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T. LOUIS REPUBLIC. I-w and wherefore of Kipling's leaving tSuigfrSoysand lneir Family History. Many colors. The Sunday Republic. IX Illustrated. Next Sunday's Republic. LOUIS. MO., SATURDAY. DECEMBER S. 1000. I In St J Oil. LoiiIn. Our iVnt. 1IUCE hUIv St. l.iut, Tn OVnt. ( tin 'I rain 1 Iiree i viit". COUNCIL PASSES CHARGES AGAINST F. C. MEIER AND HIS DEPUTY, GEORGE MARTIN A BELIEF BILL, Appropriate-! ?1:,177.1J to .M'oi Di-fidts and DHil of Klffiim- svnnrv In-tiUilions. .-.-. -.-.-. Result of Investigation of Suppy Commis sioner's Office. GENERAL TRANSFER OF FUNDS. Spronri i!?stal!incnt .Lth.e HHT JL fl A 1 1 XTSETY-TDIED YEAR. ST i " H " if Kitchener: "We'll eat NAYY CONTRACTS FOR ELEVEN SHIPS OF WAR. Five Battleships and Six Cruis ers Are to Be Built HIGHEST TYPES KNOWN. Yessels Will Be Snperior in Armament and Speed to Any Afloat. Washington. Dec. 7. Never since tlie birth of the new npvv has there been such a gathering of s-nipbullders and mial Ings ns Here nsemblnl in the olliceof the Secretary of the Navy at noon to-day to witness the opening of bias for an amount of naval construction which Secretary Long denominated as tho greatest In dustrial event this or any other country had ever Ft en. invoking tha placing of contracts for about St.WX,OuO Tho Secretary left the Cabinet meeting for the purpose of presiding at the cere mony. Associated vv ltli him were the chiefs of the gteat naval bureaus Admiral Hlch. born, Admiral Melville. Admiral O'Neill and others. Anions the spectators were Henry Scott. Charles and Udwln Cramp. Mr. Trigg of the Richmond Locomotive Works, President Morse. .Manager New nian and John LiniLsiy of the New York Shipbuilding Compan). the new Delaware River concern: Manager flail: of the Miles Tool Compan) . IxjuU Nixon .if the Creeent works. President Oico't. JuJge I'aon and 5Ianager IVst of the Newport News v.orks P. o Wellington and 51. T Rlr.ell of the Fore River works of 5Iassachusett.s. the 5Ioran Bro-. of Seattle. President Tailor and 51r. Tarbett of the Rlsdon Shipbuilding Company John Dia logue of Camden and n number of others Identified with shipbuilding msill Concern to tin? IVonl. Thcro were eight bidders, ai d most of the Mds were well within the limit of tost al lowed by Congress for the diip The ro table feature was the attempt on the part of tho joungcr and smaller concerns to break the line of the M orgamzallo is which have constructed all of the hi avy vfsscJ-of tTie new na up to this time. Whllo It is not possible at this moment to forecast results accurately, there are in dications that In at I-ast ono Instance, ami perhaps two instances, these attempts will lw nttendtd with sonu degree of success, for. It lool-s ns though tome of the work will Jmj bestowed upon the Pore River tompany. which appears for the first time as tt bidder for constructing armored ships. The Pacific Coast, too, presents a likely candidate in the 5Iorais bid. Because of changes made in the specifications b) the bidder", tho general tendency of whltli is to reduco considerably the equipment of the ships-. It Is not possible et to tell which of the bids arc aetuall) the lowest. As they read, they ate as follows: Armored Cralorro. Union Iron Works. San Francisco, one sheathed and coppered. t3.$flO.W; one with out sheathing. $3.73.tXiO: another under the same conditions. J3.7J0.W9. William Cramp V Sjns. I'hlladelphla. one heathed. but uncoppercd, JJ.SW.oCK): oncun sheathed. J3.7S0.000 Newport News Shipbuilding Companv. one sheathed and topiorcd, J3.SWH0; one without sheathing, J3.775V0. this for two ships. Mora n Rros. Co., Seattle. Wash . ono sheathed and coppered. J5.132.OJ0, or two at J4,00S.000 each; one without sheathing. W. 963,000. or two at J3.S41.00iJ each. Fore River Shipbuilding and Locomotive Works, Qulncy. 5Iass., one sheathed and coppered, J3.3.5.0W. or two at ;.. each; without sheathing, one for J3.Hpu.0o;', or two at J3.773 OiO each. Tho same bid also Is made for two more ships at the same price and urder tho same conditions under tie aet of l'ort. The preceding bidders. 