The news & observer., 1905-12-13

given, the committee consisting of
Mayor Jas. l. Johnson, City Attorney
w T. Snow, Messrs. II. +. Smith j..
T. Wyatt and A. Il. Glenn, of the
Board Of Audit and Finance brak-
cts in the report the changes and some
eXpla are placed. After the re-
port was read Aldermen Grimes moved
that il be adopted, and that the at
tention of the Dispensary manage
ment be called to those charges which
were found To be true. This motion
was seconded by Alderman Boylan'
and ii was carried unanimously
The Full Report
To the Board of Aldermen of the City
of Raleigh, n. G.
We, the undersigned committee, ap-
pointed by the Board of Aldermen at
1905, to investigate the charges pre-
ferred at said meeting against the
management of the Dispensary, beg
leave to report as follows:
Your committee held a number of
meetings at which the party preferr-
ing said charges, was present in person
and represented by counsel, after hav
ing been duly notified of the time Of
said meetings, and the manager and
Commissioners of the Dispensary be-
ing also present in person and repre-
Sented by counsel.
Due opportunity was allowed the
party making said charges to produce
witnesses, subpoenas being freely is
sued by the Mayor of the city of Raj
eigh for such witnesses as might -
suggested, and said witnesses, or
many of them, attended said meetings
and were examined and cross-exam
ined upon said charges. said meeting
being adjourned from day to day at
the suggestion. request and for the
convenience of the party preferring
the charges and his attorneys. AT
said meetings no evidence was intro
ddced, except as bearing upon charges
Nos. g. g. IL and IA, and by agree
ment of both sides your committee
decided to investigate fully, by per-
sonal inspection of the Dispensary. all
other charges and the management of
said Dispensary in all particulars.
An Abandoned Charge.
Charge No. II, was abandoned and
Withdrawn. (That Dispensary profits
have not reduced taxes and that taxes
are higher).
A copy of said charges is hereto at
tached To this report marked "EX-
hibit A" and made part hereof.
The so Per Cent Profit Not Exceeded
(Charge Mol. That in certain cases
the Dispensary makes over 100 per
cent profit in violation of not over so
per cent allowed by Watts laW).
IL reply to charge No. /, as regards
the excess of profit being over 80 per
cent. Your committee found the fol-
lowing TO be the facts. While no par
ticular instance of violation or viola
tors are alleged in said charges, yet
the party making the charges did lille
a letter of specifications with the man
.ager of the DiSpCnSary enumeraung
certain brands OF whisl<ey in the sale
of which it was claimed that the Dis
penSary was making q profit Of over
50 per cent Upon an examination of
the original cost and the selling price
of these particular brands your COM
mittee found that in no instance was
the profit of SO per cent exceeded.
Upon further examination your COM
mittee is satisfied that in no other in
stance is the profit of 80 per cent.
exceeded.
Docs But the City Gains.
lCharse No. 2. That the city dispen-
sary buys liquor from and through
local agents and friends in Raleigh
and depriyes the city of commits
sions.l
Charge No. 2. Your committee finds
that it is true, and as alleged, that
Tie management OI lIlc ulSpGllSctIy
buys a large portion of the liquors
handled by it from a thorough local
agents and friends in Raleigh, men of
good reputation and integrity. but that
1t is not true that in so doing the
city is thereby deprived of commits
sionS which would necessarily come
to it, if bought direct from the liquor
houses and distifleries; but that, on
the contrary, in every instance where
the same brand of goods has been
bought under both systems the cost
when purchase was made from sucn
local agent was materially less than
when bought direct.
Quarterly Report Incomplete.
[Change No. 3. That the dispensary
is not operated in accordance with
rules of Board of Aldermen AMI
Watts Law.l
Charge No. 8. (a) Your committee
finds that the book alleged to be re-
quired by the Watts Law and the
rules prescribed by the Board of AL