The New York herald., 1865-02-19
Examination or COMPTROLLER
Brennan.
Alleged FeIens Holding OfIlce In the
COmptr0ller's Department.
How stenographers are Appointed
to the Courts,
&c., DO, 90.

sol for Citizens Association the FIRST appear
accompanied by the Clerk OF the Superior Court and
porter bearing large bundle Of legal documents which
intended b be used in support Of the charges
sented against Mr. Brennans department. These docu-
ents tho Judgment rolls Of suits against the city
Shortly after the organization Of the committee tho pory
figure Of the Comptroller and his counsel Mr. Lawrence
entered the room and intated that they ready to
answer any charges which the citizens committee,
through Mr. McKeon, had to make
Mr.. Lawrence, counsel for Mr. Brennan, said that
before the investigation commenced he would like 70
know what course the committee proposed pursue;
whether the charges against the Comptroller in his
ocal capacity merely for ascertainng the system
Of conducting the afAirs Of the department
specific charges against the Comptroller he wanted them
made, IN writing
Mr. Munger chairman Of the committee, said he un.
derstocd the inquiry to be general and that direct
charges against tho Comptroller had been made. The
duties Of the committee confined TO general In
vesgaon into the workings Of the various city depart
ments and report thereon for the purpose OF correct
ing any abuses which might be discovered.
Mr. Brennan was then put upon the stand and exam
ned He said he Comptroller Of tho city and county
Of New York since tho 9th Of January 1883 for the term
justice Of the city OF New York. had
with the Police Department in various capacities, since
1851.
ueson-Can you state the amount Of the debt OF tho
cyf Answer-I cannot that is Of the questions TO
be answered on Monday and In relation TO which the
Q How many persons in tho employment OF the
ctys A. am not certain there one thousand in
ments-the city and county; the expenses of the
together amounted last to about $40 100000 The
city expenditure greater than that of the county and
the facts and figures will be given Monday.
Q In how many capacities do you receive compensa
ton for your seryioesf A receive $500 from the
county Comptroller of tho county by the action Of the
Board Of Aldermen my salary was advanced to 81 500
the same received by the Mayor receive ST. 900 as
Commissioner of the Sinking Fund, and 81, 900 Com
missioner Of Charities
q Under what authority is the salary you receive
paidY cannot say now; that OF the questions
to be answered Monday the aggregate amount Of my
salary for last year was $4,000 and this year will be
Mr. McKeon here asked the Comptroller to explain to
the committee the of the bonds issued by
him; TO which the witness replied that at certain times
in every year bonds issued to raise money
when they he city, out OF funds and then, by au
thory OF the Legislature when the tax levy is passed.
the bonds are redeemed the interest on these bonds is
q Do you advertise for bids for these bpndss A. No;
the stock clerk notifies banking institutions savings
banks &C. that these bonds be sod and they put
in their bids; followed the custom OF my predecessor
INT Haws In relation to this matter; city stocks
quired by law TO be advertised there are some forty
these different stocksCentra Park County Court House,
| Water, &c.
| O How much have you issued for the County Court
House' A. / cannot answer exactly, but II 10 over
81 900 OO0 cannot tell whether II IL half finished
mott the Park stock Is for necessary improvements and
| payment OF current expenses.
Q Did you advertise in june 1858, for million Of
O At the time OF that advertisement did you know the
price Of stockf A. cannot say exactly now without re-
in March, 1858, ranged from par up to l2l they all
brought over lS on an average; on the LIST Of May 1858
| O. Do you know Mr. NJ G. Warren who took $35, 900
worth Of this sockY do not know any such person;
| Mr. Dkcman clerk in the Comptroller's Office an
swered tho above question by stating that VIM L. War
/ rem answered TO the bid Of NJ G. Warren.
| @ Was N. G. Warren not the daughter OF VIM. Z.
warrcn' A. don't know.
