The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-26

wind whirls away"
Comptroller Green and tho Threat
ened Closing OF tho Hospitals and
Suspension OF tho Ambulance Ser
vico.
Since the reform wave landed Mr.. Green
safely in the Comptroller's Office the public
have become accustomed to despotic exercise
of power very much out of keeping with the
somewhat unconstitutional action was assumed
to be in the cause of virtue the good-natured
public were somewhat inclined to wink OF it,
consoling themselves with the reflection that
no doubt it would all come right in the end.
In pursuing his adopted course the Comptroller
best and most advisable for the interest of the
taxpayers, that is to say for the whole body of
citizens. But it is difficult to imagine by what
course of reasoning he will endeavor to defend
his conduct in reference to the Commission Of
Charities and Correction, which, by assump-
ton of despotic power without warrant in our
constitution, he has virtually dissolved
The order issued by the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction directing the closing
of public hospitals speaks for itself. It is one
Of the most extraordinary documents ever
issued by department. Of the city govern
ment, and has caused universal indignation
among the citizens 1t practically destroys
several Of the most useful institutions of the
city. The Commissioners order =
Frrst-The closing Of the Inebriate Asylum.
Sec0nd-Cosing OF the reception hospitals In City
Hall Park and on the Boulevard at Ntnety-ninth
7Ntrd-Closing Of the Free Labor Bureau.
F0u,th-Closing the Soldiers Retreat on Wards
Ftfth-Suspension Of the ambulance SERVICE so
wonderfully perfected by Warden Brennan, OF Park
further institutions will be closed In all cases the
patients and veterans will be transferred to the
hospital at Bellevue or distributed among the
Bread and water and no meat will be given when
the health OF the patient is strong enough to stand
Commissioners of Charities and Correction are the
guardians Of some nine thousand paupers
The primary cause of the threatened closing
of these benevolent institutions is Mr.. Green's
refusal to audit the claims of the Tenth Ma
tional Bank against the city treasury So far
as is known the Comptroller alleges no reason
for his refusal, but simply of his own good
will declines to consider claim which we as
sumo to be an honest one At least we have
no evidence to the contrary. The Tenth Ma
tional Bank claims some two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars as due by the Commits
sioners of Charities and Correction, who
admit their indebtedness. In face of this ad-
mission the Comptroller refuses to satisfy the
claim, nor does he offer any explanation of
his conduct. This despotic way of dealing
with public creditors might do very well in
Asia, but is not likely to be submitted to
without protest in New York. The bank au-
thorities, seeing no chance of being paid by
the city, resolved to transfer the funds in hand
belonging to the current account of the Com
missioners to the liquidation of the old debt,
and the Commissioners suddenly find them
selves deprived of the means Of supporting the
institutions under their charge. They have
therefore no alternative but to close them.
The momentary popularity that Mr.. Green
acquired by his connection with the reform
movement uprising has quite turned his head.
He evidently forgets that it was never intended
by reform that officials should refuse to sat
isfy, or unnecessarily delay the payment of
honest and just debts.
If this claim of the Tenth National Bank be
fraudulent it ought to have been disputed at
once in the courts of law, so that ON authori-
tative decision could be rendered. But in no
case can an official be justified in shelving q
claim on his own responsibility. We want the
Comptroller to investigate the workings of the
various departments, and, if he discover fraud,
to take the proper legal steps to punish it, but
the assumption of right to stop the workings
of a whole department of the government is o
tyranny foreign to our institutions that cannot
be permitted. If the Comptroller have right
to dissolve the Commission of Charities and
Correction the Mayor may next assume the
right to dispense with the police. AS Mr.
Green has been named in connection with the
Chief Magistracy the danger of such con-
summation forces itself on our attention.
While willingly bearing testimony to Mr.
Green's uprightness of character, we cannot
help regretting the narrow groove in which his
thoughts rum His hobby of delaying the pay
ment of just debts on one occasion endan-
gered the peace of. the city. We fear too much
personal feeling is allowed to enter into these
financial disputes. 1t is certainly a remark
able fact that delays and distractions only