The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-03
The Comptroller Seeking the Amendment
Of the Audit Bill.
Estimate of the Public Works
Department.
NEW ALDERMANIC TROUBLES.
Resignation Of Alderman Gilsey-PrOba-
BILE Displacement Of the Clerk of the
Board = Alderman Vance On
His RumOred Resignation.

The rumblinQs that precede political storm were
heard with considerable dlstlnctncss around the
Court House yesterday The OF the CITY, who
have patiently waited for the payment OF their over
due claims, are getting FESTIVE. A detachment OF
these made their CO npainings heard In expressive
language yesterday in the corridors OF the Comp.
trolers Office. The creditors who were demonstra.
tive after this fashion were delegates from the
Croton Water police, all Of whom had been dis.
charged. They had not received any pay
since last September and they had f0ndly
hoped that the passing Of the Audit bill would
enable them to receive their back pay very shortly
after the bill became law. The delegation was de-
srous of seeing the Comptroller but he declined
the interview. and sent Mr. Storrs to try do the
difficult work OF pacifyIng them. The men refused
to be comforted; they demanded to see Mr.. Green;
they said they wished to have clear definite
answer from the Comptroller himself as to when
they were TO be paid. They believed that
there was no desire to pay them. The only
object that the Governor. they alleged, mad in
signing the bill was that men like themselves
might obtain pecuniary relief. Their patience was
exhausted. They had lett starving families at nome
tner , cadren r aad no shoes to their feet and their
hausted. The "pipe' men could Brighten the Comp
troller into paving them and they might as well
| take coerciye course as patiently wait without
| getting anything for It, After venting good deal
more Of their discontentedness to all who would
| them by telling them that he believed That they
would be paid next week. In conversation
| that HERALD reporter had yesterday with
Commissioner Van Mort, the Commissioner said
that the Audit bill gave the Board sufficient power
TO pay every honest claim against the city. The
Comptroller, however, seemed, Tor some inscrutable
reason, TO have doubt about this, ana the Com
missioner was OF opinion that there would be
considerable delay In paying these claims. In
support OF this the Commissioner said that ne
knew that the Comptroller had sent to Albany a
bill to amend the Audit bill. This mad been sent
by Mr.. Green, on his individual responsibility and
II the bill was entertained by the Legislature the
result must be That these claims must remain un.
satisfied for some time to come. Commissioner Van
Mort said that as member or the Board OF Audit
he was anxious that the Board should act under the
present bill and pay every honest claim. lie con-
tended that there was no reasonable ground con-
STRUNG any OF the clauses OF the second section as
placing any disability upon the Board, in enecting
settlement and payment OF these claims. Any en-.
deavOr to throw any impediments IN the way of a
speedy payment was to unnecessarily prolong the
suierings OF those who had already waited Tar too
long for the pigment OF their Just debts This Is the
great topic OF discussion around the City Hall, and
II Is last passing from the domain OF reason into
that OF passion.