New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-18
MUNICIPAL FRICTION.

THE COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS Numbered IN
THEIR woRK-THE CORPORATION COUNSEL TO
BE ASKED TO DEFINE THEIR POWERS.
A reporter of THE TRIBUNE was informed
yesterday that the Commissioners of Accounts becom-
ing tired OF the opposition encountered by them in ex-
aiming the books and papers In the Controllers Office
and the obstacles thrown in their by the Controller
and his employees, had addressed to the Corporation
Counsel communication asking him clearly to define
the powers OF the Commissioners Of Accounts,
as conferred by the new Charter, relative TO compelling
uuble officers to exhibit to the Commissioners the
counts OF their departments. The reporter called on
Commissioner Howe, and asked him concerning the
communication. He admitted that such document had
beer prepared but said that it had not yet been sent to
the Corporation Counsel. He seemed much surprised
that any intimation of the matter should
have passed beyond their office. He ana
his colleague believed that the section OF
the Charter defining their appointment and powers,
gave them authority compel an exhibition OF papers,
The section provides that the Commissioners snail once
in three months, and oftener II they deem IL proper
examine all vouchers and accounts in the Offices OF the
Controller and Chamberlain, and publish detaIeu
statement OF the financial condition of the city, showing
the amount of its funded and floating debt, ana the
amounts received and expended since the preceding
report with classification Of the sources OF rev.
enue and expenditure and such other information
as they shall deem proper. Any one OF Sucn
Commissioners shall have authority at any time TO make
any such examination 1t to obtain the opinion Oh
the recognized law officer OF the comfy relative 10 the
extent OF the authority thus conferred that the commu
nication was written He would be willing to submit
copy of the communication for publication except that
Ire thought that it would be dscourteous to the Corpo
ration Counsel do until the original had been given
him. The Commissioners had always Deeh
treated cautiously by the Controller, and he mad
promised them access TO all the accounts IN
his Office Nevertheless they were not forth
coming from those having them In charge. on one
occasion OF employees IN the Controllers once re-
fused them access to certain papers, and locked Ihe
door in their faces The Commissioners are now en-
deavorug 10 ascertain the amount OF the oatng deDt
of the city They hold that the unpaid certhed claims
in the Controllers Office part OF the cltys DEBT ana
must eventually be paid. Therefore they demand 10
see these claims. The employees in the Controlers once
had turned between 100000 and sgOOWO OF THESE
certified claims said this all there was Inc
Commissioners knew this to be incorrect because tney
had been furnished by the heads OF Departments
with copies of the bills certified by Them as correct ana
forwarded the Controllers Office where they now re-
main unpaid. The amount Of these claims ne knew
was largely in Of the amount gwen al the Con
trolers Office One disputed bill alone amounted 10
$500 600 and there others OF magnitude. lie ana
his associate wished continue good terms WIN th
Controller but they must have access TO all the Ofclai
papefs and documents IN the Finance Department II
their report ever to be completed.