The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-21
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Hoard of Aldermen.

Board or Aldermen.
The usual weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday, President Cochrane In the chair.
THE COMPTROLLER AND o0UNsBLs FEES.
Alderman CONAN moved the following:-'It APP
pears by resolution adopted by the Board OF Audit
that the sum OF $500 was appropriated by said
Board for counsel fees for the Finance Department.;
therefore be 1t resolved, that the Comptroller be
and he Is hereby requested to inform the Board
the party or parties who received said amount and
the nature Of the services so rendered and by
whose authority employed"
Alderman VANCE moved that this resolution be
laid on the table, inasmuch as the Comptroller had
already answered substantially the same question
and the answer was satisfactory to the Board.
sion for the passing Of this resolution there was
counsel appointed by the city already.
Alderman VANCE said that there was law de-
partment 1t Is true, for the city, but 1t was law
department. and no city officer with any respect
for himself and his office would ever apply to 1t for
every gentleman would have done In his private
business. This calling city officers to account for
these petty matters was unworthy OF the Board.
The resolution was laid over for week.
The Board was in session until five O'Clock, with
the ordinary routine business Of calling up general
orders. "a.
Board OF Assistant Aldermen.
The Board of Assistant Aldermen also met yes
terday-Ots I. Hail. President, In the chair, and
the following members present at roll call -Messrs
Foley, O'Brien, Calvin, Robinson Healy Hartt,
Kraus, Coddington, Costello, Pinckney, Wade Lit
tledeld Gels, Mcdonald and Schwartz.
THE NEW READER.
Thomas Z. Barry, who has been appointed to sue
coed q. 7. Kelly (resgned) reader to the Board,
made his debut. There was no opportunity Of judg-
ing Of Mr.. Kely's ability, but it certainly would
have been preferable that the Board had waited his
recovery-the alleged cause Of his resignation
and, in tho meantime, engaged the clear ringing
voice of its able Deputy Clerk than to be compelled
to sit In agony listening to Mr.. Barry's perform
ance. He galloped over the minutes at a $3.50 rate
and, TO make matters worse, his voice was 80
weak and his utterance so indistinct, that 1t was
utterly impossible to understand what was being
read.
LOOKING AFTER THE COMPTROLLER
Assistant Alderman GELS offered o resolution in
quirng of the Comptroller by what authority he
has paid, and what sum he has paid to Mr.. Strahan
for legal services. Mr.. Gels said that Mr.. Green's
eXactness in paying claims against the city was
well known. He Instituted the most searching
inquiries into every claim. He (the mover) would
70 p ne 40 e h p ws s e e
believe, the sum Of $4,000 to Mr.. Strahan.
On vote the resolution was referred to the Com
Assistant Alderman LrTTLEFIELD offered reso-
luton requesting the Commissioner Of Public Works
to report by what authority the several gas COM
panies have been and now laying gas mains in
the streets throughout the CITY, The resolution was
adopted.
Assistant Alderman GELS presented resolution
calling upon the Comptroller to pay George r.
Kelly, late reader TO the Board salary from the LIST
OF January to the 18th of March, at the rate Of
per annum.
Assistant Alderman PINcKNEY opposed the pas
sage OF the resolution He considered 1t prepOste-
rOus that man who has never done any service
should claim salary. 1t was said that Kelly Ill,
but the Speaker was informed that Kelly was
sitting In the Chamber one day upon which 1t was
said he was lying i'll In bed He MR. Pnckney) be-
lieved the man could not read, and possibly he
might have been taken Ill In attending night school.
His only qualification, as far as the speaker knew,
was that ne could play good game OF forty-hves.
Uaughter) He would not consent to the passage
OF the resolution as reformer, and he called upon
all his brother reformers to support him.
Assistant Alderman GELS, In reply to Mr.. Pinckney,
said 1t would be seen from the resolution that Mr.
Kelly did not claim salary as reader to the Board
He claimed 1t as an assistant clerk appointed by the
Clerk, and he certainly was much entitled to pay
as most of the assistants on their pay roll at the
present time. Q4aughter.)
After some further debate the resolution was re-
ferred to special committee for investigation as
to what Mr.. Kelly has really done.
resolution TO give permission to Alexander T.
Stewart to extend the vault now constructed in
front Of premises No. 81 Chambers street eighteen
inches, with walls four feet thick, as to conform
to the vaults on either side belonging to Mr..
Stewart was referred to the Committee on Streets.
No further business transacted was of any public
interest. The Board adjourned till Monday next.
Board OF Supervisors.