New-York tribune., 1869-05-19
7Ug rsy-LEyJEs AS THEY PISSED.

IIE I1A-LLJJLo 10 JHLL 4 \ .iNoA@H.
The frmness of the Senate saved the City
from so much swindling in the tax-levies that
there is danger that the swindles which were
perfected in these bills, through the interested
recreancy of Messrs. Mattoon, Van Petten, and
Williams, may be overlooked.
First and biggest of the swindles, because 1t
is n blow ut the very foundation of our public
school system. is the provision that sum equal
to twenty per cent. of the Excise moneys shall
be appropriated not only this year. but every
year. for schools other than the public schools.
This means $220O0O a year for all time for
schools connected with the churches of our
city. OF course, we are aware that there are
ragged schools schools of the Children's Aid
Society, and some Others which will get some
thing under this provision, but the bulk of it is
to 90 to avowedly sectarian schools, Romish
and otherwise Mr.. Van Pcttcn made a speech
against this item in the morning, and the same
evening voted for it. We do not wonder that,
when he spoke of separating from friends who
were dear Mr.. Folger asked what the price
was IL is worthy of remark that this item was
urged expressly because the distribution of the
money was to be under the control
of the new Board of Education; but
when, fOTty-eight hours afterward, that Board
was called upon to appoint an agent to distri-
butte it, it was openly avOwed that the Board
had nothing to do with the dstribution-its
only power was TO appoint an agent. Indeed,
we do not see why the agent does not hold
Office for life why he is not wholly without
accountability and irremovable and why he
may not give all the money to n single school
sr Il IL h, t,.NNn TOO flaFt
sum of 100000 does not come from the Excise
moneys, but from taxation. The law says "a sum
equal to 90 per cent. of the Excise moneys
but does not take the amount from that fund,
but from the taxes.
Closely following this swindle is the apprO-
pration to pay Chauncey NJ. Depew and
other members of the Board of Audit two
days salary for one days work, in spite of
their former announcement that they would
scorn TO be parties to such a fraud. Then
comes the olal depot, which means an expen-
diture of $4,000 this year, and as much next,
to purchase Barren Island from a Democratic
Senator and his associates, when for six years
the City can have under existing contracts no use
for the place. and when after that time it can
bo III receipt of handsome sum for the privi-
lege of taking the ofiI elsewhere. Then there
is the item of 900 for bogus claim of one Chrys-
tie, which he is unable to establishin the courts,
for repairs to pier. As presented to the
Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs (by
whom it was rejected), it was for $5,6OO and
was accompanied by details and ailidavits
showing an expenditure Of that sum. When it
appeared in the Assembly leyies, it was for
$500. In like manner. the Able claim, rs pre-
scented to the Senate, was $4,000: in the Assem-
bly, levy, it was $4,000. These and other facts
indicate that there is truth in the story that
brokerage of thirty per cent. was exacted on all
such items put into the Assembly levies. Next
we have legalizing of an utterly illegal in
crease of salaries for the Common Council and
its officers, amounting TO $4,000, so that the
salaries of these gentlemen now are $22G00O
year. Besides this, new offices are created in
nearly every other department old salaries are
raised, the City Hall Park is 10 be made an open
square for the use of the Railroad Companies,
and standard and necessary appropriations
are increased even beyond what the Controller
asked. The Supervisors get 100000 as the an
nual contribution TO the Court House, and S65,OOO
is given for tho Battery the words "for the
$ completion Off, which were in the act of last
year. and also in the original bill this year,
being stricken out, so as 10 leaye the way
clear Tor further grab next year; while the !
uarlelu Aremen, or their ASaignee, get $4,000 |