New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-25
A CONTROVERSY on PAPER.


sTATIONERY-THE CONTROLLER AND MR. VAN
MORT AGAIN AT CROss-PURPOsEs.
Since the first of this year all of the munic-
ipa departments with exception OF the Department
Of Finance have been without stationery. Although an
appropriation OF 600 made by the Board Of APP
portiopmen to be used Oy all the departments Tor th
purpose no amount specified for each department.
except the Department Of Finance, and Commissioner
Van Mort whose department is the Bureau OF repairs
and Supplies which has heretofore had charge oil the
furnishing OF stationery to the courts and departments
communicated with the Controller. asking him to name
the amount which each department should be allowed to
expend Mr. Van Mort claims that be received no reply
from the Controller and accordingly he sent second
letter, In which he said
am still without any reply to my letters to you OF
July Il and 49, requesting information as TO INC apPr
priaon for printing and stationery. Am to un !er-
stand that you decline TO furnish tns Department WD
the Information asked for You are aware Oh e e, NV
Heads of Departments, weekly, statement OF uneA-
pended balances of the appropriation OF tMg peparE
Departments from authorizing eXpenatures Ia excess
of appropriation. Several OF the Departments
are in great need of the ordinary ana necessary suppes
of stationery and printing. IL is my duty 10 1utnsn
such supplies all Departments except Finance ana
Law but am prevented from performing this duty DN
Your ilauce To inform the Department as 70 the apPrO
pratlOn made for the purpose, ana the present cOnOh
formation shall with the greatest reluctance, feel it
to be my duty determine what means are open 10 me
ana consistent requests
The Commissioner of Public Works then wrote to the
Mayor nclOsng copies of his letters TO the Controller
and soliciting his assistance He remarks:
The Controller has not been courteous enough even TO
acknowledge the receipt Of OF the three cOnmunc-
tons He has not furnished me win the Information
desired The other departments are constantly MAKING
re0stOns on this department Tor the printing and sta
tionery required by them respectively but ia view OF
the provision OF Sec 50 OF the CHARTER wnen prohlmts
any expense being incurred by OF the departments
boards. officers thereof unless an appropriation sha
have been previously made covering such expense,
do not feel authorized IN the absence oi all Information
the state OF the appropriation to incur any liability
this account.
The Mayor atonce called the Controllers attention
the matter and received tie following in reply:
The Board of Estimate and Apportonment set apart
the OF SO 900 FOR this object Tle ioo~ngs copy
Of an extract from the minutes OF the board;
Iccpt printing tie City Recr stationery aud blank books
fiI1 c6sp $751; La%s Of 1873 and y MIS- s2S oG0
Tnc Commissioner OF Pubhc N0rRs IN his cOmmunica-
ton asks furnished with the amount
daWn against for printing and stationery for all depart,
,uer,s cxcrpt that of law and figance" Tie oficyrs
having control OF this matter have arranged 1t that It
is quite Impossible Tor me 10 state the amount have
no means whatever OF knowing what the requirements
OF the Law Department he, and cannot therefore
is supplied The Finance Department has not vet made
any estimate OF its wants for the yea. II you will
the npery VIII simply state That AZ had seemed to
tina, If the officers charged with the duty OF providing
printing and Stationery 0y contract secOn Ill Of the
ChMter) had chosen under sec. 10 chap 757, Laws OF
1873 10 ADOPT another method convenience OF all the
regular departments OF the city government would
nave been served by allowing thtm each TO provide
their stationery and printing, charging IL 70 them
respectively. In the case OF tine clvil ana pOhce
courts requisitOn approved By the Ohcers author
zea 10 provide the stationery would have been quite
convenient 10 them. la resisting some immense claims
against city for stationery ana printing, whole
SUI ieet passed under review. Tue Charter makes
some Yance previous methods OF providing sta
Ouery and printing and Il seems 10 me that saving
onethifd the amount expended is entirely prac-
oabe Up 10 the present date pay ments nave Deen
made this account mt there are liabilities winch are
properly chargeabl9 20 it, In order that the officers
having control of this appropriation may know It's con-
ditou weekly statements viii be transmitted to them,
through you their Clairman, WAlca Will exhibit the
payments said appropriation.
According to Mr.. Van Mort the Controller evaed the
main question. Mr. Van Mort again wrote to the Mayor
complaining that the heads OF the departments APP
plying to him stationery and he unable TO sup
| ,ly them with It until il determined how much
each of them should have The last letter read al
the meeting of the Board OF ApporOnmen on Saturday
but its consideration deferred until the next meet
ing of the Board 1t s Understood that tho Commissions
ers of The Ciy Record consisting of Mr. Van Mort May
nd the Corporation Counsel will take action
nbe matter OF meeting. This Is the remedy
| wien Mr.. Van Mort suggested
This confusion was Introduced DY inc controller, WIG
oaincd on s solicitation the privilege OF sup
pying his own department without reference 10 the
wants or supply of te other departments, ana he now
fakes advantage Of this concession to defeat the claims
of The other departments have their necessary sup
pes furnished to them There Is, thaR, but one rem
edV To cure this evi and that is TO place the appTopri
agn uuder the cOn,rObf ocer and as the Charter
mas b-hed Bureau In this department Tor TINS OK
pIesr purpose all resolutions which Interfere with thu
! duty should be rescmded.