The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-02

refunded TO the Board by what s called
school fund; fund which yields an annual
TO public instruction. It is appropriation OF the annual
interest derived from q school funda fund yielding
venue. That fund paid to the county Of each
county and be pays that TO the Board Of Public Education
Then the law requires that tue amount Of stock 10 the
common school appropriation should bs raised from the
city and county Before the year 1886 The amount %
have been raised T.s city has free system Of educa-
cation that does not exist anywhere else in this state In
other places the pupils taxed TO defay the
of education and for all that tax levied for the whole
II agreed 10 have something Ike FOR tho rest of
the State and Law vas passed 10 that eect AID the ca
tire State taxed fos tba; purpose, which tie
means Of bringing this city under additional tax Of
00o which We are TO pay for the establishing Of Law
amount apporoned 10 several school districts, ;hst
district with only 25 scholars, even 10, would be
titled to much districts where there might be
COO scholars instructed The result tha. they drew
from us o00 and only apporoned IN our favor sl52
600 annually. Having raised that amount and only ge.
ting apportoDed 1852 600, not 10 double that
doubled The school fund and the law relation % raising
this amount does not apply to this school fund They
pect also, that should raise another tax double ina.
of the last year. We entitled 10 Sl0l 900 rom the
State. Although this is the the Boaro of Education
propose this year make up the deficiency 800 600
That sum that remaining since 1864 favor az soma
presume, of the public education, has been paid out
when Mr.. Flagg had concluded, Mr. BOISE remarked
that if the money paid for other purposes
benefit Of the city that did not prove that the claims Of the
Board tf Education were annued
Mr. FIAGG remarked-That is your opinion, but mine is
different
port in favor of the appropriation
HOW THE TAXPAYERS ARE FLEECED.
SECOND MEETING or TIN STANDING COMMITTEE ON
FRAUDs-THE FIFTY-FoURTH STREET CASE AGAIN
THE CLERK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE ON THE
STAND-FARLEY REFUNDED PART or THE ovERPAID
MoNEY-TEsTIMOHY OF ALDERMAN MONAGHAN
NICE PRACTICES OF THE CITY sURvEYORs-MYsrE-
RIOUS ABSENCE OF THE CLERK WHO MADE OUT THE
CONTRACT.
The standing Committee Frauds, appointed by the
Board Of Aldermen, held their second meeting yesterday
in the City Library at two O'Clock NJ Alderman Adams
presided; the other members, Aldermen Ovens and
Stevens, being also present, The investigation of the
alleged frauds in the contract for tagging Fifty fourth
street. between Lexington and Third avenues, pro.
ceeded with Alderman Adams gave notice tina, new
matters would be gone into unless when petition had
presented to the Board of Aldermen and referred
their committee.
Mr. =. G. Iaght then sworn, and examined II ogn
four lots Fifty fourth street. their frontage the side
walk is only 400 square feet, and according the
tract at 20 cents square foot the assessment on the
whole should only be $50 and allow ing for the fees OF ne
and surveyors, about sl00 Tho bill rendered
me was for 1895 80.
Q. Did you pay iG A. No, refused, On he ground
that there overcharge Of s225 80 all ishel VAS
that the overchsrge should be from the Dill.
CHAIRMAS-of course sll yol cared about itp
>.
employed in the office of the Commissioner Of Taxes ana
Assessments9 A. Yes in the Assessment Department.
the la meeting had idea that the Committee intended
TO go INTO this affair, or would have been here
you note to that effect am quite ready to give any exp
nation in my power; the assessment for grading Fifty
fourth street received November %, 1856 il was
advertised the 4h of December and approved by the
Mayor January 80, 1857 first heard Of the errors in
April.
Q What did you bear9 \. heard that the property
hoders were dissatisfied, and complained that boy
4 fA
paid for more than wa. tagged think Sent for the
Assessor, Mr. Francis Vide ana all he could say
Il was that he was sick when the assessment made
and his assistant who made II out; sent fJr Mr.
Farley the contractor of the work. and explan The mat
q. Did he refund the money he was ov,rpai7 A. sub
sequeny he gave me $500, with the interest snce he
bad been paid Il.
O Was the contract given TO Farley9 4 NJ, II sas
given to Mr. Mounuoy, and assigned by hrl 70 Farley
O. How did you come 10 send note for Farley u come
Farley the ony / knew IN the ranssc,i0n; his
name appeared in the conraet
Alderman srEruEss- Had you any arrangement with
Mr.. Fariey any other contractor? A. No, sir;
raneemtnt with any contract or contractors
work when Mounijoys name appeared il the contrac A.
He seemed 20 be interested In H. both appeared
the contract; Farley's MouEuoys.
CIL,RMAS-A very convenient contract.
Nitness-lf Fairly paid back the whole amount Of the
overcharge The property boders would have been salts
ses6 ~ WV ''' ''''''' "'''1
o What should ho have paid' A. s975 &c, that would
Q. Did Farley cay how he got this money! A. We told
him be got IL wrongf1ly
George Mountjcy sworn.-Q You got this contract for
the work In Fifty fourth street how does appear that Ter
ence Farley did W \. assigned il 70 him.
o. Was not the contract originally for 20 cents square
foov A. contracted for no 20 cents bid 30 cents ani
got H. the contract Included ling well tagging;
some one nigh, have bid 20 cents without knowing tho
filling IN was TO be done too
q. Was this work awarded 10 apy other party2 A. Not
to my knowledge; took the contract Farley did all the
work, or at least presume 30; merely assigned 10
him.
O You thought il was good contractY A A pretygood
contract and did nt give 1t away without good equva
lent either.
O 10 you always assign your contractsS A. No, al
ways; sometimes do.
d. What aling in was there in Tlny fourth street, A.
good deal; there was no side walk at all here.
o What did you get from Farley A. Oh, oonsidera-
ton you don't want the % particulars, do your
CtARsAs-You can't tell, suppos,S
Witness Il can; but wort; don't think necessary
for man 10 tell his private business.
CHAiRMAx.-1hais right.
Alderman srrInSs-Do you consider that you did
justice TO the public in that transacton A. Yes and TO
ciIaIFxAs-Mr. MountOy had nothing TO do with the
oyerchareei
witness-Nothing at ALL
@ Did you assign the contract before the work
mencedf A. Yes, sir.
Gallagher offered to do that work at tweaty cents did
make any arrangement 10 get him out Of your wayg
A. never do business in that way, sir do II that
can always swear TO II, n necessary.
CHAIRsAS That's proper,
Alderman SrEyKNS there Auy colusion at all be-
tween you and Gallagher A. No sir; no, sir with
Ais either.
ExAlderman Monaghan, examlued;-CiIAIRNAv-Mr
Monaghan, state shat you know reference
TO what Mr.. Pinckney said about this affair. A.
When | heard about this ovcrcbarge, | went 10 the
Assessors Office and asked them they heard OF any thog
wrong in the Fifty fourth cootrsct and Mr. Mcneil
told that II Farley hsd a. me- Farley next day
and spoke 10 him about he said hc had been overpai,
owing to the surveyor making mistake in returning
work than DONE asked hun What he intended
10 do and be said he intended b. refund begged OF him
~ do so Immediately, or the property holders would be
making troubles he said that he short just then, but
that he would pay back he able; wanted
him 10 refund II al once, and be Answered, al w' in
abeut week asked Pnckney be had paid; he said he
had not, but he had written him note about M after
met Farley again, and he promised 10 pay the money
back; assured him that the Commissioners would take
Ihl hnfnr fh1 nofA hit Inr