Year: 1874

torney.


The presentment of the Grand Jury in the
case OF the Commissioners of Charities and |
Correction charged those officials with gross
Irregularities in the purchase Of supplies for
the department, calculated to lead to corrup-
ton. The evidence on which this present.
ment was based has been published in the
HERALD, and, although referring only to the
purchases of dry goods, developed enough to
demand an immediate investigation by the
Mayor and the removal of the Commissioners.
Mr. Bowen, member of the Charities and
Correction Board testified to the manner in
which, in violation of the law and the regula-
tions of the department, the purchasing of dry
goods had been placed in the hands of Mr..
Myer Stern, one Of his associates; to the pro-
lest the witness had made against any pur-
chases by single Commissioner to his dis
covery that the goods purchased were charged
to the city largely above their market value,
and to his eventual refusal to certify to any
more of such bills. The late purchasing
agent Of the department proved that the dry
goods were purchased by Commissioner Stern
through relative, who bought them at their
market. value, added from thirty to forty per
cent to their legitimate cost and transferred
them to the city, receiving the amount of his
exorbitant bills from the Comptroller.
former clerk in the Finance Department gave
evidence that he had called the attention of
that department to the irregular character of
the bills and the exorbitant prices charged;
that he had thereupon been transferred to
another bureau, and that after his transfer the
Objectionable bills had been paid by Comp
troller Green. The persons who had sold the
dry goods to Commissioner Stern's relative
testified that the purchaser had represented
that he was buying them for the California
trade and had paid for them the regular
prices-about thirty-6v per cent less than the
city had been made to pay.


If this was not a case calling for the Mayors
action, and if he did not violate his oath of
office by neglecting to investigate the
charges, and to remove the Commissioners
if they were substantiated, then there can be
no meaning in the law which requires the
Mayor to keep himself informed of the doings
of the several departments and to be vigilant
and active in causing the ordinances of the
city and the laws of the State to be executed
and enforced Yet the Mayor has done moth
ing in the matter, except to hold one or two
meetings at the Office of the arraigned Com
missioners, at which he sought to befog the
charges against them by getting up non-
sensical comparison between the expenditures
of the department under the old and the
present Board. The Commissioners of Ac-
counts have been ordered by the Board of
Aldermen to investigate the affairs of the
tainted department, but these Commissioners
are the appointees of the Mayor, and he can
turn them out of Office of his own will at
moments notice. It is no wonder that they
have as yet made no sign that they are doing
the work required of them, and as they have
no power except to look over books, bills and
vouchers, it is easy to see that they can white
wash the department if they ever do report
Besides, one of these Commissioners OF Ac-
counts is said to owe his appointment to the
friendly exertions of q Commissioner of
Charities and c2rrsctio2. and his patron will
no doubt, take care that the report shall not
do much harm.


Now the recorded evidence of fraud in the
dry goods purchases is trifing as compared
with the proofs of extravaganza and corrup-
ton in the purchase of other supplies.
Enormous quantities of -four have been pur-
chased by another of the Commissioners at
prices ranging from Sc 25 to 50 40 barrel,
when the bread in ordinary use in the institu-
tions is made Of two grades of -four, the price
of which ranges from $4 to 81 so per barrel.
The quantity of flour alleged to be consumed,
or at all events paid for by the city, would
feed an army of twelve to fifteen thousand
men day on full rations yet the whole
population is not claimed to average over
nine thousand, and does not, in fact, probably
average over seven thousand. AS we cannot
get an investigation by the Mayor or report
from the Commissioners of Accounts it is
about time for the Grand Jury to take hold OF
this abused department and ferret out it's cor
ruptions and its gross violations Of law. The
witnesses to prove purchases in violation OF
law, the exorbitant price extorted from the
city and the fraudulent alteration of bills sc
as to cover up the wifully illegal acts OF the
Commissioners can be readily procured. Will
the District Attorney do his duty in the
matter by bringing them before the GRAND
Jury? 1t certainly will be prudent for hin
to do so remembering the Governors words
when he removed Kings county District At
torney from Office.


England and the Vfrginius.


We publish in another column extracts


from the correspondence between the British
opJ Spapich oovarDrnaptc in 20 In fh.