The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-25

THE PREsESTMTNf or THs GRAND JuRY.-The
presentment made by the Grand Jury 10 the
Court Of General Sessions on Saturday, though
not a. elaborate ~ many documents Of IL kind
approaches some points in our social polity
which are worthy Of much consideration, and
suggestive Of Improvement. The leading fca-
ture in the remarks which the Grand Jury have
thought proper to address TO the Court should,
perhaps, be considered that which most immedi-
atey touches the interests Of that class-the tax
payers-who have been so long the victims Of
fraudulent system prevalent In the finance de-
partment Of the city-a system which is ramificd
through all the departments Of the municipal go
vernment. but which finds its centre and support
in the Comptro.ler's Office, and its most potent
agency in the Street Commissioners department
The Grand Jury have indicted few officials for
frauds upon the Treasury, but they state that
from the facts which have been disclosed TO them
they are satisfied that much yet remains to be
done In order that the perpetrators Of crime may
be brought to justice, but in many cases the
statute Of limitation shields the accused. I'm
doubtedly there Is much yet 10 be done. From
the ranks Of the Corporation, and the Street
Commissioner Office, "a II IL nj present consti-
tuted a. well IA under previous organizations
there are plenty Of criminals Who IL justice were
done, would be fit subjects for Indictment II any
one doubts this LET him look at the reports Of the
Joint Committee Of Accounts, Of the Comptroller
himself, and the proceedings Of the Investigating
Committee Of the Common Council which have
been presented to the public In the columns OF
the HERALD for the past year.
The fearful Encouragement Of the Comptrol
ler's Office very properly evokes the censure Of
the Grand Jury. 1T further becomes the duty
Of the Grand jury" says the prescntmcnt, ito
call attention to the careless aud inefficient con-
duct Of affairs in the Office Of the Comptroller.
The facilities for obtaining moneys ON rcquis-
lions for fraudulent contracts, which either never
existed, were already cancelled and paid, or Ia
many instances largely overpaid, call for a
thorough and radical reform Ia IT. financial ad-
mini.tration, for the prevention Of q continuance
Of the gross and enormous frauds which have
heretofore been perpetrsted upon the city trea-
sury." We have already made our readers ia
milisr with the modes by which the gross and
enormous frauds referred TO have been perpc-
trated upon the city treasury. The incompe-
tency Of the Comptroller, the dishonesty Of
some Of his assistants aud the proverbal smart
ness Of that class with whom he has mainly to
deal, namely, the contractors are the combined
causes Of most Of the frauds from which the tax
payers have suffered.
Among the other subjects claiming the stten
ton Of the Grand Jury are the inefficioncy of
the police force, the dissertation Of the Sabbath,
the violation Of the liquor law, and the unsafe
condition Of the covered wells 10 various parts Of
the city They complain that the District Az
torney has not furnished them with the evidence
necessary to examine efficiently into the police
system, as he was requested 10 do. We think
the District Attorney owes Il 10 the reputation Of
his Office to explain The reason why be has not
done 20, as also to account for the fact alleged
By the Grand jury, that out Of the twenty thou
sand complaints fox violation Of the Sunday