New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-09

Green which has been promised for several DAYS past
and a portion of which was published in THE
TRIBUNE of Wednesday, was sent to Mayor Have
myer yesterday. The Commissioner expresses regret
that be has been compelled to Participate in q con-
troversy with the head of coordinate branch of the
City Government, and proceeds to examine at great
length Controller Green's letter Those parts of
this new chapter in this municipal controversy,
which have not been previously published, will be
found below:
THE LETTER.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
NEw-YoRK, Aug. 8, 1872
The Hon. VIM F. HAyEMEYER-Sir: My communica-
ton to your Honor dated the I'd inst, in reference to
Mr. Jardnes proposal repair the payements OF tue
city. concluded with an intimation that should ask
Honors further attention 10 some OF the other APP
propraons made for this Department and the WORKS OF
the city recently commented upon by the Controller
assure Honor that 1t Is with extreme reluc-
| tance thus present myself again before you. For
controversy such the Controller has seen proper to
| initiate, frankly confess have no relish. To
the statements the Controller has made solicit your
| attention.
/. The Controller asserts 1.-THE fact is that the re-
ductons In the appropriations made by the Board OF
Estimate Apportionment to the Public Works Dc
partment almost entirely Of that class where an ex
OF clerks and salaries paid out OF taxes was found
to exist" This is very pausiby stated, but Will IL
stand the test Of investigation For this Department
there was originally appropriated for the year 1873,
s1,65l,5Oo. was member OF the Board which made
this appropriation. The estimate upon which 1t pro-
ceeded was submitted by me, after a careful examna
ton into the requirements OF the Department which Sc
cured 10 the city a saving OF 403.ll6 96 a year
as compared with the expenditures OF the Department
in 1871 and OF S49 taxation, S5209i0 including
receipts for sewer permits compared with the appro-
priations for 1872 Upon this latter appropriation ef
actin
carried forward from last year. and the taxes for the
present year reduced by corresponding amount. The
revised appropriations OF the Board OF Estimate and APP
porOnment made for this Department for the year 1878
was sl4950o showing difference between the original
and revised estimate Of s2OOO For clerks and salaries
OF the Department paid out OF taxes, the orig
ina appropriation was exclusive OF Bureau
OF Collection and Assessments, 100000 The revised
appropriation for this purpose was $4,000,
the difference being $4,000 Any person. except evil
IDENTIFY the Controller. will admit that between $4,000
and $4,000 there is such difference shows clearly
that the reduction made by the revised appropriation
stated by the Controller almost entirely"
for clerks and salaries paid out Of taxes But this mis-
representation ia mild compared to the insnuation,
coyertly stated that Of clerks and salaries
found to exist in this Department Before submit
ting my estimate upon which the original appropriation
for 1873 was made had reduced both the force and sal
aries OF the Department to the minimum OF efficiency
For the ntSt months OF the year the WAS
paid at the salaries fixed by me. At
the request Of the Controller, furnished to him
TO be submitted TO the Board OF Estimate and
Apportonment statement OF the force Of the Depart
ment, and salaries paid out Of taxes. The Controller
never requested of any further information in refer
to this statement, nor was offered any opportu
nifty to explain any matter contained in my state
which, in the opinion OF any member OF the Board
required explanation In the most arbitrary manner
possible, and pursuing which, i appears to
me, designed rather toparayze the Department In
the discharge Of its legitimate duties than TO promote
efficiency and economy in the government the Controller
pre- pared what he pleased 10 call revised estimate
for ths Department, and by this revised estimate he
reduced the appropriation for salaries as have ex-
planned. This was entirely the act OF the Con-
troller. This estimate the one submitted to and
adopted by the Board OF Estimate aud Apportionment
I, have not been informed by the Controller who
assumes to know far better than do, the working OF
this Department. what particular clerks were In excess
of the requirements Of the Department. what particu
lar salaries in of the value Of the services
rendered All the information communicated to me was
that the appropriation for salaries for my Department.
for the present year had been reduced $4,000 and as ior
the past six months OF the year the salaries had been
paid according the original appropriation tho reduc-
ton as made must OF necessity fall entirely on the re-
naming six months which is equal to a total reduction
for this period OF s56OOO per annum To bring my ex'
penditures within this appropriation on this account
had no alternative but TO discharge several
who were a severe loss TO the Department and the SAL
aries OF all remaining have been compelled to reduce
II Is ny firm conviction that this action was not calcu-
lated to promote efficient or economical working OF
tho Department.
CARRYING THE WAR INTO AFRICA.
Here let me your Honor to contrast the action OF
the Controller reference TO the salaries OF his Depart
ent with my action reference to the salaries OF this
Department In 1871 the appropriation ior salaries or
the Department OF Finance was tOO692 o. For TINS
Department the appropriation for salaries Tor the same
year was sl95O So In 1884, reduced my estimate ana
appropriation for for the year to s225oO show
inc saving as compared with the previous year of
so o g. while the expenditures Of the Department OF
Finance for salaries in 1917 were fso5 49, or an In
crease over Connoly's administration OF si'% 49,
In 1873 again reduced my estimate for salaries to
100000, showing q saving as compared 70 1911 VI
s1OsoA g. The Controller, in the manner have e1- |
planned reduced this appropriation TO si62oo peng
reduction as compared to 1871, OF NSSOO while az the
same time he has appropriated TO his own Department
for salaries I'm 1873 s7O0o with $4,000 further under
the head OF contingencies, which may DO appneo 10
salaries and salaries OF counsel retained by him
without authority Of law, being total OF sS2O'oco
which ia higher than the salaries OF that Department
under Connolly by sls.4o7 &c.
am compelled to pay the Chief Engineer OF this De-
,artment in charge OF tho Croton Water Works by |
whose long experience in his profession and skill and
ecency in the performance of his duties the interests
Of the city are so much promoted reduced salary OF
a. ZOO while II the payments Of the Controller for the
ars three months OF the present are to be taken
criterion he pays to his favore, Mr. Hatfield osten'
s,by for examining claims for work done buildings
NJ the city at the rate OF q salary OF tl2l99 &c.
To my Deputy, officer whose zeal and
ea3ciency in the discharge Of his duties are
not surpassed by any other in the City Gov
eminent pay q salary Of 5000 while the Controller