51orau .fc Bros, and the Newport News compan), made siml ar propositions. John Dialogue & Son.. Camd.n, N J tui- unsheathed, J3.SC5WJ; anolher under the a-t of 1800 at the tame price. Rlsdon Iron and Locomotive Wonts, San that historical Pretoria Christmas dinner this year." WHAT NAVY'S LARGEST I CONTRACT CALLS FOR. Fle battleships. Six armored cruisers. Aggregate displacement 1S1.MO tons. Average speed of battleships 19 knots. Average speed of crulers 22 knots. Armament of battleships Pour 12 Im h guns, four S-inch gurs. twelve G-lnch rapid-fire guns, twelve four-tcen-poundTs and twelve two pound ers. In addition to a number of pneu matic guns. Anmmcnt of cruisers Four S-Inch guns, four e-lneb. guns and ten 6-inch broadside guns, besides tho usual Eeeond battery. Battleships and crulers to be the most eluient vessels of their t)pes afloat. Nanus of battleships Pennsylva nia. New Jersey. Georgia. Virginia ard Rhode Island. Cost of ships J30.IW.WO. sssss4sa Francisco, one without sheathing, J4.075.0O0. nattleshlpa. Cramp & Sous, one sheathed and cop pered. J3.CO0.CwO. Newport Xcus Company, one "heathed and coppered ?3,393,0X. one unsheathed. 53 -;40.K. Pore River Work. one for tJ.f.SO.ooo, or two for J3 5T..",000 each, all sheathed alii coppered. Without sheathing, one for J3 -430 b0. two for .4J3,0"0 each. A bid also Is FUbn Itted for two more at the same pi Ices under the net of 1"vj. John II. Dialogue & Son, one sheathed and coppered. J3.4.XWX); one without sheathing. J3.Jl.C0-'. another at the some Hgure under the aet of 1M. Bath Iron Works, one sheathed and cop peied, Ji.U-0,.eU New York Shipbuilding Company, one sheathtd and copperel. Jt,35,t0, or two at JU. ...CM each. Without (lieathlug. one for J4,1(K'.00, or two for J4 073,100 each This firm offers to reduce the time limit of com pletion six months. 5Ioran Bros. . cD . Seattle. Wash., ono sheathed nnd coppered. J3.SG3.CKj9. or two at r.74'.fW e.-eh Without sheathing, ono for J3 07.000, or two for J3,;S6,Cu each. Bids alo ate made for two more at the sama prlee. under the act of lfOO. This firm al-so oITtrs to leduee tne limit about six month'.. I'muu Iron Works, one unHheathed, $3 -4G0.OUO llonril In Coosliler lilds. A naval hoard will consider the b'ds and report upon them. The acts of Congtess limit the ot of th I'ruisers to J3,G3,iJO) vch, anl of th" battleship to St.CflOO) for tho -heathed an' H.toHMV) f,,r th mi sheathi d. Secretary Long enre-sril Mm-oir .. Pleated with the result of the b!d'In. -o far as he could percchp it f-om the hatv re-idlng of the 1 Ids. He felt that on the whole the) were very liberal. The five new battleships, nnme'j 'he Pcni-svlvniiin. New Jersey. Geo-gii vir glnli. and Rhodo Island, are divided Irto tvvi clae to comprcmice upon tl e con troversv a to their turret s tein". Tho- are to he shvithd and copperi-.! .ird vtll carrv superimposed runets. the other 'in aro to le unsheatlud vessel, having th (luadrllateral arrangement of S-ineh turret . To meet the contlngtncv ci st the bidders wre. how.ver lnvitel to submit plans in each case for Lot hshrathed and uu;heathed ships. Ilrst riKliters Attoiu. The sheathed vesstl? are to be of 13.0 -J tons displacement, with a length of ir.5 feet, breadth of 7C feet 1J Inches. ilr(j great, er draft of M feet. Th. unsheathed sMps are slightly smaller, and on the same length are s. en and one-hilf Inches nar rower and 4u0 tons lers displacement Both classes of battleh'ps hjjI compare with any in the world, not onlv afloat, but projected; for they will have a speed of at least nineteen knots, which Is exi ected to run up to nineteen sine one-half knots, a great pace for ,i battleship, which will be maintained by twin-screw engines of l?.0j horse power, supplied b tv.enty-four water-tube boilirs The radieul difference n the battleships to the outward appearance v.lll He In the turrets Kadi ship will carrj four IS-lnch guns Tl'-se- are of the ci.traoid!uar length of calibers, or St feet. In the bore, of tho new tjpe just turned out by the LEADING TOPIC9 IX TO-DAY'S REPUBLIC For Mlaaourl Fnlr Satnrdfty. Snada. lair nd -rrarmrr TTlnds hlft- Inc to fresh oalierly. For Illlnola ralr. narmrr Satur day, hnudar, fklr; irlnds ahlftlnE to freata aoutherly. 1. Contracts for Eleven Ships of War. Relief Bin passed by Council. 2. Debate on Exposition Bill. Porto Rlcans Now In Arizona Oplnlcrs on Grain-Weighing Bill Hawes Sajs It Is Up to Illgglns. t. Dalrj'men's Union Not Recognized. Pioneer Llverjman Passes Away Temperance Union Branch Launched. Admits He Rorb-d Himself. Fireman Came to Boarder's Rescue. Wants Pifsident to Serve Six Tears. Virgin Gold Found In Arkansas. 4. Opposition to Hay Canal Treaty. T. 51. C. A. Report. Would-Be Bride Took Her Cat. Society Gills Flee Prom Grand Jury. One Governor to Rule South Africa. 8. Cullom's Chances Appear Erlgnt. Government Net In Warehouse Business. Growth of Small Towns of 5Ilssourt, 6. Rllera Expelled From Washington. 