The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-16
paned The very important duty remains Of auditing ,he
accounts o The Receivers OF TsNs
The amOnn. OF tax lst for lHha xna 4n AA1 al0 II
.3O,SSy,O7i 80

The accoanta ior this epormous sum have never bsen
audited OF eSamned and the probability they viii
main IN iho present slate unless they shan be audited by
your committee.
Department holds about egnt hundred ackno Sedgment
OF items Of hens which have been paid, but which
cuoed In the returns to the Bnrean Arrears uopad
make manifest The mprorety Of suffering these accounts
TO T, nam longer without proper auditing. Delay vii
ony increase tho difficulties always encountered in tho
examination and adjustment. Of old accounts. The ac
counts OF collectors of revenue have not yet vei
the attention Of The committee, the Of nns
the several smutane olsy cannot bo
carried on with advantage
The trust accounts ofhs city have received only par.
tal examnaron !. has not been practicable 10 perform
this part OF the work assigned TO tho committee, without
too great interfere with the work hand. II Is very
desirable that these should be exhibit
o the expenditures and indebtedness they represent and
we design taking them up so soon as the Collectors ac
count shall be Bnished.
The current duties Of the Finance Department, pro
rey performed sufficient to engage tho attention and
occupy the time of the Comptroller and the clerical force
at his command The business Of auditing the OF
long past transactions Of writing up correcting the
old books, can, in the opinion OF your committee
accurately and accpaby performed by special tosco of
accountants who shall be able 20 proceed thoroughly and
uninefrur tedy with the work free from the delays aud
bndraDces with those who have their regular
offclal duties TO perform.
With the committees experience of the dfou es aud
mpea imehts which incident 70 this work, d lheir
knowledge Of the extent and variety Of the abos oav
entered on and proposed to be undertaken and proecut
ed TO their completion, they do not feel justified
In naming shorter period than year for tho per-
ormauce Of the work, and they recommend an appfo,
pration OF ten thousand dollars for clerical aid and oher
necessary expenses.
Should the work be discontinued by the Joint Com
mntee on Accounts, IL doubtful it would be rsuned
az future day under any other superv sion, and
ried on IN manner satisfactory to the public and
conveniently for the several departments,
Tho attention Of the Common Council Is requested 10
discrepancy between the statement of tho committee
IN reference 10 the account with "FoHrh opening
from Thirty ffh 10 l3Sth street. and the statement ei
the account by The Comptroller ia his semi annual
IL III
this account appears to be $346 IS, which II k3i
less hap the actual deficiency. A reexamnatou OK this
account induced by the Comproler's report, largely
at yariaDee with previously published statements,
reveals the part OF those furnishing the data for
his siatemept confirming the opinion already expressed
that The auditing and correction OF the past
the finance Department should be continued a special
work
There several in the oongs Tho Collectors
return 10 the Bureau of Arrears assumed to be crTrt
Notwithstanding the gross inaccuracies which appear
upon the face ot H. aud comparison Of the return with
the records seems 10 have been made Il is true the
ampatons and comparisons large list OF iteaf
constitute this account tedious and laborious,
qniTinv considerable time and much care; but they
unavoidable, correct state Of tho account
10 be arrived at These the superficial cha
raclcr Of the examinations which the Comptrolcr's
statement Is based In conclusion your committee deem
proper TO state that may be in the power Of Mr. Isaac
Edwards and his deputies 10 explain certain dscrepan-
cCs which have been discovered in their accounts and
such explanations may vary the result reported by
few hundred collars in their favor Those gentenion
have often been invited solicited To the
auditing Of their and to give such explanations
they might desire but they hlvo not awaited them.
selves Of the privilege thus offered Respectfully sob
mittcd. JAMES OWENS, l ONT Comm tea
JAMES H. CROSS, / on Accounts.