New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-24
sEcnErs OF TIE CITY HAIL.

No doubt there are many secrets at the City Hall for
which-the world will never be the wiser scores OF
frauds on the municipal treasury that Will never be
exposed countless nice little arrangements between
Aldermen and Assistants and their friends in office and
out BY which the taxpayers are robbed without the
scource of public justice being laid upon the thieves
Some of these things may be turned up now and then
by curious searchers into the mysteries OF rascality
but the great body OF them will sink into oblivion I'M
heralded and unexposed 1t is great pity Why
should rot the scamps who have hourshed and atened
in the toruous transactions OF the last two or three
wears be erreted out and set forth in that nptOriey
which is the least punishment they deserve The COM
munty has indeed been shocked and disguised By the
facts already brought to public knOwedge and the move
ment for Reform which has arisen in consequence and
which so many fthe mOstrepectabe citizens have ear
nesy engagedn promises to Danish politics and corrup
ton from the City Government But we are persuaded
that if the whole were disclosed if the veil were torn
from every scene in this varying drama ofvenality fraud
and pecuation public Indignation would rise to hight
AID activity which long hereafter could exert an nhu-
ence in favor Of honesty in public officers. The more
than Augean toll Of such inquiry no man is likely to
undertake nor would it be possible TO e1tricate the
whole vast catalogue of these swndles from the secre
cy which covers them but now and then, however, a
revelation will be made by some accident. Such a
one we will now communicate to the public.
In the Controllers Report for 1851 among the many
items of expenditure for what is called County Contin
cencies, we find the following entry:
Henry v.nde5ooT HPsases incurred in nqans me se
Police System Of Paris and London p w.
Now, on a casual glance, this might seem to be an
interesting evidence of zeal in the City Government,
for the improvement of the police. Mr.. Vanderyoort
too, who is Clerk of the Court Of Sessions, might
very likely be just the man for exploring expedition
of this kind and if he really brought back cargo OF
useful Information which could not be obtained in
cheaper way by writing TO London or Paris we
might perhaps regard the five hundred dollars as
well spent But let the inquirer look beyond the
list OF County Contingencies and seek for the new
knowledge imported with VsndervoOrt on his re-
turn from foreign parts and he VIII seek in vain
No valuable report on the police systems oil London
and Paris can be hunted up in the archives OF the City
Hall or elsewhere the result OF the VanderyOortian
tolls in those great and pleasant cities No instructive
hints for the improvement OF police organization
have since emanated from him that can be taken
return for the five hundred dollars. Nor on careful
enquiry can It be learned that Mr. VandervoOrt was
specially engaged in the study Of police matters and
methods while abroad 1t would appear rather that
be devoted himself to having good time generally as
is the wont OF such as travel for their own pleasure
and that the five hundred dollars given him by kind
friends in the Common Council, was 30 much money
flched IRON the City Treasury, and from the pockets
Of the people more safely but not much more honestly
than If il had been done without the sanction Of Al
dermanic yote.
In this case, which is but one among many, we find
specimen of the secrets Of the City Hall IL well Illus
trates the state of things TO which we have been
brought by allowing the Government Of the City TO be
counted among the stock 10 trade Of politicians pOs
to be used in getting votes for their candidates for
state or national Offices.
The manage ment Of our municipal affairs has pro.
perry nothing 70 DO with political questions or mea-
Let it be taken from the creatures into whose
bsnds the nrgues and bargains OF parties and the in
difference OF large part Of the public have cast it,
and committed to upright and Independent men, and
such revelations, the above viii not be possible