The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-17

ITO Ona<9ss A8aanSe COmpexOuer HIa04s
Tho following Is copy Of the charges preferred by Oh
colt Rhines, map clerk In The Street Commissioners Do
partment, against A. O. tlssg City Comptroller and which
are now under investigator, before committee Of the
Board Of Aldermen
COMMITTEE or rHK BOARD Of srpKRvsoRs
GNrsMEs-Having presented TO your honorable body
accommodation IN which the Comptroller Is charged
with derecton Of duty and beng requested by the
committee that such charge made should be
in written communication, proceecto comply VIII our
request.
In presenting this communication yish to be distinct
Iy understood that II Is not with view to give expires
in echo, 10 the popular denuncalcr OF the Courp
troiler for certain official Commute In the payment
the refusal 10 make ent OF claims against Ahe Cor
poraEo. Ne.neI = ). my in.enon 20 prevent myself as
on changes which alone properly belong TO the Common
Council or the Beard OF Supervisors TO investigate
teno preserve the confidence Of the couuuity as
TO the tie Of expenditure OF
Of taxation II these matters not such as to
Justify an inquiry in behalf Of the people. II for other
than to dsrrove assertions heretofore made
and seriously disturbing the minds a stan payers" If
rep at these YnatterY are condition justly or
demand any action on the part Q. those whom the rcope
have elected TO have general sus rv,on over and
motion Of their interests il Is lar from my intention to
espass upon the rights prerogasves duties Of others,
either Of Official OF private position. In explanation,
ana that my position may not be misunderstood as an OF
fetal would state that the discharge OF duties wherein
every real estate owner in the city is nterested-and
more particularly every person who intends to purchase
real estate claim that certain facts have under
my observation which facts require good citizen
TO prest To you for action thereon in order that
dy nay be provided sud the interests OF tax payers be
To proceed to the charge be made would refer to
the duty OF the Comptroller defined by the charter and
ordinances
Section Of the amended charter Of ls4e says
There SHAH be an Executive Department which shall be
troll sen Of the and
scribe The forms Of keeping and rendering all city accounts
Of NE city shall e The IL
adjust all claims Whale by the Corporation against them
ana al accounts waaeyer in which the Corporaton
sn' 0e e'ea the q the oy OF Ne"
duty the Comptroller to prescribe the forms of keeping
all city accounts whatever and coners the power in
spec aud supervise the accounts of the several depart
ments. The ordinance 1919, organizing the depart
nent says Article Of the finance department 1.-The De-
partment OF Finance shall have control Of all the financial
copctrps of the Corporation and shall presci be forms
OF keeping all city accounts whatever II is certain that
perfect System OF managing the fiscal affairs and the &C
counts OF the cty government should be adopted tor
the several departments and that as whole such sys
TEN should work with all the perfection and correctness
to the standard OF the business transactions Of wei
eulased mercantile establishment banking house, and
that clerical should occur that the system
aoop'ed would be found accurate enough secure their
immediate correction; and II will certainly be admitted
that this duty involving vast responsibility rests in the
Comptroller
The duty of the Comptroller being thus defined let US
then inquire has this duty been performed If not 1t Is
continually derecton the part of the Comp roller
What Is the condition OF the fiscal concerns Of the Cor
poraiop Is there any system either OF receiving public
fntntys lDo VI MAKING taeFeFom,
or OF keeping the accounts Of the "hnancia affairs OF
the Corporailonl
let me now present the facts within my own know.
ledge:
l can make o search bv Of books and return
nothing found and by another tet OF bo ks rerrn say
$3.50 This fact Is wei known to about every lawyer in
tbs city ransacpg real eea'e business do not know
CT Collector Of Assessments that mas fairy and pre-
pery balanced his accounts since the formation OF the
city government do not with II understood that they
were all any Of them desaulters. Previous 1910,
about in state Of accounts.
The complaint made previous to the last to the Comptroller
omission Of twenty thousand dollars which
has been standing twenty years more. which only
wants pcstirg and anoiner in which Recorder rllon
was interested, amounting to about 81 600 still remains
rDatient ed 20.
Other errors. similar, almost caly under nv OBJ
sefyaon involving large amounts Of money Thcse facts
appear OF trivial importance, being of
ordinary character but, gentlemen contend that II
could not occur. In addition TO the loss which
the Corporation may sustain from not having the &c
counts the city government kept In correct and faith
full manzer-in addition to the loss which property
owners may snstain-in addition 20 the annoyance aud
uncertainty Of affairs Conceded with liens or encun,
brarces on real the city NAV AT an, time become
ns"sea 10 .rcoss litigation II the books tied with
'pe ~ yns and collection Of taxes and assessments
not accurately managed liza fun examnaton
tered into with reference to the books Of the several de
rartnents, the payments which have been made the
authority for such hts the examination into
done undfr the terms Of contracts which may may
have expired and other matters connected with such
INQUIRY relating 1.-The financial of the city,
entered into. could not but result IN the vndca
ton OF public officers from serious charges, In de-
vslopng such facts and transactions should be made
known 10 the Common Council and to the paying
muniy: but Il s not my Intention 10 than call at
tsLiion the improper In which the accounts OF
The chg are kept Respectfully, olc0Tr RHINES