The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-06
THE FINANCE FUSS
Statement Of the City and
County Debt.
Interview with Mayor Hall-Why the Ac-
counts Did Not Appear Sooner-A
Monthly Statement Of the Debt
To Be Given Hereafter.
THE NET FUNDED DEBT $50, 242, 3e0

THE NET FUNDED DEBT $50, 242, 800
In consequence of the excitement prevalent on the
subject Of the city and county finances, HERALD
reporter called Mayor Hall yesterday and the fol-
lowing conversation took place.
REPORTER-Mr. Mayor, are you at liberty to tel
bout the statistical accounts OF the Finance Depart
ment which 80 many papers critlcize you for not
publshingf
Mayor HALL-Oertainly Can you bear statistt
cal story9
REPORrER-Begging pardon for joke, can at
once stay and be sta tstlca-
Mayor HALL-Tne last report OF the Comptroller
was of 1860. Up to April, 1870, the law was that he
snould furnish an annual report. HIS fiscal year
ended with each calendar year. The law and usage
mad been for manv, many years. His report,
however, rarely became printed before February In
the new year because Of its bulk and the necessity OF
having the proof and revises OF figures rigidy ex-
amined. Besides, as you know, public printers do
not get paid promptly as private ones, and they
do not issue as quickly as you newspaper men can.
While the next fiscal year was running. ana about
quarter gone. the charter was passed and IL re-
pealed the old law about reports. In the Old order
Of things the next annual report would have come
up 10 January, 1871 and have been printed about
February last But
REPORTER-Please here favor me with an oppor-
tunity Of copying the new section.
The Mayor touched Geographic knob tsuch as
are in use in the HERALD editorial antr repOrtOral
r0omsl and in an instant messenger appeared,
looking hot and claf6iny as II he mad been drag
Onfed by battalion OF once seekers. s,u
MAYOR hALL-rim my black book. .--. T.
This ominousy named volume was Brought, and
turned out to be simply private bound black c 9th
collection or statutes relating to the new govern
ment. From this was copied the folowlng:-
SECTION 81 The departments SHALL such times
Mayor may make him such form and under
him.
within such time as he may direct
Mayor HALL-Now, this section placed the whole
matter in my hands. Very early in the year of the
new charter OF 1901 told the departments and,
indeed reporters that at the end OF one years trial
should ask, and not until then I'm fairness to the
new experiment OF local government after an ola
heterogeneousness OF rulers) all the reports. OF
course, when January, 1871 came, the law asking
report from the Comptroller for the new full fiscal
year then ended had been superseded. 1t may have
been an error Of Judgment not to have called Tor
t,coai a and not SUPPRESSION. When in the last
spring asked report OF the Comptroller he gave
one ana substantially oG came down dn 70 daSe OF
appear: It was mine for not asking -, But his
bookkeeping and balances Soy were esta stl made
WAS as you know. great delay IN publishing
message and general reports ;, These &C. ~ were
port was accompanied with huge statistical tables
that were too bulky Tor newspaper publication and
ana repOrUs and tables Will make dozen bound vol
umes when completed. These statistical tables were
Of tho Tunes fired It's volley OF secret account
bullets Corinthian type and startling head lines
are tremendous lnruencers oil public opinion II any
paper should print. in gigantic type THE cholera
has come believe nall its reauers would be In
was in brewer no effect could be found There was
now demand for all the tables. ms. antiy re-
ma them DOWN to the very latest practicable date
for more universal information. The nnance ones
nave 10 De carefully ga iUI d Ss
should be reprinted because there was new spas
Wodc demand for them. just as there properly Is to
have all the Old boilers re.eXamIned The Deputy
Comptroller and have been only to-day examining
proof - ~ -,
RBPORTER-Then they are likely to be out next
Mayor HALL-Certainly. The county figures will
accompany with message 10 the Supervisors; the
city figures with to the Common Council. In
these messages, without being journalistic or per-
the partisan press has been belonging.
REPORTER-Why not do 1t berorcY
Mayor HALL (smlling)-FesttnG tente!
RBPoRrER-Which freely translated into YANKEE
means More haste less speed ~ ,,.o eunros
even when correcI. When they are incorrect anu
hastily 80 then they can be made 70 he worse: ,
OF course, TO walt for the figures winch the HERALD
readers may ind below.
The following Is the sIatementOl
THE AND COUNTY DEBT
to July 81 ls7l-also statement OF all payments on
appropriation and special accounts OF SAID city aud
county for the month or July, ISL also OF the capl
tai OF the Sinking Fund for tue redemption OF the
wy CITY OF NEW YORK.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
CONTROLLERS OFFICE, August !, 1871.
Hon. A. Oakley HALL, Mayor
SIR-In response 10 your communication OF 22d of
July last, TO viii
To the Finance Department
In with concluding paragraph Of section thirty
charter, please furnish earliest
nence statement the Slst inst out certainly before
payments upon appropriation special of
10th cy and comfy during July ana also OF the capital OF
each month. A. OAKEY HALL, Mayor.
l have the honor to submit the annexed state
ments which contain the information called lor:-
Tue debt Of the city and county OF New York on
the 3lst OF july 1871, Is herein shown to be as
tt22..S;99HHA ;;-----~~sA
Funded debt -
City-Payable from
Sinking Fund.-. $21, 9)6, 1l6 so
Payable from taxa .
ton. ............. 81, 42G os2 VI 80
County-From taxa
ton. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .......... Z,Isl.ooo w
Total. Observation-Disclosures. $7g,1-3,058 81
Less amount OF capital Vf the sink
ing FUND .................... lSeeVooi 90
Net Funded Debt July 81 1871. 5000 1876 Is
Temporary debt
CiCv-Representing advances from the Treasury for
the various improvements OF streets and bOulc
wards, which are recoverable ny assessments
Total 81 1874, 500 90
Revenue bonds to be paid from the taxes for the
current year,
CIty. Fill 800 90
County. lo95l,S0O %