Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-11-04
gate the public ACCOUNTS of the City and Coun.

ty OF New-fork
The Committee invited by the Committee |
of the Board of Supervisors and the Board |
Of Alderman, TO "uudcrtakc an impartial
investigation of the City and County ac-
counts, would further report that they en-
tered upon their labors without any know
ledge of the extent of the City and County
Indebtedness, and without definite opinions
in regard to the charges of corruption and
fraud, alleged against those now holding
prominent offices. In this investigation,
your committee have reached the following
conclusions
/. The debt of our city is doubling every
two years.
2. $3,2O0,00 have been paid for repairs
on armores and drill rooms the actual cost
of which was less than $250,000
3. Over II 100000 have been charged for
outlays Oh an unfinished Court House, for
which building completed an honest esti-
mate of real cost would be less than S3,-
100000.
4. Safes, carpets, furniture, cabinet
work, painting. plumbing, gas and plaster
| ing have cost 81, ,2S0, ,466 81, which are val
ued by competent persons, after q careful
examination, at $624, l30 Az.
| 3. 100000 have been paid for $4,000
worth of lumber.
G. The printing, Advertising &c, of the
| Sly anu Codnly, HaNc CpSb III tNo years
and eight months 81, 2l2 70.
| 7. A large number of persons are on the
pay-rolls Of the city whose services are nei-
ther rendered nor required.
&. Figures upon vouchers have been frau
dulently altered, and payments have re-
peatedly been made on forged endorsements
With these facts before them, your Com
mittec are compelled to report to you that
in their Judgment, frauds and robberies of
the most infamous character have been
committed with the connivance and co-ope
ration of some of the officials who were ap-
pointed to guard the interests of the peo-
pie.
The condition of the city and county
finances, as shown by these investigations,
has served to destroy all confidence in tie
management Of the city o0icials.
While not desiring to arrest the impor-
tant improvements now in progress, your
Committee still deem it absolutely essential
to the credit of the City that expenditures
in all departments be reduced to the lowest
possible limits that every officer and saa-
ricd employee whose services are not indis-
pensable be discharged, or requested to re-
sign that contracts be subjected to the
most rigid scrutiny, and all expenditures
be reduced to an amount clearly within the
financial ability of the Treasury.
&. Tho demands upon the City Treasury
will neccssitate the borrowing of large
sums of money at an early day. An APP
peal must be made to mOneyed institutions
and to capitalists. Beside the $40, 0,000.00
due as taxes, SIS, 100000 are required to
meet current expenses and obligations ma
turing on the 10Th of next January. After
that, SIS, ,000, 900 to $40, 900, 900 will be de-
manded for the first 10 months of the ensu-
ing year, under the most economical adj
ministration of the city finances. Your
Committee regard as futile any attempt to
bOfrOr these large Sums of money while the
city is controlled by its present management.
The existing debt Of the city is entirely
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 cannot but view with
alarm the consequences to the credit and
prosperity of the city. They are however
of the opinion that the tax paying citizens
and the moneyed institutions will cheerful
; " respond to the full extent of the require
ments of the Treasury, if confidence in the
: administration of the City and County Gov
crnmcnt can be restored
Your Committee have accomplished the
object of their appointment as far as possi-
be, without the additional power 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 20 submit to the results Of the
Investigation, which are embodied in our
successive reports. We have endcavored
to discharge with fidelity the duty of the
trust committed to our charge, and we
deeply regret the necessity OF exposing to
public view n record of such uneXampled
and appalling municipal frauds.
, Respectfully submitted, by order Of the
, Committee.
VIM. 4. BOOTH, Chairman.
: CUICAGO-THE ENERGY OF TIE BURN
ED OUT CITIZENS private letter from