5Iiss Drew After Jeffries. Four American Jockevs Return. T. Bishop Potter on Ixive of Money. The House That Stands In 511ddle of th Road. 8. Editorial St. Iuls Women's clubs. Huchre Parties in Rlierrj's 9. Notable Additions to Books on China. Through Skv light Into Basement. Tries to Soothe Party 111 Will. Bullet Pierced HI Friend's Heart. 10. Church News .mil Announcements. Sundaj S hool Lesson. 11. New Ideas In WIrter Gowns Illnstrated. Home ard Fashion Topics. 12. R public Want Advertisements. Rcon' o Births 5Iarnagcs. Deaths. New Corporations. 13. Republic Want Advertisements. House Paed Oleo Bill. Weather Report. House Passed Oleo Bill. Rathbone'H Shortage Considerable. Portugal Offinds Holland 14 Grain and Produce. Cattle 5ah s. U Ftranciol New River T-I'iram. IC.Oll ( lown Pom Stunts fur Ho.-pital Patients-. Reviews of Tradp. Ordnance Bureau, i-m superior in cMicien- e to any l.-inch gun ir t'e world, mil at ! least Mitia! to the Il-'neh guns which bavo J marktd the mailirum ca'ILer in the Amer- lem Navj. j In the thiee sncatlKd vessels a piir of ' S-inch mills will be mounted on the top of each of the 12-imh turiets Pour other S- Ini-h auns v.'Il be distributed In two tur- i Is amidships on these tv.o ves.rN j uprrl Defensive I'mirrn. ! The unsheathed vessels will have .ill of ! lh"!r eight s-inch gnus mounted In four In- i dependent larr-ts. one p!ace,l nt ich cor- m r of t.ie oblong suporUrueture Both i lass, s cf vessel -sheathed ard unshiathcd . -will have a broadside of twelve 6-lneh rapid-tiro guns on the main deck, besides , twelve foi.rteen-poimders and twelve two- i pounders and n number of automatic guns. making the lutte.y more formidable than anv atloat as far as ability to concentrate tire and throw weight of metal Is con ci rncd. In the matter tif defensive power, the bat tltshlis of I'oth classes are unsurpassed, earrving an S-fi-ot-wlde water-line belt of armor 11 incnes tnlek. over the vitals of the ship, tapering to 4 Inches at the eud. The . i-!nch guns will be placed behind the pro- j tectlon of 6 inches of solid hardened steel, and the turrets will var from 10 to 11 Inches j In thickness j A curved turtle-back protective deck, and j a tofftrdam be-lt all around the water line, stuffed with cellulose, will afford larther protection. Electricity will be ued H the bittlc-Mps to ma-li gi eater extent thaji in any ctlur snips afloat, and the use of wood will Lc re stricted to the minimum. MciiMiic N Ivailroiitli'il Tlirnu!i- Mr. lIofTninii C.ilN Attcntimi id the I.ivJitiiijr I)ciiiit input's Aiipropri.it inn. I nuer a su.-pensiijn cf the rules the Citv Council eserday ,'nftemoon stiit to n grosmeut and subfequently parked a bill v ltli an amendment for the t mporary re in f of the eleemosvnary Institutions and the municipal departments tli.it have been tonfrontod with deficits In the appropria tions for articles of necessity Tho bill design ites the new relief npprotiil.itions and t'lo amendment provides for the trans f r of money to meet the einergenev "lhe original bill was presented in fre Citv council a wetl: ago by Mr Carroll, thalrnnn of tl.e Wavs and M.aus Conunlt tee, in "skeleton" foim. 51r. Carroll insert td the essential clauses jtst.rdaj" win n the bill came up for second leading, and moved tint the rules be suspended rind tho incis ure sent to engrossment. H was support ed by Captain Hodges, the former chair man of the sime committee. The bill nates tho following ndcBtlnntl appropriations; Citv Hospital, 1 ffl; Poor bouse, J1 Sjl; Insino Asylum S1.VQ; Quar antine and Smallpox Hospital. JI.OO-); House of Refuge. M.fO: Coroner, Jt'fl; morgue, JDOO; Boiler Iuspoctnr, Ji. and the pres t'ent's department of the Board of Public Improvements, $177.42. Total. IU.177.42. In order to rerder flnacl a-slstanee to these deptrtmentJ nnd Institutions, fundi were transferred as follows: From the Fire Department, JT..C00; Recorder of Deeds, JI. 5IarshaI. 1100; City Dispensary. $0: City Hall. C27.7G; Slunlclpal Assembly. J7M.C3. and from the current exrense a-count of the Major, Comptroller and other officials. J1.000. Total. JJ.OIS.J'. Mr. Carroll stated that the sum of J3.M0 taken from the Fire Depertnient Is from the salary account end 2W fiom the fund allotted for the care and shoeing of horses ll e transfers from the Murshal's office nnd Recotder of Deeds are from salary appro priations, tha J300 acquired from the City Dispensary la deducted from the frnd for i etra phvslclans. tho City Hall transfer is from the salaries for engineers and eoal- passcrs. the Slunlclpal Assembly transfer If from the appropriation for furnishing new Quarters, nnd the other transfer Is from .' the t urrent expense account of other de partments. 