The New York herald., 1873-11-25
WAR ON TEE CON7INGENT FUHD
Wholesale Slaughter Of Some Expenditures
and Advance in Others.
FavOritism in the Comp
troller's Office.


Charles s. Spencer and Mr.. Bernard Bglin, mem
bers elect TO the Assembly, and many other ON.
cials
After the reading OF the minutes and transaction
Of routine business the subject for which the ses-
sion was held was called up. Mr.. Henry Smith rose
and stated TO the Board tnat far back Septem-
ber his commission had been called upon to hand
In the estimate for the expenditures OF 1874,
and the statement presented to the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment was reduced to the
very lowest figure and the sum asked for duly ap-
prOprated. Since then the annexation Of the
lower Westchester towns, which In September was
only mooted question, has now become reality.
adding two new wards to the city, comprising as
much territory New York ITSELF The bill for the
provision OF annexation now completed by the
vote in November, the police force must be en-
larged as to cover the newly created precincts.
The men now on duty there are by law created
policemen Of the city OF New York. 70 meet this
expense his commission VIII require $4,000
and for the purpose OF cleaning streets In the new
wards, $4,000 Thus the new Twenty-third
and Twenty-fourth wards viii cost the Po-
lice Department 100000. Furthermore, Mr..
Smith stated that the appropriation made by the
Board OF Estimate and Apportonment OF 81, 0oo, 900
for street cleaning will be found to be inadequate,
and that the committees recommendation to in
would meet the requirements.
On motion Of Alderman COOPER the subject OF
the extra appropriation was referred TO the CON-
mttee having the subject IN charge.
The Committee on Public Works reported the fol-
lowing additions TO the appropriation for the De-
partment OF Public Works.
For maintenance q three additional floating ~,
For lamps and gas Instead of s75oooo $1,000
Femoyns 81 o6sarucons I In streets and avenues in mn
Streets, repaving repairs stone pavements,
ihs'e"u VI e'oVoVo oo'ooV
After considerable debate pro and con, motion
to adopt the committees report was adopted, Al
derman Ottend0rfer voting in the negative.
The Committee on Salaries and Onices reported
in favor OF reduction in the appropriation for the
Mayors Office and Legislative Department, the
former $1l, 900 and the latter $4,000 AS the last
named would reduce the salaries of the clerks OF
the Board only the Mayors portion OF saving was
adopted.
Alderman JENKINS VAN SCHAICK, Chairman OF the
Committee on Finance, hereupon handed the Clerk
the following report, bearing on the appropria-
ton for the Finance Department.
The Committee Finance Of the Board of Aldermen
ad 'sy
Board Of ESTIMATE and Appor,ienmen, OF the require.
a u ss.ss that
=;
and d. I ,s. Of bs Largely q
accounts and decreases have been made and
w ahs oI or seST sE amount for salaries
cleaning es9ssst 1sssa'e s Sc 'e'eae
Charges arrears OF taxes and as
Legal expenses Finance Department. 1900
Ssvision q taxes church property. lsoSS 1900
S,i Chamberlaini lain office dor months; 10000
Guiding salaries Bureau OF Assess
ments tor eight months S,C&
Totals. ..........................s sa5oa sl3Os2
fnsrease Hs Of salaries iD 1874 over 1873 ssSs @
Deduct four months salaries, Bureau OF Assess
ments, not included in 1873 say at rate of $4,000
per ahnum 1888
Actual increase for salaries .e24749
Provision is made IN the estimate OF $1,000 for the sal
ary OF Deputy Comptroller required by law. This
SAVED il e future o Of cSsctor
There 70 be y2Sancss IS IN the a
to some So 900 per annum ~ '''' 's'NA' An0 '''ns
It sppears there & are re not far from 2oe appointments in
from 5000 down to $500 each Of which can
Sf a. hs s and the salaries or
s nd for os in the
ants experts, &C. in Investigating work claims and ac
$4,000 is more than ample for the purposes named
PHrER PETE i KEHR E2kA'S
When the Clerk had finished reading the above
report Alderman VAN SCHAICK rose and made an
analysis Of the Comptroller's Office He said that
Tor nearly two years the office OF Deputy Comptrol-
ler had been vacant, and in case any mlshap befen
the head OF the Finance Bureau there would be no
one legally authorized TO administer Its affairs.
Mr.. Storrs, the Acting Deputy Comptroller, had
been employed Dy Mr.. Connolly at a salary OF
$4,000 per annum, and at present he receives only
$4,000. Why does the Comptroller not appoint him
to the yacancy II the man is competent to admins
The speaker knew OF one instance where Com
missioner Van Mort dismissed man from his
employ Tor gross incompetency, and this very man
was now an attache OF the Comptroller, at salary
OF $1,000 per annum, and does not perform three
hours labor per diem. There are many other en-
ployes out OF the 200 men engaged here, drawing
handsome salaries. majority OF whom do not
know now S,ns TO cross sn or dot an / ana ne tne
recommended by his committee, In the expenses
OF the Comptroller's office to be extremely lenent
The % report Twas was received and the recommends
The appropriation for the ONCE OF Taxes and
Assessments was reduced $4,000, and for printing
anu stationery Ths sxi4n NM iaaopREsMh pREAS4hssf ss000
report was made by the Committee on Laws
and places, to whom had been referred the appro-
prtation for the Board OF Health, reducing the
same from $217.500 to $123 $50. This recommenda.
tion caused considerable debate which was parti.
cipated in by Aldermen van Schack. Billings and
0ttendorler, all OF whom opposed the same, the
ground that this bureau was composed of most
intelligent as well as skilled gentlemen, who per-
form an immense amount Of labor. The motion to
adopt the report was lost on a tie VOTE reconsid-
cred and recommitted to the committee.
The Fire Department. Charities and Correction
and Department OF Buildings were lett untouched.
REDUCING GREEN'S CONTINGENT FUND.-
The Committee on Repairs and Supplies reported
in favor OF reducing the contingency for the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES at $500 ooo-to 100000
lending up with the mandate that none OF the
money shall be used Tor the purpose OF legislation
ana without concurrent vote OF the Common
Council
Alderman VAN SCHAICK remarked that this would
stop the use OF funds for paying lawyers engaged
in lobbying, &c.
Alderman 0TrESDoRFER opposed the reduction
on the ground that, owing to the annexation OF
new territory, extra expenses unforeseen Will arise
| which required new appropriations.
Alderman VAN SCHAlCK wanted 10 explode the
idea that the Board OF Estimate and Appointment
consisted OF five members. IL IS virtually composed
OF one, and that is the Comptroller. The Mayo
and MIR. Wheeler take no responsibility; the only
| Independent man in the Board Is the President
| (Mr. vance,.
| Alderman BILLINGS was opposed to the Comp
| troer having power to handle such an amount OF
money, but there contingencies constantly
! occurring and as the money cannot be used unless
by an unanimous vote OF all the members, he could
see no danger OF It's being Incorporated.
/ Alderman COOPER favored the amount to be
| placed at S250,0