The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-07
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
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Important Report Of the Joint Conn
mittee on Accounts.
>>~N>~OO>>~>>~-~N>N>~No~N
Another History of Fraud and
Corruption.
Hr. Nagg Condemned and the Reorganization
Of his Office Recommended.
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Frightful Corruption and Encouragement
in all the City Departments,
40, &C., &o
BOARD OF ALDERMEN

IMPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEES ON ACCOUNTS
The JOINT Committee Accounts sent in the following
report
10 THE HONORABLE THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE Cry OF NEW
GENT,xxxs-rhe Join. Committee on Accounts having
By the resolutions Of February II, 1858,
10 discharge perform duties therein speciheo
respectfully report: That they have entered upon the
ky taxing balance sheet from the Treasury ledger
NE ,lst Of December 1851 copy Of which attached,
marked exhibit No, 1" An examination Of the books
showed thai the report Of the investigating commit
nee Of year. the bookkeeper has charged 70 the proper
accounts the differences whch then stood in the various
hsues Of stock as shown by the ledger ami shown by
NE stock clerk, were made TO agree up TO January
1s57. Exhibit No % contains staemento Of the stocks
sued by the city and outstanding the Slst Of Deem
Der 1887 shown by the ledger in the Ccmptroilers
once. The total amount as shown by this exhibit s
SIS POI 1872 TO- On pairing this amount with the aoans
Of stock outstan6 that cate shown oy the stock
clerk and also with the amount stated ny Honor the
Mayer his uaut message 10 the Common Council,
the srroun. appeas I, be $l9 1885, making adherence
bcte ne general ledger OF toe Finance and
the hooks o. he stock clerk the sum Of 1891 1876 80 rns
difference has been adjusted and stated here for
The OF showing tna she loose and careless man
nsr OF keeping the books and accounts in he Fmance De-
tmues In this connection the evidence Of the bookeeper
gwen hs examination before this committee, laid
Sore he public Tor the purpose OF furnishing deeper m
sshs into tie affairs Of this department.
now THE coMPrRoIIERs ACCOUNTS ARE KNIT
Joseph G. Pincsney being duly sworn, deposes and
oee TIA. he baaaced his ledger up 70 the lat Of Isnua
~ 1855 shortly after that date that he preeumes the
amount credit 70 the several stock accounts on the LIST
Of January 1857 represents the amount OF stock actually
issued by the city Of NeE York, but cannot say from
know lesge; the stocks we're entered in hrs ledg-
q from The return of moneys deposited with
The City Chamberlain; does not remember
vbether he compared his stock a,count with the
accounts Of the rock clerk the LIST Of January 1851
bn hinks he did not supposed all along that the stock
accounts his ledger disagreed with the accounts ofn
stock clerk 10 Consequence OF premiums received on
stocks that the stock accounts his ledger
10 balance with the OF the stock clerk by charges
70 TIE several accounts AMI credit 10 interest account
the amount Of prem received the stocks the
lat Of January 1858 the amount OF bonds outstanding
shown ~ the treasury .dser agreed With the statement
August, CT Which no entry vAs made on the treasury
purpcee oil the bonds issued thinks the bonds for
which no amoant 70 about so 0o0 that
hs the Of bonds issued not accounted for 70
HIM BY ne sudrs Of the trust account the auditor,
keeper Of trust and stock clerk did no.. prior to
The Let OF December last, make sufficiently full statements
70 The general eookkeeper when and bonds
pei such statements 10 DO furnished him. the accounts Of
well aHa pumps, street paving street opening, fencing
vceAnt lots Central Park and arrears OF assess
neat, shoud show the amounts due the city by pro
perry owners; has seen payments charged 70 these
which did not belong there, is OF the opinion
ma me aggregate Of the accounts mentioned does
show the amounts actually que from the property owners
ssouu, chsuses 70 the clerk OF arreAs has
ledge Of books being kept the FINANCE Departments
~ bs ~ os in full
- q state Of affairs in the Comptroer's office
which should not continue another day critical exsnii
nston Of this evidence be important for the purpose
OF sstirg forth IN clear and veil understood manner,
the practical working Of the Finance department under
the present system He states that he presumes that The
several stock accounts show the actual amount OF stocks
tsued by The city, but does not kpow-an sdnss'on,
menary indeed TO the business character Of this
cty tine pookkeeper Cannot tell from his books the
amount OF stocks issued by the city, who can WHAT
would be thought OF merchant who could not tell rom
hp CT bis Indebtedness lie states that
ssocks entered bis ledger from the return OF
moneys deposied with the city ChamoerlGin In other
hun Of such issue, bu, on the ocutrsry such
Amount OF money a. may be ACKNOWLEDGED
70 be the amount OF the stock whether be right or
wrong The fact that business has been done IN this say
viii ssccan, for the very large daeEepaae'es taana 70
ell along the stock accounts on his ledger disagreed with
The accounts OF the stock clerk. he knew this 70 be
The Gaze why then did he not oct tbemY he also
akes the Astounding statement that bonds have been
Issued by the city, for what purpose he cannot tell rhs
sxisment truly startling snd TO what extent stocks
1ords OF ms city nave peen Illegally ssued your erami
ners yet carnot tell.
