The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-28
FRIDAY, MAY %, 1869.
THE CITY TREASURER.

T,u people of Philadelphia have abundant
cause for congratulation upon the efficient and
satisfactory management of the city treasury
vnder the administration of Mr.. Joseph
NJ PelrsOl, the present incumbent On the
31st of December, 1867, the amount of
outstanding city warrants was 81, ,442, 0SSS5
On the 18th of the following February Mr.. Peir-
sol commenced paying them, and continued so
doing until the 1st of June public notice having
been given to all who held them that the same
would be cashed on presentation. At this
latter date the Registry ordinance, passed
in the preceding January, was put in
force After a lapse of two months, the
City Treasurer advertised that he was ready
to pay warrants registered from 1 to 1000. From
that date forward he continued paying them at
intervals whenever the funds in his hands would
permit.
According to the report of the City Controller,
the amount of city warrants outstanding on the
31st day of December, 1868, was SO, $50 6O3'3O,
showing deficiency of that amount for the
wear 1868 which would have to be paid out of
the receipts of 1869. The Receiver of Taxes
advertised his readiness to receive the taxes of
1869 on the 18th day of February. The call was
at once responded to by citizens The re-
Ceipts were unusually large, in fact so large that
Mr.. Persol felt himself safe In giving notice
''that all warrants registered in 1868 would be
paid on presentation" No inconsiderable labor
and care attended the payment of these war
rants and the calculation of the interest on each
OF those registered in 1861 there yet remain a
number outstanding to the value of about
$3.50, 600, which, in accordance with the Regis
try ordinance, must lie in the Treasury, there
awaiting the tardiness of the holders to the dis
appointment and inconvenience of more anxious
and needy ones.
The City Councils, on the 9th day of May
1868 passed an ordinance requiring all holders
of city loan to present their certificates for re-
gistration previous to the payment of the July
interest. 1t was soon made apparent that
owing to the shortness of time inter-
vening between its passage and enforcement,
it would prove very severe, especially upon nom
residents. 1t was feared also that, as originally
passed, it would by stringent enforcement, in
juriously affect the credit of the city by creating
dissatisfaction ameng the bondholders. sup
Elementary ordinance was therefore passed by
Councils June 49, 1868, relieving non-residents
so far as the July interest was concerned
In the fulflment of the desired object of the
ordinance-viz., correct account of the city
debt-proper books for registry were procured,
and all certificates of loan recorded therein.
These books were then compared with the old
stock dodgers, to detect any errors which might
have occurred. New stock ledgers were opened
and the accounts of those persons only who COM
piled with the provisions of the ordinance en-
tered, with date of maturity of each certificate.
These accounts were then compared with the
July interest book, to discover if any errors
had crept into it, and the work was complete.
The books for the payment of the July inte-
rest will comprise the names of such parties only
whose certificates have been properly regis
tered.
In the payment of the semi-annual interest on
the city loan, Mr.. Peirsol has likewise made
decided improvement by opening two books and
paying at two desks In this way, all confusion
has been avoided and despatch in the business
attained. Under his careful orderly, and intel
ligent control, the operations of the treasury
have been reduced to perfect system, and faci-
lities for the transaction of its business multi
piled. AS long as Democrat holds the posi-
tion, we could not wish to see Mr.. Peirsol sup
planted by any of the numerous aspirants for
the position in his party.