The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-19
The Legislature and Comptroller
Grecn-H0w the Public Money II
Wasted.

Green-How the Public Money L.
Wasted.
Several days ago the State Legislature
requested Comptroller Green to report the
amount paid out for legal expenses on suits to
which the city has been a party since his
accession to Office. The object of the inquiry
was, no doubt, to ascertain how, much of the
peoples money had been squandered in itiga-
ton, much of which has been unwise and
unnecessary, during the last eighteen months
The reply of the Comptroller has been made,
but it is not likely to prove satisfactory
MIR. Green evidently misinterprets the mean
ing Of the inquiry, or, understanding it.
chooses to avail himself of technical inter-
probation, and to confne his statement to q
very limited class of suits. We have no doubt
that the Senate desires to know exactly how
much money Mr.. Green has paid out to
lawyers, either for counsel fees or in costs in
defending suits of all descriptions against the
city, whether paid to the plaintiffs in the suits
or to the lawyers engaged for the city (; in
fact just what Mr.. Green's litigious spirit and
passion for legal advice has cost the taxpayers
of New York. This information Mr. Green
withholds from them, and they will probably
return his present reply to him, with sharp
request for a more satisfactory statement.
If we are correct in our Interpretation of the
Senate's object in adopting the resolution Of
inquiry Mr.. Green should report to that body
the various sums he has paid to his special
counsel, amounting in all, it is said, to nearly
fifty thousand dollars. In the case of the Fire
Telegraph Construction Company's claim,
which could have been settled for one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars twelve months
ago, Mr.. Green contested payment, step by
step, through all the courts, and was defeated
on trial and appeal The consequence was
that about three or four weeks ago, under the
force of peremptory mandamus. Mr. Green
was compelled to pay the claimants over one
hundred and ninety-fve thousand dollars for
principal, interest and COSTA clear loss to
the city of over seventy-fve thousand dollars
in q single claim. In the case of Alderman
Monheimers claim for the paving of Seventh
avenue with wooden pavement Mr.. Green re-
sisted payment and engaged the services of
Mr. John ii. Strahan to prove the fraudulent
character of the claim. Subsequently Mr.
Strahan became the counsel for the claimant
instead of for the city, and less than two
weeks ago judgment was recovered and the
amount was paid by Mr.. Green in two war;
rants-one for one hundred and thirteen thou
sand dollars and the other for over nineteen
thousand dollars, the latter being drawn
against the Judgment" found. AS Mr..
Strahan received fee of five thousand dollars
ont of the latter warrant, we presume the
whole sum was for legal expenses and interest
The Senate probably desires to receive in
formation from Mr.. Green of just such cases
as these, and there are several of them, we
understand, on record in the financial depart
ment The Comptroller should be enlight-
ened as to the meaning of the Legislature, and
| then be peremptorily required to report without