The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-03
Suddenly Realizes There
Has Been Extravaganza
in One Department
POOR FARM EXPENSES
NEARLY DOUBLED
Charity Committee Declare
Mrs. Vancor Took Advan-
tage of Trust Placed inHer

Extravaganza and alleged waste Of
city money in the least expected quar-
ter were given thorough airing in
supplementary report prepared by the
taldermanic charity committee and ac-
cepted by the city council at its regular
monthly meeting last night. What the
committee Claims has been a reckless
mismanagement Of affairs at the city
iarm was described in report that is
aimed TO nullify the original annual
report submitted by the committee and
accepted for printing in the city report
| by the council last week. The first re-
| port refers briefly to the conduct of
the poor department in 1913, eommends
I tae overseer and the matron of the city
farm, and mentions casually the increase
| IN the cost of the poor department. The
second report has a different tone, as will
be noted.
The drafting of the supplement ter.
minated a session Of the committee that
began Saturday night, continued through
Sunday until 3 o'clock Monday morning
with only short interruptions at meal
hours. One of the committeeman stated
unofiicially last night that the prodigal-
ity OF the powers in charge at the city
farm in the past few months probably
represents waste OF $500 or $1,000 Of
lcitY money. The revelations began when
member OF the committee happened to
sean an itemized bill presented by To-
cal grocer store for city farm supplies in
January. His amazement led to an in
yestigation and the more the committee
looked the more it found.
Loose methods in buying supplies for
the farm have prevailed since last July,
the committee declares. Some Of the
monthly bills contain itemized references
to the purchase of such stern necessities
OF life as peanut butter, Florida water
at 81 per bottle, grapefruit at two for
a quarter, apples, oranges, pears and
"eyery species of fruit handled in the
local markets" as the report says. Cof-
fee at 40 cents per pound, confectionery.
SI.70 worth of tobacco. % pounds OF
cheese, "a quarts Of ammonia and $23
for meat in single month were found
to have been ordered by the matron,
Mrs. G. w Naucor. and properly ap-
proved BY the oyerseer. In one months
grocery bill there We're 35 pounds OF
coffee In another month the bill topped
the 500 mark and back in the old days
it used to be S35 and $40. There are
items for dustbane and dry goods, calico,
etc.
The committee will learn more about
the conduct of affairs, for to-day il pro-
posed to set on foot one of the most
searching investigations in the history of
tine city. Inmates-there are only nine
at the farm to-day, and there have
been no more than II for number Of
months. will be closely questioned. The,
investigation is to be manysided af-
fair, the committee promised last night.
Nothing that has occurred in recent
years has seemed to have such stag
gering effect on the city's governing
board The sentiment seemed to prevail
at the meeting that q full investigation
should be ordered. An upheaval in the
poor department appears inevitable. In
sumo share of the blame and divide
the remainder between the matron and
the overseer. The report follows:
"To the Honorable City Council of the
City of Barre:
"We beg to submit to you for your
acceptance, a supplementary report con-
cerning the conditions of this department
for the year ending December, 1913.
sWe find that during the past six
months gross extravaganza has been
practiced in the purchase of provisions
and other articles at the city farm
This fact was brought to our notice
while examining the annual report of the
oYerseer.
Although the committee have been
kept well informed and have familiarized
ourselves with each individual case
throughout the entire year, we have not
given the same attention to the city
farm, as we have placed the utmost con-
fidence in the matron. Mrs. Vancor, to
handle the affairs at that institution in
the same economic manner that she has
in the past four years.
"Our estimate Of maintenance for each
person at the farm has always been
approximately SS per month, and was
averaging this amount until about July
/, of the past year; but it has nearly
doubled since then.
st is apparent, however, that Mrs.
Vancor has taken advantage of the trust
bestowed upon her and is unfit to look
after the citys interest for reasons here
after stated.
in our investigations we find that
the necessities OF life were insignificant
compared with the luxuries which she
has provided the past few months. Such
articles rs oranges, pears, peaches, plums.
grapefruit and every species of fnlit
handled in the local stores have been
purchased at the highest market prices.
Florida water, candy and grapes are 9TH
er articles frequently purchased; coffee
at 40 cents per pound and other gro
ceries have been bought at correspond
ing grades: that helps make up the ex-
travagance that very few OF us can af-
ford.
at is also evident that the overseer
has been slack in not discovering the
cause for this astounding increase, in
asmuch as each article purchased has
been neatly itemized and bills rendered
every month. and he should have by
all means noted the change and notified
us accordingly. OF taken steps to abolish
the waste himself
"The committee keeniy regrets what