The New York herald., 1867-09-05
THE BOARD OF AUDIT.

".
10 Chatham street; present, Chaunc ~ NJ Dspsw, pre-
aiding: Benjamin W. Bonnsy and a. b. Stewart. The
Board then proceeded TO call bs calendar consisting Of
ten claims.
The 1rst claim audited was That OF John Degnan for
the sum Of 500 33 The claimant was employed under
direction Of ,he Comptroller as sweeper Of Washington
Market at salary or $50 Per month. On the goth of
March, 1850, resolution was passed by the Common
Council increasing the salary Of the swsepen OF the
public markets $40 per month, and this claim filed
for the recovery Of the OF the monthly increase
due from the date OF tho passage and approval OF
the resolution until the fru day Of January,
1867. The claimant being sworn, testified that
he resided at No. Is Washington street; had been
employed in the capacity Of sweeper Of this market ior
twenty years; performed the duties OF ms position
curing the whole OF the year 1866 had previously re.
sevod $50 per month and this the first time he had
been compelled 10 ask for his salary was tou 'na neo
was no appropriation in tho hands Oh lhe W
representing the Corporation Counsel asked the cia-
ants counsel If it admitted that there was no appro
priaon at the time the passage Of the resolution
wherewth meet the augmented outlay Counsel ad-
mttee the non-existence OF such Appropriation Ar.
Dean then requested the Board to take official cogni
xanoe OF the fact that the Common Council has no
authority pass resolution increasing the salaries of
employees OF the municipal government unless amount
sufficient the expenditure remained In the city
treasury the lime Of the passage OF such resolution.
Claimants counsel remarked that as he understood the
law creating the Board OF Audit the Board created
for the purpose OF adiudicating upon equitable claims
there was no appropriation in existence.
The claim of VIM. II. Dougan, which was called up on
the previous day with the claims Of Do Camp and Others
for extra compensation for services connected with tho
Office OF the Receiver Of Taxes, again brought up
enable Mr. Doagan 10 testify in relation TO the Of
ranged from $3.50 to 5000 while bis was 5000 Being
Mr. Dougan testified that he occupied the position
assistant messenger the office Of the Receiver OF
Taxes at salary OF 5000 per year made this claim for
services rendered in the capacity OF clerk to the Re-
ceiver OF Taxes was employed as messenger by the city
M al Y0rk dirac Of
Comptroller rendered services clerk during the years
1884, 1866 and 1865: this claim was for services during
1866; his claim, he supposed, exceeded tho Others
because II was fair compensation for his servcss the
bill certified by the Receiver Of Taxes the bill
prevented from paying it, and he compelled TO pre-
sent II to this Board; nothing was allowed HIM in
the tax levy for 1860 or 1857 letter read from
the Receiver stating that the referred
20 performed by request made to the complainant
that his occupation supposed 10 be that of assistant
messenger; the assistant messenger was supposed TO
run on such errands as might be requested by the Re-
cever and Deputy Receiver in addition TO these duties
claimant had performed services as clerk 10 the Deputy
writing in tho books; was employed al that work some
times from eight o'clock In The evening until eight
o'clock next morning. with the exception OF the time in
which hs performed the duties OF messenger, he
employed clerk had not performed duty messenger
at night and as clerk in the day time BY W. W. Bon
ney-I 1rst appointed messenger under Comptroller
Brennan in January 1so3 and have been in that Office
ever SINCE my salary increased from $3.50 5000
In 1854 BY Mr. Prosser flor the Corporation Counse)-
Th,s claim y in full for all my Services have no other
The claims OF 7. G. Fields aud J. L. Jernegan were
then called Their claims were for rendered
the city counsel in 1864 and 1865 in the Of the
City OF Now York the Second Avenue Railroad Com.
pany, and same va the Tn rd Avenue Railroad Company
counsel to represent the city, in conjunction with Mr.