5Ir. Hoffman remarked that he under stood the npproprlat'on for lighting public buildings will have been exhausted In Feb ruary and the institutions will bo In dark ness If provisions be not mode. "If jou believe everything jou sea In tho Demo cratic papers," said 51r. Carroll, 'jou'll think the country U going to the devil, and the city with it." "X reed It In a Repub lican paper, atsc," replied 51r. Hoffman. Mr. Carroll declared; the urgency of passing the bill, aa unrandetl, and the Council com plied, also unanimously voting a reconsid eration of tho motion. HARVARD WINS IN DEBATE. Scores Her Third Consecutive Vic tory Over Yale. Cambridge, Mass , Dec. ".Victory in de bate cams to Harvard for the third consecu tive tuna against Valo in the lutercolleglate series, at Sanders Theuter to-nlsht. By brilliant.- of speech and logic in argument. Harvard overpowered her opponent and re ceived the major share of applause from the audience. In her main urgumeiits Harvard was superior and her rebJttal was so .-tion that 1'ale could make little headway Bkulnet It. although striving hard to tear down the constructive case. The best speaking for Harvard was by Roscoe Conk ling Bruce, who won the Coollde prize In the trial debate, and, singularly the Iridcr on the Yule side was Frank II. SIncci beaux, wlw won the Thatcher prlzo at his. colltge. The question debated Whs: "Resolved. That tho permanent retention or the Phlllpplra Islands by the United titates Is desirable" Hnrvurd had the affirmative, and her case wa substantially put together, while Yale'a negative was constructively weak. The Judges Honoralie William U. Horn blower of New York, Judge Addison Brown of the United States District Court, and llr. 0car S. Strauss, I nlted hlatea AlliiLster to Turkey were hi conference half an hour before giving th decision in Harvard's favor. Harvard was represented In the debito by 51urray Seasongood, Henrv Porfr Chandler and Roscoo C. Bruce. Vale's Hpeaktrs were F. M. Sincerbeaux. Charles Wolcott 51crrlam and 5Ioson Trowbildgn. FULL CREDIT NO POWER'S. Diplomat Pays Each Nation YieM cm! Something in China. Berlin. Dec 7. Wl'h reference to the """" "' ""'.' """"""" " "'Ms - agreement nas oeen reached at Pekln, a high otticlal of the German Foreign Ofllce, j who is empowered to speak in the mine of Count von Buelow. Imperial Chancellor, said this rvenlng: "The report is correct, but there are still seme minor points unsettled. It was clear from the first that the note formulated by the foreign envojs In lVkln would not bo accepted, inasmuch as the United States disavowed 5Ir. Corger Instantly and Russia raised some formal object'ens. Now tli.it the envojs nre agreed, and the noto Is ac ceptable to tho United Sntes, there should be no exultation, as If the other Powers had bowed to the will of ono nation All were free to take whatever course they chce, and they chose In she Interest of peace and Inrmonj "They altered t!i- note to meet tho views of the United St ites. It Is to be hoped that Hie fact that ilwmtiy has pone so far in ccraplvlng with the wishes of the United States will meet with recognition in Amer ica. SAYS OUR CONDUCT IS WORSE. Timothy Mealy Compares Soldiers' Aet.s in Luzon and South frii. London. Dec. 7 During the ulscussion of affairs In South Africa in the Hous" of Commons this afternoon. 5Ir Timothy Ileal), Nationalist member for North Louth, warned the Boers against accepting "British shams." He ysld it was a question whether it was not better to be a dead Boer than a British subject, but he declared that he did not believe the conduct of the British soldier in South Africa lmd been as black as that of the American In tho Philippines. LEE TO SPEAK AT KANSAS CITY. Accepts Invitation to Attend a !ohn Jay l.auiiuot. Kansas City. 5Io . Dec. ".General Fitz hugh Lee, commander of tho Department of the 5Ii9souri. has accepted an invitation of the Commercial Club to be Its guest at a John Jay banquet to he held In this city on December 15. Other speikers will be National Committeeman 1illlam J. Stone cf 5Iissouri. Chtarles L. (Heed of Kansas, and tho Reverend II. F. Trefz of Omaha. REPORTIN COUNCIL That Body Will Con duct Trial of Accused Officials. METHODS DEXOUXCIiD. Charge Neglect of Duty Against Meier; Attempted Extortion Against Martin. After wt.ik.ng at bil'ivils s me July 2 las! the sp'tlil r.innr.ltt. o of the City Cojro'l uppolnted to investigate Into the n anngomer.t cf tl:o department of t'ie Cnm inl'sioncr of Supplies jesterday aftenio-m submitted ItF report, thro'igh Its chalrmai". Chifl-s Wiggins, giving the hs0rj or its labors iij'd formally preferring chargs pgainst Supply Courcissloner r"n"i! k -. .Meier and his chief deputy, George 18. Mar tin, und leciinmending that botlz be tried by tl.e Council. Three speelilcatiors aie recited agalpst ("omznl-s.uiiei of Supplies Meier, all under the caption of pegbit or dutj. The first I' that he failed or neglected te adveitie for iroposals for the lurnl-hlng or articles tailed for In a retjui-Ulon when tha arrount to la purchased exceeded1 J1W for one ai ticle. 