New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-01

csee. Of contracts cf eluSVo eno undsI, PsyusHs "
no: made until they are costrn<s py Ihe C0mu'oh n
Courcl; 90 all higher contracts monthly payment OF
20 per nt made apcn cerubcste oil the sorVeyor
Of the amoup, OF work done. | directed on.tn -
take al these sssesenehts after they were conhfhei
ard enter them N the BuEesu OF Arrears they are
now entered unoer the pew a~ IA the Tax Conmis-
roners' office. | ordered Smith 10 take them and
open accounts With each contractor as bsss tor the
settlement Of the Surveyors account Ihls abstract
was entered IN this way and WAS entered nght 10 Tue
first place; but as suppose, the figure was suose-
auenty put 10. converting =, so lnto 81, ,oVO.
.. VI ben did you first give smith directions 70 open
these account.l A. When the Street COmmlsSone
d -pute arose after Mr.. Tayors death. lie MI.
Tavlorl used 20 certify 10 these abstracts himself
After that We took them from the assessment rous'
O. Was The az, 500 paid A. Yes, IN bonds
9. Who drew the bonds A. Vel, they were
made ont by the sto.k clerk; smith made menoran'
DUN OF the contract and 10 whom 1t was assigned u
was ass en,d or gnally 10 Mr. Conckln Sharp, and oy
him 10 Mr.. Fitzpatrick, and by Fitzpatrick TO 'he
Bowery Bauk and subsequently by the bank 10 John
Fitzpatrick, as Il is alleged. III,
o. By whom was the certificate for these bonds
submitted To the stock clerk A. by Mr.. smith, bW
] directed the bonds to De issued
o. Have you got that certificate in your office y.
Yes. Al, nj,
O Wba, amount are the bonds A. There are two
for s. OO0 and one for $500; these are nVe'ysars
bonds transferable only on the books Oh tns on.e M
natrick by Charles Devbn, and by hun assigned 10
some broker in Wall street. ~
O. Which of the bonds was this a. One OF the
90 % When % did you appoint Smith A. think in
O. To wha. position id you appoint him a.
Wen he came first q. clerk THINK III the bureau
OF Arrears. H. ,,,.;,;or ba
,ccnpied at the time OF his discharge a. Well, he
was not transferred exactly. -. ,...;., :;
o. Was there any difference between hs duties IN
,he Bureau of Arrears and those he aiterwaId per-
sound A. the time of his discharge A. The Bureau
f ArT.ar. has charge of all assessments after one
wear has elapsed; he was sent to Keep 'uo7e ao'
counts. v,
O. You have an Auditor, have you not a. Yes
q" o. Ana an Assistant Auditor! A. Yes.
O. What is the Auditors duty-is 1t not TO ara"
a. MA Smith assume the duties of the Auditor! A.
Upder nv direction be drew drafts -. -,
o. For what reason, Mr.. Flagg, did you give MN
that direction a. Well A.. ..oI m
.. Mr.. Flagg, the reason ask IT, 'na' '''' -
the ordinance OF lSJ9-
Mr. FLAGG--GOu mean " -.
Cu,py.x-Yes. 40 find it provided here that
th, Auditor shall draw drafts (reernng 10 the oI'
diuance). .... H..
Mr.. ~ ,GG-I will state to you how that took place;
when the Common Council passed what Is called the
20 per &c nt ordinancethat IL, requiring the ConlI9e
q. nav 20 per cent on monthly estimates OF work done
on contracts over $1,000 / made inquiries at the
Street Commissioner Department as 10 whether 1ey
kent these accounts or not and could not ascertain
whether they did or not; then directed one {" Tue
clerks who superinended the assessments-
90. What was his name A. Beach, Andrew
| Beach; well, / directed him 10 procure books and
open account with any of these contractors that
we might be able to compute the interest, &c.i the
books were procured for this purpose but nothing
was done for six months at least IN the way of opening
| accounts; this young man Beach was sOn-n law OF
| Mr. Turner's, of the Street Commissioners Depart
4 t,,co ,nI khus ha bad nnd oh aar
that he graduated at the Free Academy and he was
spoken of TO me man Of good properties and tine
talent but from some cause or other he became dssi'
pated and almost sot.
Q. Mr.. Beach A. Yes; finding that he paid no
attention TO opening these accouns-under these car.
cumstances ! told Mr.. Timpson, who had appointed
| him, that he ought to turn him of; then ordered
Smith TO take the ledger and open these accounts.
O. Did that order extend so far as 10 allow Smith
| to draw warrants A. The warrants are drawn by
| the Mayor and Common Council.
O. Well, but did it authorize Smith TO MI up war
rants A. consider any one ia authorized to I'LL up
| warrants on the direction Of the Controller.
| Q. Have you not an Assistant Auditor, Mr. Flsgg
| \. We have, Mr.. Groesbeck.
Q. How long hGs he been appointed A. don't
| remember; il can be easily ascertained.
| q. To the best OF your knowledge a. Some time
after Beach was discharged about year, perhaps.
@. Is it not his duty, Mr.. Flagg, TO attend TO the
| trust department A. / don't know.
Q. ask you because / find il stated in the or
dinance. You say that you gave this duty to Smith
and took it away from Mr.; I,mp.on, merely because
cause it trust account but because Il was not
attended to.
O. Was it not their duty to attend to it if you wish
ed Il A. suppose il was.
Q. Would you designate Smith general clerk in
Your ofiice a. WELL yes; he did whatever desired
him; this particular service expressly required hn
to do, rs was not willing it should remain undone.
Q. Who appointed the Auditor and his assistants :
A. The Common Council appointed the Auditor, and
he appointed his assistant.
@. But they were both confirmed by the Council
4. believe they were,
o. Mr.. Flagg, YOU appointed Smith, believe A.
Yes, or rather took him on the suggestion of Mr..
Purdy as it was in his bureau; Smith OF the
four appointed there; was friend OF his fathers,
and as such took him him; all the responsibility OF
bringing in Smith certainly belongs TO me.
.. Were not h- duties as responsible, # not more
so than that of any officer in your department Yes,
they were quite responsible
O. You say be furnished the abstracts on which you
issued bonds! A. Yes.
Q. Was not that the Auditors business J A. don't
know that it WAS his more than any other PERSONS
whom might have directed TO do it.
.. Have you an empioye 10 your office named
Even, u surveyor ! A. No.
z. Have you engaged him A. Well, he j. City
Surveyor appointed as the others are, and when
want any work done generally employ him or his
brother.
q. DO you know how many City Surveyors there
are A. No. apply to the Stree. Commissioner
when ] want one; It IS sometimes inserted ia the
contract that the work shall be done % directed
by the Surveyor the Surveyor therefore, has some
Discretionary power but the Controller has that
| know Of.
Q. How are the surveyors paid A. Under the
ordinance according to g certain scale Vf prices.
=. Have you ever employed Even TO superntend
work done by other surveyors A. Very e1ten-ivey,
since Mr. Tsylors death, and up to the present time,
employ HIM 10 measure up the 20 per cent job.
when partly done, 10 whether the certificates Of
the Surveyors have over-estimated the work done.
=. Did you pay him A. Yes.