the
price does not appear to be eXoTbitant l.
but as the charge is made by one famil-
lar with the value of pianos it should re-
ceive prompt investigation a the HANDS
OF your Board.
Owen |. Turtle, of the Bush & Girts hrnl,
attached an affidavit that the amount
charged is a reasonable one. II tilis al
ffdavit is not true ii is the duty OF your
Board to present the matter to the Grand
Jury and insist upon the Indictment OF
the party making il. have to ask from
your Honorable Board lmmedlafe anu
thorough examination and prompt action
in the premises.
Upon receiving. the communication
from Mr.. Holmes. / requested a visit
of Mr.. Holmes, denied that the price
charged was excessive, and insisted that
the city had received full value for the
moneys expended.
In your investigation of this matter,
YOU viii have to consider that Mr. Tur-
lie will naturally desire to support the
bills that he presented, and that Mr.
Holmes represents opposition piano man
that you should reach your conclusions
by the evidence of impartial witnesses.
The fitness of the pianos has not been
assailed. The question Tor you 70 de-
ternine IS, was the price pald more tiistii
fair value2
Very respectfully.
EDWARD HOOs, Mayor.
When the committee had been named
Director Thomas j., higgins made briet
but very effective speech on the necessity
of a thorough examination Of the charges,
II am sure, said Mr.. higgins. that the
committee viii perform its work properly
In this matter The Board must be placed
right before the public and that can only
be accomplished by a thorough investlga-
tion. We must have an unbiased opinion
as to the value of the pianos from capable
and competent judges; men who are nj in
every way to pass on these instruments.
The Board of Education will see that
these charges are fully ventilated and the
people may feel assured that there will
be no covering up il any wrong has been
done. / heartily approve of the appolflt-
ment Of this committee and ] know that
these gentlemen will do their work in
telligently and thoroughly
The committee will have all parties con-
cerned before them and q report is ex-
pected al the next meeting of the Board.