'lho Incident for this Inference was t!v purchase of IkX blanket on September 23. lsW, for JS12, the articles to bo used in the City Hospital. The i-eeond specincatlon Is made on the same grounds, tha purchase taking place ou tue s-jme date, whm IV) blankets were bought for the Poorhouse. The third speclhcatlcn Is that he failed a jdvertU'j for proposals for certain pur ehases in August, 1SW, and that he made certain purchase without having adver listd. as required by ordinance, the omis sion being construed as a breach of duty. MIRIOIS ACCl s.vrio.xs A;Al.NVr HKI'LTV .MAHTI. Against Deputy Supply Commissioner .Martin three specifications are Hied under the charge "misconduct In ollice." The first Is deslgnuted "attempted extortion," tho Becond an "attempt to extort a bribe." and the third an "attempt to secure or ex tort a bribe." The first accusation made i that 5lartln. In February of thi year, requested of tho dry goods firm of S:lx, Baer & Fuller a discount of W per cent for the purpose of retaining the discount for his own use. Tho second sptciilcation is based on a transaction said lo have taken place In the same month, with tho same firm, Martin offering, it Is charged, to give the Arm a portion of the cltj'a bustneee If the ilrm would pay bim a commission or discount of 10 per cent. The third charge Is that he suggested the purchasing of supplies from a Jlrm at prices gteater than could be pro cun d In tho open market, provided the lirm would agree to tender him a discount or commission of 10 per cent. Enumerating the events anJ occurrences in detail with dated and names and fUurs. the committee advises that the bupply CommUaloner and the Deputy Supply Com- , nilssioner be tried by the council, to sup- port tho different charge", the commltte rtturntd to the Council a mass of evluenco embraced In ioi tvpcwrltten pages, corn prlslrg all the testimony heard at the ses sions of the committee. On motion of 5Ir. Wiggins, seconded by 51 r Kratz. tho report was unanimously ndopted, and on motion of 51r. Richards, seconded by Captain Hodgis, It was deold-d to withhold the testimony from the oftteiil pub'.l-hed prrxeedlfgs of the Council. Mr. Richards moved that the stenographer's bill", amounting to JS21.10. be paid from the Council's tontlngert fund. The motion prevailed. 51r. Oast alone goinT on record In the negative. President .Meier wis In the chair. i.oosk mci lions i ihim; siPi'i.ins ciTUD. In the preamble preceding the statement of the specific i barges the committee refers to tho ordinance requiring ofllclalu to make requisitions at the bt ginning of each month for suivllt that will be neecitu in tne next ...i . ,. .i .i.. in .),ni ty, Hi..t nf h i ordi V'-wasoaie' tne ordln mre la ai.u I items in one advei 6 j chae the aitkltH I j reductions that ai N s-ale purchases. items in one advertisement in order to pur- i in one lot and thus acquire ! ,r a.,.-ii.,i i.ith tihnle-I ale purch, ..It K iuecd." the report reads, "a most surprising reflection on the elllciency and in- tellli-iiue of tne various 5Iuvors. Comptrol lers, Sup-1 Commissioners, and, in fact, all othcers of the city government requiring suppliis during tho last twenty-two years that nn ordinance of the most vital im portance to the public Interest should have km entirely over! oked." The othr clauses in the report are de voted to .specltie transaction, upon which the committte based Its conclusions The most important of thee are to the effect that the citv hns suffered from short weight on coal, because the Institutions have not scales to weigh goods received, instance b- tng eit d. It-statues of contractor" being peimltted lo Mil on eontricts contrary to the spirit of tin ordinaii'-s. a Her having failed lo comply with imn-iclpal requirements, arc also mention d The committte found lint an Inferior iiuantitv of coal vi.s p( r.slstentlv delivered at certain cit Institutions, despite the pro tests of tne officials in charge of tl.e bulld 1 Jgs rum kiii in: in 'IltlNI. "I" Till: "llr'N. Chairni in Wiggins of the Investigating Committee said l"st night that the ihatges acalnst 51r Jleler would be followed iip'tTy a trial bt fore tho Council a.s a whole. U4 provided in the state and city laws. Pit st a top) of the charges and specif.ca tlons will be served on the Supply Cornnh sioier. and he will be given reasonable time In which lo trepare his defense. Then the Council will tli. a date for the trill. 