Tue evidence Of the bookkeeper s followed by ts, Of
The auditor IN The Finance department, who, on being
sworn, testhed as follows
ousstoa-Coui designing person abstract papers from
Of them.
An examination into the expenditures n the various de-
paxtment revealed the fast 10 your committee that pay.
penas from The treasury have been loosely made, and
As many instances vouchers are lost or destroyed II
Vas IN reference 70 the fas that extreme disorder pre-
preserved properly cared Tor, ths, this question
v~ pvt, and the answer was AZ sdmsson by
The onacer having charge OF the vouchers and
papers that any designing person could abstract
nen Comment 10 unnecessary 10 proper here 10 state
all examinations in the Finance department have
forced upon the committee the CONVICTION thai speedy
and radical change should be made there rhs depart
neni should be al once eanired The division Of labor
ssd the performance OF the current duties Of the Office
shovi be apporoned bysome competent authority having
hnJ.edse Of the wants and necessities Of the place
Considerable charge ought 70 be made in the employees
TIE once None but competent persons should be EN-.
pcyed. To the interests Of the payers re-
duce erceesve taxaton and tighten the burdens Of
Mis- community The Finance department should be Kept
fres from political Influences and politicians should be
:eced 70 stand guard over the treasury Of the people
the Department OF Arrears received first attention
We have commenced 70 condense and enter into proper
FIRST reurus ordered by law W be made the clerk
q arrears his has never been done, and con
ss S ever been made O''u sha. ' ceer for for
The imnersc amount placed in his hands for
COLLECTION. There are some atty books Of records con.
tanning many thousand tens, from which the unpaid
amounts src sesected The from thoee records
when complied by will be complete up 70 January I,
clerk o. arrears and Tor which he should be held re-
sponsiole.
The frst step in the progress OF this work a.
J. 10 ascertain the amount placed Inc hands Of col
ic~sors for collection
10 ASCERTAIN the amount Of moneys collected by them
Q. 10 ascertain whether the amount OF unpaid items
agrees with the balance Of their accounts.
10 make correct return OF TITS amount, with the
OF the delnquens according 70 law, and 10 charge
the same W the clerk Of arrears
TO post against these delnquens the receipt by the
clerk % arrears the returns placed 10 hts hands
To ascertain that the amount Of unpaid items agrees
eth the balance Of his account The TO be
pursued IN regard 10 the real and personal taxes.
ne performance Of the laid down in the foregoing
specifications involves not only great amount Of labor,
but vii consume considerable time IL work that must
be done or citizens Will find their property sold for liens
~ which they are ignorant and Of which they
been informed Crowds Of czens have appeared A. the
Office o. your committee, loudly complaining OF
still standing upon Their property OF which they
had never before received shy knowledge which
been previously paid Your committee believe that the
sonrt due treasury for unrsi would be
reduced materially thirty days all unpaid assessments
~ere advertised and by that means notifying the property
owners
an rid he found Of Al unpaid assessments Cans
,ud walker streets Improvement, from whch beneficial
resns have followed Your committee believe tina, N
rct,ce as riven Of ell assessments in the daily
wcud r,aet With the approval OF the taxpayers In
1910 containing these leNa. we hnd that