The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-06
THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Alleged Deficiency Of Twenty Thou.
sand Dollars Explained-A Statement
OF Receipts and Expenditurc-How the
Report Originated-What Treasurer
Hennessy Says.
Recent reports relative to the expenditure and
receipts of the Metropolitan Fire Department must,
no doubt have attracted the attention Of the pub
lic Among these II has been alleged that the
port OF the financial treasurer James s. Hennessy,
n account with the New York Fire Department
Relief Fund bears discrepancy Of $20,9i7 II, a
statement which, from more recent investigations,
is apparently groundless. In order to ascertain the
exact details OF the case the writer called
upon the Commissioners yesterday at the head
quarters Of the City Fire Department. Mr.. Hitch
man, President OF the Commissioners was absent
In Philadelphia, but left orders to the presiding
clerk that any persons seeking information on the
matter could be promptly told that the allegation
was entirely incorrect, and the discrepancy arose
from the mere fact OF having examined only the
report Of the Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Combus-
tibles, without paying due attention to the Trea.
surers account with the New York Fire Depart
ment Relief Fund. Upon request to see the
Treasurer, Mr.. Hennessy the following explanation
was made. The discrepancy, he said, arose
from a misCOncepti0n OF the relations which existed
between the receipts from the Bureau of Combusti-
bles and those OF the Fire Department proper. The
former receipts recorded the amount of OIL licenses
as S30,60, while the latter acknowledged only
s1o,553 SO In their receipts but credited IN accord
ance with their statute laws, tho sum Of $35ssl So
to the Fire Department Relief Fund.- in which is in
Guided the $20,9l7 II supposed 10 have been en-
bezzled. Instead therefore, said Mr.. Hennessy OF
being rldcuiously charged with secreting the above
amount 1t was only transferred from one depart
ment and included In the estimates OF another, In
accordance with that portion OF our statute laws
which says:-
ceiye from the treasurer Of the Relief Fund Of the Metro
puitan Fire Department, the amounts of money To the
o
the fund herein created.
Moreover, he continued as long as the Bureau OF
Combustbles Is sell-sustanng, our construction of
the law is that it ought to pay its own expenses;
consequently pay back TO the city the sfo553 So
ries. The profits arising nom the Bureau of Com
bustlbes, although portion OF the department
proper, Is created By law into relief fund called
organized, as the statute testi1es, for the
benefit benefit Of men members injured in the dis
o. widows ana families OF deceased members the
amount paid being always decided on by the Com
mlssioners. Hence Il is easy TO understand why in
ment from the Bureau OF Combustibes of only
s1o,553 49, because this Was originally paid out and
subsequently refunded out OF the receipts OF the
Bureau of Combustlbles. The balance OF the re-
celpts,, which amount TO sS5,ssl ST. Instead of mo
alleged $4,000 is, as has been already stated,
placed TO the credit of the Relief Fund
IL Is evident that there is no discrepancy and the
accusation which has been made was the necessary
consequences OF an incomplete, hurried or incl
dental examination Of the accounts
The following report OF the department for the
year ending April 20, 1872 contains the alleged
receipt from the Bureau OF Combustbles:-
Balance of appropriation last year ..... ssi9g7o
---s5il s62
Appropriation TO April 30 1877, .,.......,... 352266
from sfs
Received rom sale OF Old apparatus ........ 7s5
vcceived from sale of CLOTH caps, &c......... 20i8
Received from sale OF condemned horses ..,,,. ga3
Recclye o. from sale Of old hose .,,.,,,...... 100
Received frop sale OF telegraph supplies %
Total sssl,6s6
There is, besides, bin OF 1885, audited and
due: also bill Of $s9,705 OF owed to the depart
ment by the Comptroller. The receipts of the Life
Insurance Fund FROM the department during the
year, from assessments, amounted to ss,ol3. From
tsls there was disbursement OF $4,000. The total
cost during the year was 81 ,oo7 1873.
Treasurer Hennessy, although not a little sur
prised, declared he laughed good deal over the
incorrect statement which yesterdays papers con.
tained and evidenced not the least lndisposti0n at
being interviewed on the subject.