The New York herald., 1871-10-28
MORE CITY FRAUDS! |
Final Reports Of the Committee
of Citizens and Board Of
Supervisors.
THE WEARY ARE AT REST.
Twenty Million Dollars Stolen
from the City Treasury.
Fraudulent Alterations Of War
rants and Vouchers.
The Financial Prospects Of
the Coming Year.
Cleaning and Watching the Court House
Costs $46, 464 Per Year.
S2l, 800 Paid to Employees Of the
Board Of Supervisors
Every Year.
COPIES OF THE PAY ROLL.
~~.~>>~s-~~~>~~~>>~~~~>--
S2s. $40, ,6S6 70 Owing to the City in
Taxes and Assessments
Report Of the Cost Of the Armories and Es-
timates Of Their Real Worth.
The Stationery, Printing and Ad-
vertisfng Swindles.
Authorization to the Mayor to Bring
<ho PohhorC "a Yuc4:no
S2S. $40, ,6S6 70 Owing to the City il
Taxes and Assessments.
Report Of the Cost Of the Armories and Es-
timatcs Of Their Real Worth.
The Stationery, Printing and Ad-
vertising Swindles.
Authorization to the Mayor to Bring
the Robbers to Justice.

The Committee OF Citizens, cooperating with The
Board OF Supervisors, IN the examinatto or the
city accounts, held their last meeting ana com.
pleted their labors yesterday.
Alderman Schlichtlng, in the absence of Recorder
HacKett occupied the chair. In addition 10 the
members OF the committee Supervisors WolIman,
Plunkitt AMI Dimond Judge Porter aud others
were present. Mr. John Hardy acted as secretary.
Mr. w. A. BOOTH said that the committee had
found that the Sub Committee on Stationery Print
Ing, &C., were not ready 10 report until
the close OF last week. Now the com.
mittee was prepared TO submit the labors
or the two committees. In the presentation OF these
reports there has been some apparent delay; but
thts Investigation has occupied the time OF the com.
mitteo. for good part OF the ume almost night
and day. This investigation covered period OF the
last TWO years and eight months amounting TO over
two millions OF dollars, made up OF over one hun.
ured dlnerent sheets and many different &C
counts, and that would thus account for the delay
In the report which presented result Is given to
show sufficiently orgeries and frauds forgeries Of
certain accounts to which their attention had been
called. To do this they had to consult the law as
well ~ the accounts, and the labors OF this commit
tee had been very heavy. When they commenced
this investigation they had expectation that 1t
would require so long time or tbat they should
have to look at 80 large q number OF figures. Mr..
Booth concluded Dy enumerating the different re.
ports which would be presented which were all
agrecd to ana are found below.
When MIR. DONALDSON had read the report OF the
Committee on the Court House he stated that he re.
GREETED that II mad the signatures OF only two men,
bers OF the committee. Alderman Plunkitt was
present and would probably give his Icr not
Bgning the report
I Alderman PLUSKIrT said that he had received no
Invitation TO the committee until Thursday and that
he never saw the report until 1t was brought TO
him that morning. He did not decline to sign the
report, but he wished to look 1t over, and he did
not approve OF II TO write minority report
MIR. DONALDSON SAID he was sorry TO be obliged TO
reply to Mr.. Alderman PlunSitt, but he knew wen
that the committee met every day at Two O'Clock in
that room. The report was prepared week ago.
gentleman invited Mr.. PIunkitt to attend at his
tMr. Donaldsons) ONCE to see the report Of any
lime during business hours. He mi. Donaldson)
had also sent over to Mr.. PlunEitts ONCE Thurs
hay aud on Thursday night sent q young man TO
him. who failed to and him.
RopOri Of Assotiaied Committee Of SitjzeD..
To ruB CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF SU.
YBRvIsoRs AND ALDERMEN APPOINTED TO INvEs-
TiGATE TUE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS or THE CITY AND
COUNTY OF NEW ioHE:-
The committee Invited by the committee OF The
Board OF supervisors and the Board OF Aldermen 10
s'undertake an impartial investigation OF tue city
and county accounts would further report that
Iney entered upon their labors without any know
edge OF the extent Of the city and county indebted
neas aud without definite opinions la regard 10 the
charges OF corruption and fraud alleged against
those now holding prominent onoes so,
In this investigation your committee nave reached
the following conclusions:-
l. The debt OF our CITY H doubling every two
2 g.. 200, coo have been paid for repairs on ar.
mories and drin rooms, The actual cost OF which
was loss than $250,D00
On an unfinished Court House, for which building
completed an honest estimate OF real cost would be
l. Safes, carpets furniture cabinet work, paint
fng plumbing, gas ana plasterlng have cost
sons, after o careful examination, at t62tis0 40.
6. 100000 have been pail Tor SiS.o)o worth OF
lumber.
e. Tue printing, advertising stationery &C, OF the
city and county nave cost IN two years aud eight
T. A large number or persons arc on the psyrolls
OF the CITY whose services are neither rendered nor
SequIred.
Yfauduieutly altered anu payments nave repeatedly
been made on forged endorsements.
compelled TO report TO you taat In their Judgment,
frauds and f0bberies OF the most infamous charac-
ter nave been committed with the C0nulvance and
co. operation OF some OF the officials who were ap-
pointed 20 guard the interests OF the people.
The condition OF me city and county nnances as
shown Dy these Investigations, has served TO de.
ptroy all confidence In the management OF the pres
bHt csty officials.
Whie not desiring 10 arrest the important i'm
provements now IN progress, your committee stili
deem Il absolutely essential 70 the credit OF the city
that ex peDditures In all departments be reduced 10
Lie lowest possible hIniLs; that every officer aud
saiaried employe whose services are moi ndspensa-
Bile be discharged or reques'ed 10 resign ina. con.
tracts he subjected 10 the most rigid scrutiny, aud
NIL expenditures be reduced 70 all amount clearly
within the lnancial ability OF the treasury.
The demands upon the city treasury VIII neces-
pitate The borrowing of large sums OF money al au
early day. An appeal must be made 20 moneyed
Institutions ana 10 CAPITALISTS. Besides the
$50 900. due taxes SIS 100000 are required TO
meet current expenses and obligations maturing
on the 10Th OF January After Dat, tlS,000, o00
10 $40 OOO. 900 viii be demanded for the hrst ten
months OF the ensuing year under The most economi.
cal administration of the city finances.
Your committee regard as futile any attempt 10
borrow these large sums OF money w0iie tue city u
controlled by It's present management.
The existing debt OF the city Is entirely within tne
Ability of the people But II the expenditures anu
frauds of the past two and o half years are TO be
6onRer continued your committee cannot out view
Wlth alarm the consequences 70 the credit and
S,roe oerffV of the city Tney are, however, or the