5Ir. iieier rill te permitted to .ngige a lawvT to represent him at the trial, and th- City Counselor, or one of his assistants, will ap pt.tr for the city. The whole Council will sit us a jury; and the proceedings will be In the- nature of a regular court trial. If the Council Mads 5Ir. 5Ieler suiltJ of the charges. It will order his removal from onic. nnd its action will be flnal. unle the defendant can prove that the trial was unfairly conducted. In the event that he should seek to light the finding of the Council and retain nU tifiice. It will be necessary for him to uo mlt evidence of sufficient strength, to the Circuit Court, to warrant the claim of frui-il or m. fairness, and such a contin gent v Is looked upon as far remote. As for 5!r. 5Iartin. llr. Wiggins said that :i M t t. viaK1 v i I'llUf leau Mlppij Citopip. it r ( iiCHitist AiKHli a etuiie of iasoniUv.t i i ofil . toilodjlrg thi-e spfCiiTcation a Jsirs hira of atttm?fl extortion, is ' iuMdv by the fjil InvestigtirK I m- , nuttte ut the City Coun il. i -.w.-.-.-.-.-.-. '.-. he miht b- tried .simultaneously with Lis superior oill-f or pa.atelv, tit? he Coun cil lav rle. i While tne chare," against lum I morrseiious than th itagali.st ;ie.r, it has not "been shown that he actually protitMi bv the transactions .vlth which ho is thnrged. and the Coonc il can Inlhet no M'altrr iunishinnt on l.in tl an on 5Ir. 51e!e- i: P W JI'-r. I'resldent of the Cny Count. I nnd father of Supply Commissioner P C M irr. sid last night that his n was at a hunilng club In Illinois', bejond tl-e reach if tilephona or ttlegrapN and tlmt ll" would no' retain until to-dav soice tl nt. I, t Mler ou'ered his horse and bafey early v..senlo afternoon, suyin: he COMMITTEE'S REPORT AND TEXT OF CHARGES KeiSlowIni; is 4lie leport o the committee, with the halves against 51esirs. 5Itjer nnd Mtirtin: "At a meeting of the Council, held Jure 23. 1, the following resolution was Intro duced: " 'I'ss-lved, That the committee of this Council La aud Is htiebr in.t-ucl-d to make Inqul-y Into tne ctficlil co-Uiut of the Conim!icner of Sup plus, aid Into tli tuslct?s luethocia of bla of t(e. also a to the coniecticn vhlch ny ether o.'nctal cr ofr.chils of the city may have had. or may liave. with any IrrcsuUuty or nudfeaa uice In Ue paichsae of auppllta fur any dport n.cr.t cr li ntltuiu-n of th c!ty of t. Louli. It ll ere h.i3 teen, cr may be. any su. h IrreiTilarlty r nAliea-ame if aii committee sMJl nnd thai Ih'ir is icrmnd for th charge that the Corn nil .lo.ier of suptUes. or any ot!ir officer or the clt. la lncoiupftnt. negligent, nr haa wililu.ly rtfueil or fulled to obey tha ordinances frowm Ina; the purchase of suppliea. or haa la the d.. churce of his cfnclal tlutlas bten guilty of any fraU'l. ntortIon. oppression, favoritism, tar tmlltv cr willful wrung or Injustice, then sjid cainmltlre slII report to the Council in tha form of s!i.trtf acalnn uch ofaclal. toiethir with tvcilicatlons uiiler suib ctiarses. Othemlse to report the farts and recommendations of the com mittee. At thft meeffnir Jolv 2 fhn resolution Was unanlmouslj adopted, and the following members were appointed to serve on the I committee: Messrs. Wiggins, Hodges, Kratr Mevsenburg and Hoffmann. At the committee's flrs-t meeting 5Ir. Wiggins wai elected chairman. "Th- duties of the ofllce of Commissioner of Supplies are, stated brlelly. as follows: "The ofllco of the Commissioner of Sup plies was created by the Charter, evidently to the end that purchases made for articles ieedd by tho severul departments and ln- j stitutiona might be so mado as to secme tj,e greatest t'cncmv, by eone ntratlcg the , entire business in the hands cf one repon slble otMcer. who Is required to devote all his time und energies to his duties. The duties of the ollke are defined lit section 21 of article lv of the Charter, a: " II is to puichlife all articles reejed b tie citv departments. purUi.Lse arv to b niaaa uiuer coniracti for all articles, to far aa prac ticable, contracts to ba let as directed bi onll- nnce. turthasts made without alvartltlcg for 1-cpoMl mm: be an roved by th Comptrollar ana the manner la which contracts are to lie let i LTctr!bod The .Municipal Assembly, acting under its powers conferred by the Charter, Ins established ordinance provisions to guide and control the Commlssicner of Supplies, which ordinance provisions are contained In chapter lv of Hevi-ed Ordinances 1J. sections 4 to tl. ATTKMPT. TO OBTAIN nxcKsjuxt: pr ul: H. "Immedlttely after Its appointment vour I tommiiiee procei;eu on us uui iiia tu.u- moncd the heads of department, and city .......... .