Here the Comptroller gave the Of the parties
who bid for this stock and the amount taken with the
price, which ranged at about 105 Mr.. Purser who Is
and Mr. McKeon stated that Prser also held position
the ONCE OF the Corporation Counsel
Mr.. McKcon-Do you know Mr.. T. 8: Williams who
took S3S 900 worth OF this stoekS A. have tho
gentleman but don't know anything about his taking
stock
The following letter was then shown TO tho Witness
and he wns asked whether he had seen Il before
JANUARY ~ 1868
sIsay propo.. X for SsSSS Of the Central Park add
aSns osa sEs w.t. @ ss Ss.sh s propose WI M
Mr. MoKson here addressed the witness and the com
mittee, and stated that there q Mr. Doty and two
others who got stock a the lowest price, and these
| parties not known In the city. He exhibited
ce from newspaper published at that time criticising
this matter, and nsinuating that Mr. Brennan in
cousion with them in sacrificing the bonds Of the city
Mr.. Brennan replied that he did not know Mr.. Doty
further than having him al lawyer Ia the courts
and that ne was pointed out TO him a. tho party VINO had
bid for 600 600 and the amount Of bids received
was $42s oo0-an OF which were received-as the com
missoner OF the Pnrk In great need OF money and
must have 1t immediately
In answer to question OF Mr.. McKeon, a. to the
| amount Of money then In the Broadway Bank 70 the
credit Of the city Mr. Brennan said that made differ
how much money In the bank; that under the
charter they could not draw for any other purpose
| than that for which 1t appropriated
Mr. Mckeon-Who are present at the opening OF these
bids' A The deputy comptroller and stock clerk the
furnished with all information which they dcsre the
of judgments obtained against the city since Mr.
Brennan has been In Office will amount TO over one mil
Mr. McKeon offered judgment roll against tho city in
favor Of Fernando Wood for eleven thousand Ave hun.
dred dollars Mr. Brennan said that was matter which
standing before he came into Office he offered under
advice Of sS soSnse 70 asorafe e
ton on that subject he would have 70 apply TO the law
| officer OF the city
Mr. McKeon read from the annual report Of the Comp
troller where quarter 1853 Judgments 10 the
amount of SOL 6D had been obtained against the city In
all OF which cases Thomas Fields had been attorney.
This money tho Comptroller said was paid, and the
After referring to number OF other Judgments against
the city, Mr. McKeon asked the witness he did pay
Judgment OF $500 900 for street cleaning To which
Mr. Brennan answered that he did, and that he consd
cred IL his duty TO do The money paid poor
men who had done work for the city The Mayor, Cor
poratlon Counsel Street Commissioner and Comptroller
held a meeting and concluded that the only way the
men couid be paid let the Judgment 60 by
wo agreed at that meeting 70 pay all men who had boon
| employed by the city TO clean the streets,
Mr. McKeon contended that there Law vested
any city departments authorizing the payment, Of
this money and the whole Transaction was done In direct
violation OF law.
Mr. Brennan said that the Health Commissioner had
authority take any steps they might deem necessary
for preservation Of the health Of the city and that IL
was by their request that The provided for
cleaning the streets Tho money for that purpose
| obtained from the broadway Bank-some OF It without
interest," and the highest interest paid three cent
Mr. Brennan then made statement AZ 10 the amount
Of money raised for the purpose of paying bounties
several millions Of dolars The Sodiers Relief fund, Of
which he has charge carried by -four assistant
treasurcr who give $40 90 bonds fr the faithful per-
formsnce Of thoif duties twenty visitors at salary
Of three dollars day. and number OF clerks III
salary Complaints had boon made Of frauds against
Of the visitors and Mr. Brennan sad that he had them
arrested, and they " be tried nj the Court oi
SESSIONS but they discharged because their case
called up the first In the morning and the witnesses
against them not appearing, they were permitted 10 60
| ALLEGED rELoss IN THE CoMprRoLLERs ovyIcg
/ Mr. MoKcon-How many persons have been empioye cd
by you against whom indictments for feoncs have been
| found1
Objected TO by Mr. Lawrence and objection ovcrucd