Jernegan by Mr. Fowler at that time Corporation Attor
before the Court Of Appeals they after.
wards elaborated BY Mr.. Jernegan; made motion 10
on ~ aaS so
making $500 in all for the preparation OF the the
argument and making two motions the Corporation At
torney had no funds out OF which to pay the amounts
claimed but admitted the justice OF the claim, and
stated that he certified the bill would have TO be
pa out Of tho contingent fund Of his Office and he
quired that fund for other purposes; witness
would have put in the claim in the tax
this Board. Mr. Fowler, sx.Corpora,ion Attorney,
substantial ed the testimony OF Ar Fields and said
the ca was and that the services wero per
formed to his eniire satisfaction The charge was very
moderate and he would not have undertaken II Tor the
S SVs nsS
ri HE Sn next e. tss II ap WAS . Of camppo
and for So 600 compensation for services per
formed in the Office Of the Corporation Counsel during
the years 1861 ls6s and 1885, The CLAIMANT being duly
ssoru testified that he was at those times chief clerk in
tho occ Of Corporal Counsel In 1868 the draft riots
occurred in this city, and large amount of properly
destroy ed the owners OF such property brought
suit under the statute against the county OF Nov York
10 recover for da ages sustained, and the duties
OF the Office were, In consequence, increased four
fold claimant called the attention Of Mr. Devn, at that
time Corporation Counsel TO the fact that his labors
of the Board OF Supervisors claim and
tue matter referred 10 the Appropriation Committee
for the increased ssrvces required TO Be- charged to the
Riot Indemnity Fund.- but the committee failed report
back. letter here read, from Mr.. Devn, stating
that the Claimants duties were largely Increased that he
performed such duties, and relating the action OF the
Board OF Supervisors, &c. Claimant continued-was
employed In tnat ofhce since 1855 there during Mr.
Devlins administration. aud then managing clerk
The cause Of the increase OF business riots of
1868 there some fifteen hundred suits brought
against and defended by the CITY, aud his duties
Increased by that number OF suits; compelled 10
give them oxtra time, and leave his regular duties alone
still at issue; there extra assistance employed;
Mr. Deyn said he bad no appropriation from the county
TO enable him TO employ additional assistance he pro-
msed TO secure claimant ezra compensation and made
application for an appropriation BY Mr. stewat-I think
the inning or 1858 received salary OF 000 but
II aferw ards increased to 81 $50 per year. BY Mr.
Bonney-There was nothing else done for which re-
than my salary. BY Mr. Dean-The number Of suits at
issue against the county before the riots tell
against the county; the riots than rebed the
number OK suits in the ONCE there are about three
hundred OF these suits still undetermined the number
dIed.
The claims Of Edward NJ Baldwin, D. J. Hart, chs..
q. Julne and John ID. Numsn then taken up These
claims were for sums varying from $3.50 to s500-bepg
tbe amoanls rendered 20 the claimants as New Years
presents for January 1884, under rosou ion adopted
BY the Doa Of supervisors approved by he Mayor
January 20, 1897 The claimants werc employed as
chief clerk sergeant arms marshal messengers &c
Of the Mayors Office Cerded copies OF tho resouto
o the Board " supervisors were produced in each
end counsel for the asked II the city counsel
admitted their authenticity hr Dean stated that he
admitted thai the copies we're authentic, but the only
question 10 the legality or the system OF awarding
these New Years presents into which, In the goodness
of thor hearts many Of the city officials had fallen
Ths CLAIMS OF John ID. Griiley, Jr, and samuel Blau-
vet were t,sxt called The claims for s455 and
$s7s res .ively services performed extending
and copyins he tax lists Mr. Dcal questioned Mr..
Grdicy, "a. who appeared behalf Of hts son, and
ecitch hat he bad himself performed such labor
chs.sed ior In answer to q quest on regarding the
amount Of tho bill, the witness stated he did no, know
exactly In answer TO the question. how much per ne
Is II worth 10 exteudS he replied IL 10 worth about
what Is charged In thai bill HIS not IN the
regular crrloy OF the city at the time; tho work
performed under directions from the Board Of SUPER
vi-on Mr. Blanveit next examined, and tes,i-
hed that he perforIned the work under Instructions
from tho Board OF Supervisors BY Mr..
Dean-I do not remember the price USUALLY
rtars.d mar linz for .sxendru a Ia xvnr,h ahor,