-...s. ...... ...v.. --.. . .. "'. "" a" K"""1 ium m mw . -. icason to oeitcve lniormation reiaims io lue conuuet ox ine omre o. cue uppiy Commissioner could be obtained. "The result is a mass of testimony cover ing nearly ' typewritten page5, which we herewith submit as a part of this report. An examination or the testimony will dis close the fact that during the :Ir.st four or live month- o 5Ir. 51eiers administration there was a vast number of Irregularities. Taking advantage of lilt iuc-.pcrIcnco arid that of Ms newly appointed subordinates, thtie- -ee!iis to have been a general effort on the- part of those from whom supphcj v.trc- purchased to obtain excessive p-lces. As a rule, the Iicsd3 of the various Insti tutions and departments seemed to hive bun on thu alert, and a great number of bills were refused approval, tnd the at tention of tht Suppl) Conimb-slor.er raliel to the e-eesive charge. In ever) In-i-tawe he sus ained their action, and in mosi i.mi nductiops were obtained. "Where purcl a.ses nre made without ad ve'tisiment. it i provided tint the requisi tions must bo approved by the Comptroller Th's was evidently intended as a safe guard to th" citj's Inttre--ts. hut it Is minl-fe.-t to j our comnltleo that It create"! tlivl-'on of resporslblllty. and that It Is a pr.v-ical imp' sslbllil) fcr the Comptroller, with Lis ifTife as now constituted, to excr ete Intelligent supervision over such pur chases, .-rd that In most instances his .ip. proval Is mtrtly p-rfur-.etory ci:i:i.i:ssm;ss - pi items-- up co.i.. "It appears from the ttstiincnv that the quality of coal furnished to the citv In stitutions, nitably the Pi orl oiise, was very inferior: thit the same was rej-cted repeat tdlv by the "iipetlntendent. Section 22.-.S. Re vised Ordinances, provides that "when the Commissioner of Supplies flnil- any part) -ncaged In selling or delivering any artL-i..-to the city, who hns failed or refused to comply with the terms or his contract or agreement, or when a party fails to make restitution to the city for anv less the city has met b.v failure or neglect on bis part to comply with the terms of his agreimcnt. then tl.e Commissi ner of Supplies, with th consent and approval of the 5Iayor. shall decline to receive ny further bids from said party for any articles to be furnished to the clt. "Notwithstanding the attention ot the Supply Commissioner was called to this matttr, the same contractor was cne of the successful bidders last summer, and was r aaaiaamaaaaaaaaaKMaas ai mi I'HLIrl It:C-s e MI.II r. Cumpj. ioi.er, asra t w tx e rpe ; iipkV t dur is rai:c lv tne ul '-veitigailig i.vtnniltt e of the Cd n II W.-.v.w.-. .. m'.-.-J-.-J'J'.'.V.Vm' would not be back that nlnht President 51eier said he had never di -cussed tho cnarges with his son, -n.1 tld not know what defen-e or explanation e hail in regal d to 'h elnrgc.i of thr Coun e.l committte. Ho suid he did r.ot know whether bis son had received an intlma .cn of the tot.- of tha repo-t, a-d had m.i irzt hint since eaily y-s:erday morning. 51r. 5Ieier said that he had ro seatelr,ent t rvake as the representative of his son. At Deputv George II. 51arin's home. No. 2T01 South Twelfth street, last nlgnt raera- j bers of his fas.lly rait' he was not in. Thcy j toll tho rcpor'er hat 51r. Martin could be . found at his olucs in the (. ity Hall this jn.irmrg. swarded a nv contract b b'm and ap proved by tli j 5iayor. "'Other parties, whose tills were repeat edly rejected on account of overcharges, were permitted to continue furnishing sup plies. "The city Is a great loser from the lack of scales at tl.e City Halt, Four Courts. Courthouse and the various Institutions. Vndcr the present system, the only evi dence presented bv the driver of a coal wagon of the alleged quantity he pro poses to deliver. Is a ticket from a city welghcr. The driver of a wagon contain ing a light load may tako the ticket