The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-05-01
Result is Immediate Exam
ination of Books by Alder
man Clifford B. Wilson,
Who Preferred
Charges.
John e. Foster, Member of
the Board, Says ACCUSE
lions Are Not Justifable
Except on Proof.
Has Heard that Alderman
Built House on Proceeds
of His Office, But Public
Charge Would Not Be
Justified Upon Mere Pri-
vate Rumor.

Alderman Clifford B. Wilson and
John E. Foster, commissioner of Char
tiles, met this morning. The meeting
resulted in a visit of both gentlemen
to the Board of Charities. where AL
derman Wilson examined the, books OF
the department.
Mr.Foster is indignant at the charges
made against the members of the
Board of Charities on the floor Of the
Aldermanic chamber. This morning
he said to Alderman Wilson: What
right have You to get up in the Board
honesty? You acknowledge you have
no evidence to back up such an as
sertiOn. You are a lawyer, and you
would not accept testimony from a
remarks heard upon the streets Would
you feel plea sed if current rumorS
heard upon the streets regarding the
crookednesS of the Board of Aldermen
were accepted as truth without any
further evidence? I have heard that
an Alderman built house upon the
proceeds of his term of office in the
Board of Aldermen. Do you think L
would be justified in making a. public
statement that this Alderman was
crooked?''
Alderman Wilson was quick to re-
ply. He said in substance that he had
known for a long time that there was
bad business methods up there in the
should be investigated. Alderman
Wilson was incisive and Commissioner
Foster was indignant.
Finally Commissioner Foster took AL
derman Wilson to the Board of Chart
ties in his automobile and together
they examined the books of the super
intendent and also of the clerk The
Alderman had nothing to say when the
men left the building together.
Commissioner Foster, who is treas
urer of the Foster, Besse Co., said
later: ct don't relish the idea, after
doing business in this city for 30 years,
of being branded as a thief. In all
the years we have been doing bust
ness in the city we have never had
any of the trade of the Board of Char
tiles until was appointed a commits
sioner At one time we had a few
orders which the holders wished to use
at our store. 1t was stopped as soon
the interested parties found it out
and we have never had any of the
orders since The trouble originated
with the merchants who have always
profited by the trade with the Board
of Charities and who are now angry
because we are getting SOME of 1T.
Why, an attempt was made to hold up
our bill of 81 100 for clothing and shoes
when it was before the Board of Al
dermen. Since we have contracted
for these articles, one of the firms
which formerly enjoyed the trade, ac-
name to their own and furnished the
goods to the amount of s146. The
goods; we have furnished the depart
lnent have been better than any have
seen there, and men who have been
acquainted with the quality Of the
goods furnished in previous years as
sure me that the Board of Charities
was never served with so good articles
at so low a price as at present. This
firm does not need this business. 1t
does not want a dishonest dollar II
there is anything wrong let's have it
out. An investigation will show the
truth but 1 most earnestly protest
against being branded a thief after
80 years of reputable business dealings
in the city until some specific case has
been proven against me. The other
members of the board feel as do"
The profits in articles sold to the de-
partment by Foster, Besse &. Co. are
very small according to the figures
given by Mr.. Foster. Children's shoes
which cost the firm 90 cents are.scharg-
ed at 9S cents; adults shoes. costing
the firm $1.4O, are sold for $1.4S. 'The
firm of Foster, Besse & Co. does not
want to make a dollar off the poor.
They will get as good if not better
treatment than they have ever receiv-
ed before. Perhaps this is the reason
that there is so much buster on the
Fart of those who formerly had the
business and made good profits from