New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-09-24
PUBIC MEETINGS.
RnARn OF ALDERMEN.

Tie following communication from the JOINT Com
ini;tee Accounts vas sent IN;
IL tie report presented by this Conlndtte- 20 u.
Common Council on the 9th May last, 10 following
presented a. the plan to be puT-ned IN the prog
/. To ascertain the amount placed n VIZ hands OF
collectors for collection
.. To ascertain the amour. Of moneys collected by
them and paid into the treasury.
3. To ascertain whether the amount % unpaid seu-
agrees With the balarce Of their accounts.
4. To make correct return of tbs amount, win
the Of the deinquent' sccordu- TO NV, and ~
charge the zane 10 the Clerk Of Arrears
5. T. po-t up against the deLnqnenis the receipts
BY the Clerk Of Arrears, on the returns 20 placed IN
s To Ascertain that the amount Of unpaid tern-
agree with the balance Of his accounts. The same
20 be pursued IL regard TO the real ana er''ha
ta1es.
The labor involved in the foregoing has ben
greater than was anticipated by your Committee.
.trorc fore has been employed aud the work Is not
yet completed. The result Of every days examination
has revealed 20 n more and more OF dehnquenele-,
errors and deficiencies.
TIE work # tie Street Department, Of the Finance
Department Of the Bureau OF Assessments so far as
il relates to this branch OF the work for 1--WE years
past; and which has boon either totally neglected OF
L neglected, my-tfed and confused by errors OF ell
kinds and de-crptous-by frauds, erasures and alter
s,ious. The work Of FIVE years and OF a dozen clerks
hiss al had 20 be done over again by this COMMITTEE
in order 10 learn
l..
. The true state Of the accounts with collectors in
the Street and Finance Departments.
3. Tie rights of property owners who ara suffering
beyond measure the burdens of heavy taxation ami
assessments
4 Al-o 10 ascertain what liens are now standing
against the property Of citizens which have been paid
but no, discharged Of record.
The ingenuity and -hrewdness di=p 'ayed in conceal
ing delinquencies in twisting and turning accounts ~
a. 10 deceive and my-tify Is truly Astounding. One
half ofthe ability wasted in this particular If applied
10 a correct system Of doing business, would nave
made the several departments Of our City Government
models worthy Of imitation
Enough has been said in previous reports. IN general
terms abou, the disorder and confusion Of our several
departments. II becomes our duty To specify.
Hitherto no have been given IN this connection
other than contractors and clerk IN the Finance De-
partrneut. Bot when the statements which Ne now
publish, read aud understood the public VIII hold
10 rigid accountability the several persons holding
the Offices Of Stree, Commissioner, Deputy Street
Commissioner, Collector Of Assessments and Taxes,
Assessors and the entire Finance Department. Hence
our duty must be done esrl-ssly and fairly whoever
is in the wrong must bear the blame.
This report is presented at this time TO satisfy the
inquiries Of individual members OF the Common
Council, well as the public, whose inpatience 70
learn the results arrived at by Your Committee VIII
not allow them TO wait until We have completed our
labors. No who has not personally examined the
extent aud character Of the duties Of this Committee
can form an adequate idea of the labor and time re-
quired for their performance The labors of the CON-
missionsrs Of Record notwithstanding their heavy ek
penditures ere difficult important as the la
bors of this Committee.
Schedule No. l. accompanying this report, is li.t
of not closed, show ing the total amount
Of liens standing on the records unpaid, confirmed
prior TO the LIST Of January, 1853.
On the 10Th July, 1853, law was passed directing
tie Street Commissioner 10 furnish the Clerk OF Ar
rears "a separate return with particulars OF oil ar.
"Iears remaining unpaid on each and every assess
nent, without delay, on the expiration OF twelve
'moItls.
Tie Bureau of Arrears, under the act authorizing
il. establishment, did demand of the Street Depart
ment full return Of all unpaid assessments, which
demand has been replied To- AZ far ns this schedule
il concerned.
On the let day Of March, 1854, and on May |, July
g. Aug. s. aud almost monthly since that time, Mr..
Augustus Purdy Clerk OF Arrears has called upon
the several Street Commissioners 10 send to his bureau
a return. The returns on this schednle-}fi in
number-sId containing upward Of 1000 different
liens real estate in the City and County of New
York amounting III the aggregate 10 4la3S' ~, have
never been returned 10 the Bureau of Arrears.
A large portion Of this amount Is known 10 have
been puid aud the general opinion Is that all osneary
all Of this amount has been paid but not credited
a full and complete return in detail has been made
w your Committee from the books of record, which
form the comm, ncement of the account and orgGnza-
tion If the Bureau of Arrears.
IL is not difficult Ia perceive how widespread
the ticuties in the way Of transfers of property and
the inconvenience, trouble and hinderances which
annoy and perple1 the owners Of property.
In the opinion Of your COMMITTEE nearly if not
have TO be charged 10 profit and loss.
Continuing our labOrs from this point commence
the year 1873 with the commencement OF the official
term of Isaac Edwards, Collector of Assessments, and
bis deputies Robert McGary Julius johnson, Robert
Nc KinIin and Samuel Allen. who were appointed by
James Furry. Street Commissioner, whose term Of
oiic. comm, need about the same time.
H. order 10 fully understand the errors committed
under the administration Of these officers, art for
which they should be held respor sble commence
10 Law before the Common Council and the public a
statement If each individual account, taking them up
in their order The errors are of the following kud-
|. Err,Ts in footing assessment lists.
.. Assessment pad in the treasury but not dis
charged # record.
3. Assessments discharged Of record but 20, paid
into treasury.
1. ASSESSMENTS paid To Collector not paid in treas.
ury and discharged of record.
Assessments not discharged Of record aud not re-
turned Ia Bureau Oi Arrears.
&. A class Of errors which cannot be a-certained
a. vet consisting of payments paid to collectors the
money retained by them. and 10 entry whatever Oh
the books 10 show it, these cases are found out by
parties exhibiting their pts for said payments.
ispIyIpU.I AccoUSTs-Is,tc EDWARDS AID HIS
DEPUTIEs.
l. Assessment for paving Broadway and Seventh
avenue from Forty-secOnd to forty-'.Ath-s;re't "a
this list map No. - s60 ~ stands against tue pro-
perry. IL ha- been paid IN treasury bui not dschar2i
If r,c"rf Robert Mct;sry, Deputy Collector.
? Filling H. regulating and grading Eleventh ave
me from TWENTY ninth Ihirtythlrd street. Ol this
h.t tie following map Nos pad IN treasury INT
rot dsel arr,d FL record Nos. -. 80. H. r. o. o.
e6 o. gs o. leo. i0I l09 iGi lOi and 1913, amount
irg 10 s..SI p! samuel Allen. Deputy Collector.
3 Sewer in Chatham street from sewer in Mott
.tr e. Ia Walker street in B0w-rv. On this last map
Nos 1870 eui & are paid IN treasury but not di-char
ed # record Amount 9 20. Samuel Allen, Deputy
Collector.
from, 4 rrr syerne 10 Harlem River The Col