The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-14

There was an undercurrent OF sur
pressed excitement noticeable in the
gathering throng at the school commit
tees rooms at Classical High school, on
Summer street, last night, where the pub
NC meeting to hear the charges against
the purchasing agent. as formed by the
executive committee OF the school com
mittee.
The crowd of taxpayers, citizens, poll
ticians and school teachers, who gathered
at o'clock. was so large that II was
speedily seen that the school committee
room was not nearly large enough 10
hold them. and Chairman Gleason an
nounced that class room on the lower
floor would be used. Everyone trooped
down and rushed to secure good seats,
and then had just comfortably settled
down when DR.. Gleason announced that
as there was not room for the gathering
crowd there, an adjournment would he
taken TO the hall on the top floor
WILD RUSH FOR SEATS.
There was another wild rush to get
good seats then. and the five members OF
the executive board took seats on the
platform with the chairman. DIR. Gleason,
In the centre: the others were j. p. Bea-
gan. Richard b. Comstock. Walter H..
Barney and Charles II. Philorick.
Before the platform was Henry II. Rose.
clerk OF the school committee and n
stenographer from the Supreme court
Mr. william j. Pyne. the purchasing
agent; his clerk. Mr.. Ward, and John W.
Hogan, his counsel, were seated ar one
table. and the Messrs. Rockies. who COM
prise the United States Mill Supply com
pany. with Irving w. Champlin, their
counsel. occupied another.
Chairman Gleason called the meeting
TO order and said that the committee was
ready to consider the matter for which
the hearing was called
DR.. Gleason said that at the September
meeting of the school committee. the com
mittee on accounts objected to certain
bills of the United States Mill Supply
company and the matter was referred to
the executive committee with instructions
to report at the next regular meeting
The committee reported progress at that
meeting and secured more time for con-
sideration. Later IL was thought advisa-
BILE to have a public hearing, at which
the matter could be ventilated and this
II that meeting. The chairman stated that
they were ready TO hear from anyone
who had anything to say In regard TO
the charges.
MR.. WATERMAN SPOKE.
Mr.. Thomas w. Waterman. the member
Of the committee on accounts. who OBJ
5ected Co the approval OF the $4,000 bill,
stated that he had some few things TO
say. He first read the letter sent him
by Mr.. Rose, chairman OF the school COM
mittee. containing charges "a follows:
''First-That the purchasing agent has
purchased school supplies tpapep In ex-
cess Of the needs OF the schools
"6econd-That the purchasing agent has
paid excessive prices.
sThird-That goods were not delivered
when the audit OF the bill was asked.
,at n nf
nished was not up to sample or to quality
sFifth@That the purchasing agent pur-
Now ] have not made any charges my
self" Mr.. Waterman stated, though you
seem inclined to insist that l did, but |
aid hold up that bill believing T. should should
that bill was presented for payment IL
bore the audit OF the purchasing agent.
and a great deal OF the goods had not
been delivered. 1 think IL should be ex-
planned" he said
ONLY TWO MEN.
when the school committee organized
last December I was elected on tho ac-
counts committee,.with four others. Mr.
Mccartin was elected chairman and re.
has never met with W., and SMr. Manches-
ter but a few times so that left the work
20 Mr.. Andrews and myself to do az best
we might"
lie then told Of an early bill of the
United States Mill Supply company and
called the attention OF an overcharge 10
the supply company. MIR. Rocks came
UP TO my office and | called the matter To
MS attention. lie promised go deduct the
same. but before he did so the city coun-
Gil deducted that and several overcharges
presume he would have attended 20 the
matter N the council had not" Mr.. Wa
trman said
Inere was a big difference between the
prices charsed and bids made for certain
goods and fe wanted that matter ex-
planned
nave here certified statement from,
the hnode Island News company. which
sold To the United States Mn SUNNY
company - dozen Sanford paste sf5b
per dozen. total s43.75 The nul au,pi,,
company charged the city sss.7b for tn
same goods
ASKED To REFRAIN
There was considerable applau.o n,
ehis but whether from satisfactiop q,
Mr.. Xaterrnan's revelation OF the fart
o. et tho superb busin ~ ability mai
enabled such an excellent proat TO be
aimed at
Chairman Gleason asked that the an
dience refrain from applause and his re-
mark was greeted with hand clapplng
Mr.. Waterman told them of the pur-
chases by The mill supply company from
ConRdon 4 Carpenter Of Iron and steel
for the Manual Traipfng school and that
IN one Instance A.n was the cost and
~ city was charged 80.