New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-18
PRICE FOUR CENTS.


whose charge vast interests Of the taxpayers OF
the city are ntrusted. Many OF them have been paid
enormous amounts for services which do nos
appear, while others are clamoring for sums
equally extrayagant. IL Is due, however,
TO Controller Green 10 state that he has resoutey OPP
posed their claims and refused accede 10 their
demands. See. 10 Of tho City Charter Of 1870 says
that no officer OF the City Government except Collector
OF City Revenue Collector OF Assessments, Clerk OF
Arrears Council to the Corporation shall have or re-
ceye from the Corporation for City Treasury perqu
sites or any compensation commission In addition 70
his salary for any services Iswas under this very law
that Nathaniel Sands was indicted and rho question se-
rously comes up the equal culpabity OF others
In defiance of this act many OF the followingnamed
Commissioners st hold Office under the City Govern
ment and receive pay therefor, while all Of them held OF
fee at the time of their appointments and for long
time afterward
Gersbon Cohen, Michael Norton, Gratz nathan,
Andrew j. smith, f. b. Hart, ]. s. Hennsssey,
]. W. Fowler A. J. Fullerton, Peter Trainer,
Edmond Connely, Mich. c. Murphy, G. N. Herman,
Wm A. Herring, Magnus Gross, Th e 49, Sv'n0n'
John Brown, Rich. A. Croker. Ira mutually,
Ihos S Brennan, John l. wsitton Dennis ,i Blsn
Daniel Whaen, Bernard smith, John G. DOnanue.
OF course It is not asserted that all these men have
knowingly violated law nor is It charged that they have
all frauduleny conducted their work But the system'
:
sons named above Gratz Nathan acts as Commissioners
in five different street openings and widenDgs, Edward
Connolly was appointed street opener IN nye cases.
James g. Hennessey three separate street openings,
Joel A. Ethan Commissioner in three street openings,
James Bagley in four street openings, James Moore
Commissioner in four different street openings, while
Henry A. Smith, Gershon Cohen, I. ]. Creamer and
Henry NJ. Garvin act commissioners In two OF more
ANOTHER LAW VIOLATED
Further than this It appears that all OF the persons
named above owned property in the vicinity OF the I'm
provements. Now the law regulating tho appointments
Of tho Commissioners of Street Openings and Improve
ments provides for the appointment Of two Commission
ers who shall be disinteesed and represent the inter-
ests Of the city, while the third supposed 70 represent
the interest OF the properyowners whose land Is sir
uated along the line Of the Improvement The method
Of appointment Is folows The Corporation Counsel
after consideration with parties in Interest to
their choice Of Commissioner presents the names OF three
persons to Judge of the Supreme Court TO Ill the posi-
ton OF Commissioner and the pr0pertyowners have tho
right to be heard in opposition. Judges Barnard ana
Cardozo were In every satisfied with the names
presented by Mr. OGormau, and forthwith declared tho
persons selected by him duly appointed IL has long
been O matter Of serious remark by taxpayers, that
many Of the persons appointed either owned property
which was condemned held interest In land largely
benefited By the improvements.
IMMENSE USELESS EXPENSES INCURRED.
The first step of the Commioners after their appoint
ent TO obtain the surveys and maps Of the property
under their consideration and although In nearly every
case such maps kept in the Tax Commissioners
Office and areaccessibe to the Commissioners and fur
nish all the information desired yet In every case
enormous charges have been made for additional surveys
and useless drawings TO the extent OF thousands upon
thousands OF dollars 1t is broadly asserted by officials
who oppose payment Of these claims OF Commissioners
that many OF these charges fictitious iBasmueh as
copies OF the Tax COMMISSIONER maps were duly pre-
pared and that the surveys and maps of the Commits
soners we're only pretended abors In event the er
penses which were charged for that purpose in some
cases range as high as $4,000.
According to the law Of 1862, chapter 49, It IL pro-
yded that the Commissioners, body, shall be enc
titled to receive only thirty cents per neal foot for tho
extent of street or avenue the portion thereof 30 To
be opened and altered. The following table, giving
fe " OF these cases. show what the COmms oners were
entitled to receive they really got and the awards
and assessments. The difference between the awards
and assessments shows the receipts Of the Commission
ers The cases cited not fragrant ones selected to
prove the assertions made but fair average illustrations
of the method OF manipulating street openings and
adding TO the cost Of embeshing this city:
Com Legally due
Assess mssioBers Coaais
lNanf