New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-25
THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTS
FOR 1853.

SIR: The time was when New York; Common Coan-
Gilman sought to obtain position abroad by putting on
his card, "IepJre du C0nseh de la Vae de Ner-
York" Whether that expedient avails anything in
Paris at the present day my friend from th1 Four
teenh can inform us but, Judging from the following
article from The London Times, it may be advisable
for those of our city officials who contemplate visiting
England to 60 incog.
"The Municipal Institutions Of New ok have been
gradually formed, by the skifu hands OF the leaders
and the willing minds Of the people, into well
arranged machine, by which a large tax is lad on
property and in great measure, divided IN such pro-
portions as agreed upon by the high contracting
parties between the Democracy that elects te pecu
fator and the peculator that represents the Democ
racy."
With us. "ofical corruption have been household
words for years. but the has generally been ap-
nlied only 10 the acts Of members Of the Common
Council Now il is in evidence that while they have
been voting away to their friends valuable franchises
and fat obs contractors surveyors collectors, asses
sors heads of departments and cerks have We'd with
each other in their efforts to depete the Treasury and
fleece the property owners. Further, we lind that
Commissioners Of Awards and Assessments for street
improvements men of high social position, have left
expressive but imperfect records of their abors bear
ing evidence of gross careessness.
The reports and abstract of awards aud assessments
fr Ca al-sireet Improvement abound with erasures
and discrepancies They should agree to a cent yet
no two are alike The first report Of this committee,
making pamphlet Of 10 pages was presented to the
Board Of Aldermen the 9th of May. IL reveals
startling amount Of fraud that would arouse aay other
community if not to desperation, certainly to de-
Termination to wrest the management of the city's
affairs from the hands of men unworthy of our con-
fdence
When The Committee took up the records of assess
ments for extending Canal and widening Walker
Streets it discovered that large number oil items
remained unpaid. Notices sent to ali the delin
uuents who could be found. The result was that
about $40 900 were soon paid into the treasury fro
that source but the indg nation of the parties knew
no bounds when they found they had to pay interest
at the rate of II per cent per annum. Many OF them
ayeIred that the notice received from the Committee
was the first intmation they had of such lien upon
their propeIty-a sad commentary upon the manner in
which the collectors discharged their duties. The
Committee adopted the in respect to other
assessments with like results. 1t was not an uncom
for parties TO present recepted bills in
response to their notices. and to satisfy us as to whether
the omission to discharge such liens from record was
ClercI error resort had to the collectors returns
of paid assessments None OF the items for which re-
cepts shown were found upon any OF the returns
which is conclusive evidence that the money was
wrongfuly withheld from the treasury.
Something has been said about retaining money for
Commissions which the Controller refused to allow
The law requires the Collectors to deposit with the
Chamberlain all the money they receive. Tneir Com
Missions are psii by the Controllers warrant. Would
it not be consistent with honesty for the Collect
ors to report every dosr paid to them, and, in eass OF
difference between them and the Controller as TO the
construction of the law TO deposit in court the amount
in dispute and abide judicial decision If this had
been done no assessment would have to be paid twice
as has been the where parties have lost their
voucher for the first payment There are instances
where property owners have coveranted With their
teraIts to pay assessments The tenants having moved
away and taken the vouchers with them, there seems
TO be no way OF discbarging tie ler but to pay the
assessment again. This is great hardship bat while
the guilty parties should be called to strict account our
sympathy for the property owners restrained in view
Of the fact that they, as class take but little aterest
in establishing ard perpetuating good government.
When called upon merely to vote, they have declined
going to the polls saying il is much cheaper 10 buy
;be oiicehoders than to elect them. JAS. Nj. Caoss