The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-13
Inspectors Charge That Qualify
ri Footwear Is Below Stand
ard Required by Contract.
MORE GRATING REPORTED.
G-iiccr nurpey lnforms Health
rnnilnissir ner That Suprrin-
tcndent Runye Refused 10
Answer Questions.

:. IL.
Health Commissioner. yesterday. that he
had discovered a shortage in an order of
shoes sent to the Insane Asylum. and
that shoes aud slippers which he exam
in:ei were rot of tic quality of those con-
tractei tor.
Durney visited the asylum. accompanied
hv Guy Go.,ermann. attorney for the
Health Department.
The shoes in question we're furnished
ny William J.. Bette of No. 1882 South
Broadway.
The shortage appears, 1t is stated, in IN
order for thirty-six pairs of shoes. which
we're delivered November IS last. Officer
purney reported that fourteen pairs of
the shoes were not accounted for.
II IL not claimed. nor did the investi-
cation disclose that the full order was
not delivered.
The clerk who had charge of the store
room at tho time has resigned, and the
one now In charge could account only for
those on hand, and the shoes which were
given to inmates to wear.
Officer Durney reported that he found
seven pairs of shoes in the storeroom and
that the records showed that fourteen
pairs had been supplied to inmates. leav-
ing fifteen pairs to be accounted for.
DIFFERENCE IN PRICE.
The shoes. Durney reported. were found
10 be different from the sample sub
mitted with the bid
They were examined. he said. by the
Supply Commissioners chief clerk, who
stated that they were worth only Is cents
pair. and that the price is sl-2S pair.
An order of 100 pairs Of slippers, Durney
reported. was found to be not up to the
standard contracted for.
The slippers, he said. should have no
side seams. while many of them have side
seams, and the quality of the leather Is
not what 1t should be.
Officer Durney and Doctor E. c. Runge,
Superintendent of the asylum. had a dis
quite about question which Durney
asked. and which Doctor Runge refused
TO answer.
Duiney wanted TO know If Doctor Runge
Lad ascertained If the inmates were wear
ing the shoes supposed to have been sup
piled them.
Doctor Runge said he did not think
pnrney mad right to question him in re-
gard to the matter, Durney being menu
her of the Police Department.
Durncy said that. although he was a
member of the Police Department, he was
assigned TO duty in the Health Depart
ment. and that he was acting in the
matter under orders of the Health Com
missioner.
Attorney Goltermann said he regarded
that Durney had a right to the informa-
ION. Doctor Runge, however, persisted
il, his refusal to answer.
Information received by the Health De-
partment caused Victor Albrecht, a flour
merchant, to be interviewed in regard to
an incident alleged to have taken place
when he had a contract in 1900 to supply
-four to the city.
FLOUR CONTRACT.
Albrecht said. it is stated, that an en-
ploye of one of the institutions came to
him and offered to give receipts for short
shipments of -four, the profits to be d.
vided between the employe and Albrecht.
The latter did not go into the alleged
deal.
1t was said by one connected with the
Health Department that indictments are
expected to be returned by the Grand Jury
against contractors supplying the city in
situations. as well as employees of the IN
situations.
Doctor Simon stated that he had heard
that the claim would be made by the
cooks and contractors that the goods were
delivered. but that the supply was cut
down, and that the inmates OF the institu-
lions do not get enough to eat.
Doctor Simon addressed letters to the
managers of tho institutions stating that
while no waste or fraud will be permitted,
that no undertaking Of inmates Of insti-
buttons would be tolerated. Inspectors will
te sent to see that this order is carried
BoLTEs STATEMENT.
William F. Bolte last night produced or
ders and receipts for city goods at various
institutions. These showed that the city
had obtained what 1t had ordered.
las far as am concerned" he said. Il
have no fear Of an investigation. for am
the shoes left my hands.
las to prices. / can also produce my
bills from the wholesale house, which will
hear me out. 1 never had shoe in my
house that l could afford to sell for IS
cents a pair. The slippers sold to the
institutions for 72is cents pair. The
...::ca I paid for them will show only
reasonable profit.
AS for side seams. IL there are any
..acng those I sent to institutions. did
not know of It. It Is possible. at times,
that mistakes are made in shipping