of a heavy load, and unless the engineer is on tho nlert. the fraud will not be detected. On one lot of coal delivered t the Four Couks. tha tickets called for S23 tons, and it was found by measurement that there were 712 tons; and other Instances of at tempted fraud of tills charctcr were dis closed. Scales should be provided at each of tho places indicated, and every pojnd of coal weighed lefore it is accepted. We believe an enormous saving to tha clty would result, not only in coal, but in other supplies furnished by weight. APP.tHE.NT FAVOIMTIMI TOWAHD SO.MC DEL.UIl!. "It appears to some of the members of the committee that favortlsm was exercised in the selection of some of the dealers from whom supplies were purchased. However, this custom has been rrevalcnt long prior to the appointment of the present Commis sioner of Suppll. s. "After attention had been directed to Ir regularities In the ofllce of Commissioner of buppllts by the newspapers, together with tie report of the February ilSOO) Grand Jury, tho Comptroller required that there after a schedule of approximate prices should accompany each requisition, and much good resulted therefrom. During the few months preceding the closing of the testimony taken by jour committee, but fen complaints were made of excessive charges. "Tne new requirement of the Comptroller, however, shifts the responsibility from the Commissioner of Supplies, where It belongs ! to the heads of the various departments and" Institution?, und in the oiinion of vour com. nilttrn i.,i,lit!r,T,.ii f ,.-., iIr!: IMPORTANT OUDIVIACE II.MIUKD UV OFKJCKUS. The most astonlshlne derp!nnini.ni -- t.ected with our Investigation has been the fact that the most important ordinance pro vision relating to tho purchase of supplies bat. been totally ignoied by all officers of th city government for a period of more than twenty-two jears. On the Hth of June. IST. the following ordinance was adopted, and It will be found ., . v.v .. T " "'- uuuer sec- -ftj- - on and .i mi- iwuku oruj-iaiites or ise:, under sec- ff.re tl e 1-t of each month, make an estimate ot what articl.. art, require,! for ue In their rte rsiitrrer.t fjr the coml-ig month and shall rrak Lut one r-.ui9it!on per month for any one article nttded. "It is. Indeed, a m"st surprising reflection upon tho elllciency and IntcllUenco of tho various 5Iu)ors. Comptrollers, Supply Com missioners, und. In fact, all olliccrs or the city uovemment requiring supplies, during the last twtnty-iwo jears, that an ordinance or the most vltil importanco to the rubllc Interest sboiill have I.cen entirely over Icoktcl. It Is .dalrly maniftst that It was the pa-pose of the- ordinal ce quoted. In connec tion with others governing the purchase ot supplits that requisitions for the thirty ita .-ucce ding tin Ilrst of each month should I.e mad. s r jltaiieouI ; that theso should be coi soli lattd by the Commis sioner rf Supplies ,i i, advertisement ln-vitin- dealt rs to bid upon th- different ar tltles de-lgnattd. Vour cimmlttee believes that if the provisions cif the ordinance had b-eii rlgldlv ufc ctd. at least 35 per cent of tin- surplles would have btcn purchased und. r itim-rtltho bids, and that an enor mous saving would havo been the result. !!!: n I ION Pit VCTICAI.I.V ki.imin vrui) i prucii .si;s. "Instead of comrbl.ig with the law. wa find that l twi-n s.o.v and liOOO renuNI- tiens p is.? thru h iii ol'i of tho Supply C rrml-sli.ner annual j. and tl.it practically tn ci-I) advtrtl.ii i.r supplies which has been u tie by the Ccmml si ner of Supplies iis Is tn for i-rtlc'cs sie(-i(ieally named by ordlna e s ih as coal, ice, groceries', etc., bat that dry goods, hard.vare, etc.. aggre gating nnny thousands of dollars in value, hav.s ben Ujught In the open market, prac tically wltho.it ctmpetltlon. and in direct violation of the spirit of the ordinances gov i miner tin ir purchase. "We elitve tiat If ordinary business irudti.ie Iwi been eiercised, ven without advertising, a lurge saving could havo beta made, as It was developed by testi mony -Unit a customer having a running account as largt as many of those of the city with rtgular bu.-iness houses, could easll) have obtained a discount. CIIVIU.CS oi.st COMi:i..sio.Ni:il AND DUPtTlES. "Tho most rigid investigation has failed tt show that the Commissioner of Sup plies has personally profited by any of the irregularities developed. Your committee, however, feels that public servants should at all times be held to a strict accountabil- Cuutiuuril. Page Ttvo, becond Column. i ,,!