New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-08
MUNICIPAL FINANCES.
THE CHAMBERLAIN's REJoIEDER TO THE CON
TROLLER's CHARGES.

THE CHAMBERLAIN's REJOINDER TO THE CON
TROLLER's CHARGES.
Chamberlain Palmer has prepared an elab-
crate reply to the letter which Controller Green recently
addressed TO Mayor Hayemeyer In regard TO an
alleged mismanagement OF the city's money.
He notices the Controllers charges In detail, begin
ming with the balance due the State for taxes
In 1871 which, according to Mr.. Green, wac long since
paid the County Treasurer but which mas Deeh re-
tanned The amount in question is soO3i6 o. The Cham
berain claims that, with two exceptions, the ii pay
ments cited by the Controller we're made day or TWO
after the warrants signed and that there was
forfeiture Of 10 per cent from delay in remittanees
beyond Dec !, 1871, the Controller was at fauit III
OBTAINING the warrants in his Office. The Chamberlain
incosed transcripts OF his accounts with the state Con-
troer TO show that the interest claimed by the state
arises from the fact that instance was warrant
drawn until after Dec and In some cases not until hVe
or six months after the time when the interest began
The Chamberlain thus comments upon the accounts anu
receipts which he incoses
at will be perceived that predecessor deducted
from his remttances to the State Treasury his one per
cent Oh the 100000 which passed through his hands
and that deducted my fees the s3OSl6ol 50 when
passed through my hands and have never 10 this day.
heard any objection from any Of the state officials 10 our
doing But Mr.. Green, in saying that he has received
from the State Controller an account claiming bal
anoe due from this county for the state taxes OF 1s7i
amounts we have retained for fees On the other hand
have always supposed and do believe that any bal
ance due for State taxes OF ISL arises from the claim
for forth in the above account from the
state Controller The question whether am entitled by
law TO the amount l have retained for my fees am
ready to at any moments and as have never con-
cealsd either from him OF the State Controller the
amount that retained, the reason for my DONG so
confess cannot discover any poprety in the attempted
mputaton on my integrity Or my official fidelity IN
which he seems 10 be ready to indulge"
On the second count, the interest on public deposits
the Chamberlain reasserts that the law OF 1906 directing
him to select public repositories has never been
repealed and that It would have been an easy matter
for the interest money of the last year. amounting to
s20OcO to have long since been paid into the puohc
treasury il the Controller would only have withdrawn
the obstacle he himself nerposed TO the operation OF
lawwhich has been soemnly adjudged to be sun IN luli
force, that has been the only obstacle III the way ol
The charge that he refused to pay 100000 directly to
the state through the Manhattan Company met Dy he
citation OF the law which provides that warrants loI
city funds must be drawn upon the ChaihDeIlan a ~
not the deposit banks lie Insists also that ING Iate
compensation to the Chamberlain a. County treasurer
is not the product of recent LEGISLATION ana quotes the
statutes 10 establish the legality OF his claims.
The Chamberlain thus sums up his controversy WIN
one OF the first acts which had to perform taking
my Office to resist the Controllers attempt to get
the control OF the public moneys and strip then
OF the protection which the law had wisely provided for
them. The disclosures then being made warned me
]
20 succeed and was advised and believed that IL was
my duty keep watch over the drafts OF the Con-
rOer upon those moneys 80 lar as tle stare moneys
were concerned It my duty not the City Controllers
to pay them into the state Treasury. 20 far as Tue
city and county moneys were concerned IL was Dy law
| made my duty TO see that appropriation was eX-
cceded by the head OF the Finance Department II was
true that the Mayor might before he countersgned tue
Controllers drafts, that, but was aware that
that officers cOuntersignng was, ordinarily, mere
matter FORM and that he chose 10 depend on the con
oer To see that the appropriations not exceeded,
and therefore it that felt II my most Imperative
duty To keep the watch which the law in express terms
imposed upon my Office. | attempted at first 10 avoid
the impending conflict by gratutous oilers OF COM
promise which involved personal Liabilities on my part
that otherwise would have been unnecessary but would
! have attained the end | had in view Their re
| lection by HIM rendered 1t necessary for me "a
be frm and rigid in my opposition 10 every attempt al
| the threatened usurpaton From that moment pave
He has refused for more than year TO pay me
any OF the compensation nom the cry ahu county
DEPRIVE me OF that from the state ~ which, III com
mon with all the county or the state, was
| entitled He claimed the right 10 appoint all the
/ suDOrdluatcs In my office, ana even 10 the extern
! ~ Giving them power without my consent, to
draw out every dollar that in the Treasury Though
our courts have sOemnly decided that ne has no such
power, he still persists in claiming It, lie has for more
than year prevented collecting interest ON the pub
In he denosit hanks 10 defray the expenses OF my Of
flee. and attempted to compel me to allow them TO be
maid by taxation the people He has nterfered with
The deposits and prevented that equality of distribution
which the law eBOined. And he now completes his en-
| nifty TO me under the form or q letter 10 the
chief magistrate OF the city, in which he insinuates
what he dare not openly ayOw, various mputatons on
NV character as a and conduct a public Off
GER And al this for what mat by these annOyances
ne NAV drive meas he did my predecessOr-from my
office and have a crsature OF his own appointed in my
place from whom he may encounter no such obstacle 10
his nsnruations In this he cannot succeed will al
WAYS not only but court the fullest nYestga
ton OF my conduct but cannot yield to force or fraud
Judge Barrett stated yesterday 20 exJudge Edmunds,
Mr. Palmers counsel that he had disposed OF the in
uncon matter In the manner he did merely with the
view OF hurryng up counsel IN the case, aud
that n the plaintiff did not hand in his order tmme-
diataly he would recall the original papers file and
decide the question them alone In the suit OF Mr..
Foley In the Superior Court an arrangement lad been
made to argue the appeal next week