New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-26
WILL THE CONTROLLER BEcTRye

We would direct the attention OF Mr. Con-
troller Haws to gros, irregularity committed,
doubtless. by some of the subOrdlnatcs in his
office through which the city is losing with each
day that passes the interest due on several humid
red thousand dollars. Indeed, il il were not that
Mr. lIaws has been known 10 declare himself
wholly indifferent to the passage of the bill now
pending before the Legislature having for IL oh.
iect 10 transfer the Bureau for the Collection of
Assessments from the Street Department TO that
OF Finance, it might be thought that he was
purpescy wnking at practice Which has been
costing TO the city COR several mortls Tire legal
interest on more than three hundred thousand
dollars. in order Ia secure an avalanche Of tees
aud perqusites to the Collectors OF Assessments,
who are 10 he appointed by himself on tie pas
saqe of the Hon. lioratiO y. Sherwood BILL
Mr.. Haws, howeyer standing perfect, neutral
in tlis lnntter we must look 10 his sutordinates
as the guilty parties and have 10 beg 'le Con-
troller's early attention TO their case'
Mr.. IIsws is aware that the charter provides
clearly and specifically that all as-c.slncntlist'
Immediately after being confirmed b! tie Common
Council, sholl BE- delivered over 10 the Collector
of Asst s,iocnts who shall distribute or app0rtiOn
said lists among his Deputies and that il shall
ilen be lhe duty Of said Collector and Deputies
to notify without delay the property. holders
named in said lets OF the amounts charged
against ttrm. and Ia call UPON said property.
holders for payment Of the same. The llw fur.
Their provides that unless the amounts charged b.
paid within sixty days" after the issue Of NJ.
tifcnton. then said amounts shall bear seven per
cent interest to the city until paid; provided mr..
Tier, that il not paid within year, the names
of the defaultiDg property-holdsrs shall be re-
turned to the Bureau of Arrears and charged II
the rate Of twelve per cent per annrni. These
provisions are clear and simple, giving 10 tie
Controller legally no poser whatever over the
assessment lsts, but requiring that they shall
pass Immediately after confirmation by the Com.
mon Council into the hands ot the Collector Of
Assessments and his Depuiies for collection.
Under this state Of facts, We can wcll fancy
low mortified Mr. Ilsws vii! bt 10 learn that
ever since the trst mootiIg at the project to
transfer this Bureau 10 his own depar'ueut--in
fact, we might 'ay ever since the election of The
Hon. HorstiO \. Slorwood-the clerks in the
Finance Department have Illegally scizol ard
detained all assessn entlsts from the proper Be-
Ieau; in some cases keeping them more than
three months on tleir passage (Which should be
instan;ancous) between the Common Council,
after being confirmed. ,ud The Bureau Tor Col.
lcctiou-the total Of these Illegal stoppases noW
auno,,ntino IN more than $500 UCU bnd the ,ur
rert rlImor running that sll these arrears are 10
bo thrown in as q GOARt tCechc 10 tbc new Col.
lectCr and Lis deputies who are 10 be Appointed
by The Controller after tho Passacc Of Sher-
woods BILL The suborlnstes IN the fnancr
Department have also denied payment Of asscas-
mcilts, amounting to more than Ssc,o00 dine on
chy Hoperty, the supposition also being that Mr..
sherwood has induced the subordinates 10 bold
buck this payment until he shall be- in Office
himself, and therefore the recipient of the t1o
pcr cent due on all these amounts.
il il be the intention 10 reappoipt Mr. Sher-
wood in order that be- may clear oil the delalca-
ton in his former accounts while IN the position
Of Deputy Collector, the purpose is no doubt in
certain sense laudable. Eut az the city has
already lost per cent interest on nearly
100000 for three months By this illegal detcn.
ton of assessment lists in the Department Of the
Controller, and as Mr.. Sherwood, when APP
pointed, can only get lis share Of per cent on
all the collections nsde we beg Mr.. Haws to
revise the action OF his suboTtipates, in this mat
ter, snd cause them 10 fpd some way of re.