The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-18
Senate Of the United States, and made It IN.
derstand that politics and partisanship must be
put aside and the wants of the people receive
attention.


put u1iuo uuu inc Wduts OF the people receive
attention.
4 Fight Among the Reformers-Sinsular
Attitude Of Comptroller Green.
Our Albany correspondence, published In
to-day's HERALD, foreshadows hard fight
among our reform city ofice-Eolders now con-
gregated at the State Capitol over the pos
session of temporary power in the city gov
eminent AT present they appear to be
squabbling about o very Insignificant matter;
but we are told that the question as to who
shall audit and settle the four and half mil
lion dollars Of claims outstanding against the
city and county of New York for the last year
IL only intended TO test the relative strength
of the contending parties in the Legislature,
with view to further and more important prop
ositions. It seems that bill was introduced
In the Assembly few days ago providing for
the adjustment and settlement of claims of last
year outstanding against the city by a board
consisting Of the President Of the Board Of
Aldermen (John Cochrane), Comptroller Green
and Commissioner Van Mort. To this tho
Comptroller Objects and asks instead, that
the sole power to audit and pay these
claims shall be placed in his own hands. 1t is
difficult to conceive on what grounds he makes
this singular demand but we are told that he
presses 1t on the Legislature by charging
President Cochrane and Commissioner Van
Mort with an intention to pay some two mil
lions ana half of claims against the Depart
ments of Parks aud Public Works that he pro-
nounces fraudulent. If the Comptroller has
really made this charge (and the information
reaches our correspondent from the best au-
thority) no person will credit him with believ-
Ing it to be true, and his indiscrcet attack upon
citizens Of established integrity will only
induce suspicion as to his own motives in
desiring the power he seeks. Tie objection
made to Mr.. Van Mort on the ground, first, that
he was employed in the Department Of Parks
during the whole period in which it is alleged
money was extravagantly aud corruptly spent;
and next, that he accepted office at the hands
of Mayor Hall, can scarcely be seriously
urged by Comptroller Green, who was one of
the Commissioners of Public Parks during the
whole time Mr.. Van Mort was a subordinate
In the Department. and who owes his position
Hall. Besides, the money awarded to claim
ants will have to be paid by Comptroller
Green, who has already proved that he can
resist the settlement of any unjust demand
against the city Treasury.
We fail, therefore, to see what objection
there can be to the appointment of board
of audit, consisting of Comptroller Green,
nd 81
Van Mort, unless some sinister end
has to be accomplished. John Cochrane
has been endorsed by the people as
q man to be trusted in carrying out the
reforms demanded by them at the ballot
box, and his capacity and strict integrity are
tnquestioned. Mr.. Van Mort has filed an i'm
portant public Office for years, and we are
capable and honest he would have been
removed ky Mr.. Green, his superior officer,
years ago. There can be no reason why the
Legislature should not trust these public
officers; and the safest course to pursue is to
associate them with the Comptroller In the
responsible duty of settling the outstanding
claims against the city.
As to the renewed attempt to invest the
Comptroller With autocratic powers over the
whole city government for the next three
Or four months, there is neither reason
nor justice in it, and the Legislature should
scout the proposition as dangerous
and unnecessary experiment The depart
ments are now economically, honestly and
capably managed, the immediate financial
emergency has been met in the manner pro-
posed by the Comptroller, the appointment of
the Board of Audit will do justice to the
honest creditors of the city and supply the
deficiencies in some Of the special funds, and
there can be no urgent need of any further
change In the machinery of the city govern
ment until q new charter is enacted and new
officers are chosen under its provisions. If it
be desirable to abolish the Office Of City Cham
berlain the Legislature can do so of its own
action; but should it be deemed desirable
to temporarily invest some ONE l9gs! authority
with the power of appointment and
removal in the several city and county
Offices it should be given to the
executive head of the government or
the President Of the Board of Aldermen,
officers elected by the people. The head of
the Finance Department has enough legiti-
mate business to attend to without being
hampered with duties that belong to the Ex-
ecutive and while we award Comptroller
Green all credit for the fidelity with which he
has discharged an onerous and disagreeable
trust we cannot approve of his hanging about
the State Legislature, with Connolly's conf
Dental deputy and a strong outside lobby at