New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-25

THE TESTIMONIAL TO MB. BLUNT.
AS several persons, unwilling to believe in the
grave accusation against Supervisor Blunt, and
msled by his published reply to letter ad-
dressed to him b. the Citizens Association, have
doubted the accuracy of the statements that
have appeared in these columns, we have deter
mined to publish the particulars of the entire
transactions.
This matter Of allowing public officer to re-
ceive a testimonial voted to him by his asso-
ciates from money belonging to the city and
under their Joint charge should be fully under
stood, especially as Mr.. Blunt, in his repiy,
seems TO treat so serious charge as joke, and
even TO intimate that he was entitled, for his
honest administration of several million dol
airs, to appropriate fifty thousand.
Although it is true that tho money has been
.eturned to the City Treasury by the surrender
If soldiers bounty receipts for the amount, ana
Ia certain degree Of lenency may be INDUCED Tor
this tardy exhibition Of conscience, the practice
L, so dangerous and demoralizng, and becoming
20 general, that it is time the public seal OF dis
appreciation should y. placed upon it, The
lrects are simply these: On September ., ,oei
the Board Of Supervisors passed resolution
mandatory Of Mr.. Blunt, and directing the Com'
ni,tee ON Volunteering TO present him with an
,ppropriate testimonial for bis services as lhar-
man Of that Committee. One Of the great dan
rors Of such resolution is that 1t intrlsis 10 Il
subcommittee the disposal Of money IN Its
uower without limit, and in inter secrecy, Whlie
il allows the associates OF the recipient to fix The
amount without control even by the Mayor 5
veto.
In pursuance Of this action, hill was pre-
scented 70 the Controller, dated September ~
1854. a. follows: "Service of plate as testimo-
NAL presented to o. Blunt, esq, as Chairman oi
the County Volunteer Committee, as per re'o-
luton passed by tic Board Of Supervisors Sept.
G, 1904, aud approved ~ the Mayor Sept. :,
1864, $4,000"
This was approved by c. q. Gunther, L. T..
Purdy. WIN. NJ. Tweed, sand NJ r. Brennan,
and receipt dated Oct. 3, ls6i, signed by
Mr.. Blunt, was given for tho money. The
check of tho City for the amount was issued
and paid, the appropriate entry was made in the
lCortroller's books. and the entire transaction
closed. OnNov. 90, 1894, Nj. Blunt moved a sim
liar resolution for the benefit of the Controller,
as Chairman of the Riot Indemnity Committee.
Subsequently attention was called to the matter
through our columns, and on Dec 90 1864, q
letter was addressed BY the Ctizcns' Associa-
ton to Mr.. Blunt, making inquiries and asking
an explanation. This letter, together with bis
replv. which was far from satisfactory, was
published ut tho time, and attention is now
called to it only TO show the order Of events.
After receiving this letter list of receipts foi
bounty money was attached to the original
voucher for the testimonial already on Gle, and
the receipts were placed in n separate package
with it so as to give tie impression that the
money had been originally drawn for that pur
pose.
Money to pay recruits is handed over to Mr.
Blunt in large sums, of fifty or sixty thousand
dollars at a time, and he sends in patches of re
ceipts from time to time, which arc placed i'll 1
package with n schedule on which charge o
the amount is made against Mr.. Blunt, aud ,
list of their numbers is set ont. This list ha(
to be gummed to the original voucher in th
particular instance, and, instead of exculpating
conyicts the parties TO the transaction.
Fortunately the dates could not be altered
and these receipts extend regularly from Dec
IL to Dec. 81, and as they are always attache,
at one time, could not have been selected I'll
tiH latter date, or seven days after the letter o
the Citizens Association was written.
1t therefore appears that although the money
was paid on the Sd day Of October, it was no
refunded till December 81 or nearly three
months after, when exposure was threatened
There are double vouchers, therefore for this par
ticular item, one signed by Mr.. Blunt for ser
vice Of plate and the other by soldiers for bounty
Il money.
No commentary Is necessary upon this STATE
of facts, and although the public officer who re
turns money improperly appropriated may b.
forgiven, he cannot expect to be justified.
II will be further remembered that prcviou
testimonial Of service of plate and gol'
medal was given to Mr.. Blunt for similar scr
vices, at an expense to the city of $4,000, am
that additional testimonials have been apprO