Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-03
THE TAMMANY FRAUDS.
Report Of the Committee of seventy,
ON the Frauds Of the New York
OHiciaIs.

OHiciaIs. "a ~
!; To the Chairman of the Joint Committee OF 81
peryisors and Aldermen appointed to invest
o gate the public accounts of the City and Count
q | of New York:
S The Committee invited by the Con
| mittee Of the Board of Supervisors an
! the Board OF Aldermen, to "undertak
. an impartial investigation of the Cit
Y and County accounts" would furthe
, report that they entered upon thei
labors without any knowledge of tn
extent of the City and County indebt
edness, and without definite opinions il
regard to the charges of corruption anC
fraud, alleged against those now holdin.
prominent offices.
II In this investigation, your committed
have reached the following conclusions
| |. The debt of our city is doubling
every two years.
/ 9. So, 200, 600 nave been paid for re
pairs on armories and drill-rooms, the
actual cost of which was less than $3.50.
loco.
3. Over S1l 100000 have been paid
for outlays on an unfinished Court
House, for which building completed,
an honest estimate would be less than
S3,000,000
1. Safes, carpets. furniture, cabinet
work, painting, plumbing, gas and plas-
! tering have cost 81 ,2S9, ,46S. 81, which are
| valued by competent persons, after a
careful examination at S6l4, 1SO.40.
.. S460,000 have been paid for S4S,-
900 worth of lumber.
6. The printing, advertising station
cry, etc, of the city and county, have
cost, in two years and eight months,
81, ,l6S,2l2 23.
I. 4 large number OF persons are on
the pay-rolls of the city whose services
are neither rendered nor required.
8. Figures upon warrants and vouch-
ers have been fraudulently altered and
payments have repeatedly been made
on forged Endorsements.
With these facts before them, your
committee are compelled to report to
you that, in their Judgment, frauds and
robbeTies of the most Infamous charac-
ter have been committed with the con-
nivance and cooperation of some of the
officials who were appointed to guard
the interests OF the people.
The condition of bie Citg and County il
adhccs, az sho,rn by these Investigations, has
segred to destroy all confidence IA he man
dgement of H,e present city officials.
While not desiring 10 arrest the inn
portant Improvements now in progress,
your Committee still deem it absolutely
essential to the credit OF the City that
expenditures in all departments be re-
duced to the lowest possible limits; that
every officer and salaried employe
whose services are not indispensable be
discharged, or requested to resign; that
contracts be subjected to the most rigid
scrutiny, and all expenditures be reduc-
ed to an amount clearly within the fin
ancial ability of the Treasury.
The demands upon the City Treasury
will necessitate the borrowing of large
sums of money at an early day. An ap-
peal must be made to moneyed institu-
tions and to capitalists Besides the
$50, ,000. COO due as taxes, SIS 100000 are
required 20 meet current expenses and
obligations maturing on the 18th OF next
January After that, Sl8,000,000 to S20,-
600, 600 will be demanded for the first
ten months OF the ensuing year, under
the most economical administration OF
the city finances.
Yoter Conimdiee regard as futile any at
tempt TO borroC these large SINUS Of MONEY
irhjis the city is controlled by as present
management.
The existing debt of the city is en-
tirely within the ability of the people.
But if the expenditures and frauds OF
the past two and half years are to be
longer continued, your Committee can
not but view with alarm the conse-
quences to the credit and prosperity of
the citv. They are, however, of the
opinion that the tax-paying citizens and
moneyed institutions will cheerfully
respond to the full extent of the require
ments of the Treasury, il confidence in
the administration of the City and
County Government can be restored
Your Committee have accomplished
the object of their appointment as far
Us possible, without the additional pow
er to send for persons and papers. We
had reason to hope that the Committee
would be invested with this power, but
that hope has been disappointed.
Nothing, therefore, remains for us but
t. submit the results of the investiga
ton, which are embodied in our sue
cessive reports. We have endeavored
to discharge, with fidelity, the duty Of
the trust committed to our charge, and
we deeply regret the necessity OF expos
ing to public view record OF such un-
exampled and appalling municipal
frauds.
Respectfully submitted by order of
the Committee.
WM. A. BooTH, Chairman.
HOW THE STEALING WAS DONE.
Accompanying the Committees state
ment were the reports Of the various
b-Committees to whom the investiga-
J ton OF particular frauds was submitted.
! We subioin few of these;
| PARTIES NAMED IN THE ACCOUNTS.
Statement showing the list of ac-
counts, collected from transcripts copied
from the Controllers books;
ADVERTISING, PRINTING &C.
The following shows the Expenditure
by the city alone for Advertising, Prin
ting, Stationery, Law and Blank Book
and Stationery and Printing, for thu
years 1869, 1870, and to 10th September