The New York herald., 1871-09-13
THE JOINT COMMIlTEG.
Investigation by the Supervisors
Aldermen and Citizens.
a Vigorous Inquiry Into the Financial Affairs Of
the City and County Statement Of the Deputy
Comptroller Accounts Produoed-Ex-
animation as to the Method Of Conduct
ing Business in the Comp proller's
Oiiice - The Investigation
To BE Private.

The JOINT Committee OF Supervisors Aldermen
anu citizens, appointed 10 inquire into and invcsti-
gate the statement OF the financial affairs OF the city
and county, met yesterday at two O'Clock in the
room Of the Board Of Supervisors. There were
present Supervisors Lawrence r. Jerome, Edward
Schlichtng, Aldermen James G. Dimond Edward
Welsh, George W. Plunkett James Irving. Henry
Woltman, Messrs. Royal Phelps. w. A. Booth, Paul
N. SpofOrd Thomas w. Pearsall, Thomas Jeremiah,
b. L. Solomon, Robert l.. Kennedy, II. B. Clann,
william II. Osborne, r. L. Cutting and Samuel Will
let's. Alderman Dimond oIficiated as Chairman.
The minutes OF the previous meeting were read
and approved.
Mr.. ROYAL PHELPS suggested that all the min
utes OF meetings to be held In future be properly
kept and signed by the chairman.
Alderman WOLThAN said that it was necessary
that the committee should be put In possession Of
the books and papers containing the COmprolcrs
report
The CHAIRMAN observed that he had been i'm.
formed that the Comptroller had been called out OF
his ofice iOr q few minutes and that he would re.
turn shortly
MIR. Booth and Mr.. Phelps were appointed COM
mttee to wait on the Comptroller and obtain the
reports referred to.
recess Of ten minutes was taken, ana at the ex-
piration of that time Messrs Wotman and Phelps
returned and presented to the committee
THE REPORTS OF THE COMPTROLLER
for the 1867. 1soS 1869 and 1870 They included
the Comptrolcrs annual report. exhibiting the re-
celprs ana expenditures, including the balance or
the Sinking Fund for the year 1868; the annual re-
port exhibiting the expenditure and receipts Of the
city government for the year 1S70 the reports show
ing the expenditures and receipts OF the county
government for the years 1867, 1868 and 1859; the
ninth annual report OF the receipts and expendi-
lures OF the county government for 1870; also
port of the receipts and expenditures Of the city
and county government up to August last.
The CHAIRMAN asked whether it was desirable
that the reports be read but there being response
in the Affirmative they were left the table for in-
spection.
Mr.. BOOTH inquired II q suitable room could be
provided for the use Of the committee, whether the
room they now occupied could be placed at their
disposal, or whether 1t was necessary to procure
one. He also desired to know whether the commit
tee would DC obliged to paw for the employment Of
experts, or whether the expenses attendant upon
the investigation would be betrayed by the city.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the expenses would be
paid by the Common Council.
Mr.. BOOTH remarked that the committee would
endeavor to make the expenses Of the Investigation
as light as possible The committee desired to en-
ploy such aid would nc requisite, and there were
reasons which were apparent to all why the investt.
cations OF the committee should be entirely private
Out special permission. lie therefore asked the
privilege mat the committee be allowed to pursue
their investigation in private.
II was finally arranged that the committee should
meet in the hall OF the Board at such times as might
be agreed upon.
Mr. BoorH then calle d for copies Of the following
books, and requested that they should be produced
at the next meeting, vlz:-Tlfih ana later editions
OF the Revised statutes Of New York. including Ed
mans Digest; the Session Laws OF New York or
ls7l Of each OF the eleven years Immediately preced.
Ing 1S7l the Rvised Ordinances Of the Corporation
OF New YORK city; copies 0f the last three revisons
OF the ci,y ordinances; Joint proceedings Of each
Board or the Common Council or the same period:
JOINT proceedings and documents OF the Board OF
supervisors OF the same period; annual anu 0c.
with communications 10 and from the Comptroer
TO the common Council and Board OF Supervisors
from 1859 10 the present time; city and county
quarterly returns, audited and paid during the same
period. Those were oil he would ask for now; but
there were other documents he might cali for on
another occasion. Those copies could be obtained
by the clerk ana presented TO the committee during
the present session. Tncy wanted them immedi-
ately.
Mr. HAnpy, the Clerk observed that many of the
books referred to did not belong TO the depart
ment, but they could. nevertheless be Obtained.
Mr. BOOTH said that the committee OF citizens
were deslrous OF getting information which they
had the direction OF accounts In the Financial De-
partmcnt lie would like 10 know whether 1t was
the Deputy Comptroller or bookkeeper who had
The CHAIRmAN said be did not know INQUIRIES
were then made, aud 1t was ascerained that deputy
Mr.. BOoTH then requested that Mr. Storrs be sent
for to answer some intcrrogat0res.
Deputy Comptroller Storrs came IN and Mr.. Booth
propOurded some written questions relative To the
mode IN which the nnapcal arrangements OF the
city were carried on and the method In which the
business OF the Comptroler's Office generally was
3. How long have you been connected. Mr.. storrs.
win the Finance Department, and what once have
you eenengaged in' A. SINCE The year 1887.