The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-29

body wanted o nomination and crowds hung about
the doors OF the Mayors once looking for reform
'plum." Mr.. Jacob J. Banta was fortunate TO have
friends who swore he was one OF the finest men in
the city, and the Mayor, on their recommendation,
nomina ted him, with three others. for the ONCE OF
Inspector Of Weights and Measures. Among the
others was man named Thomas s. Kent. and
when all had been confirmed Banta aud Kent were
assigned to duty inspectors for the First district
OF the city. Banta plumed himself slightly on his
good fortune, and laid himself out for good
official time and o proper share of enolu-
ments. He Knocked around with commensurate
dignity and told oil whom he knew that he was.
going to inspect things In style; he was going to
have a horse and buggy and look after things In .
business like way The compensation for the duties
OF the office is derived from fees. The glory OF the
official honor and title Of inspector seems to have
lasted some time with Banta, for he
COULDN'T GET DOWN TO HIS WORK
during the warm months OF June and July, but no
tackled business some weeks ago. He found to his
horror that there comparatively little work to
be done. Kent, who didn't want buggy to go
around with and who is evidently an energetic
sort Of man, had inspected the whole district
within few weeks after his appointment,
and as he had done the work he Of course
had collected the proper fees therefor. Banta.
properly and went the rounds OF the district IN
speeding things again anG taking fees, TOO. When
y ad an s naa fer nn aea
imposed upon and that the Inspector whom they
had seen was fraud Then the real simon Pure,
Banta himself, would inspect, and to convince the
people that he was the legal Inspector he charged
in some cases double or treble the lee which the
went to the Mayors ONCE once or twice aud
denounced the other Inspector as being deusion
somebody went and complained to the Mayor about
Banta, and the Mayor invited Banta to
COME AND SEE HIM,
and Banta, anticipating much consolation. went,
and the Mayor spoke to him yesterday morning In
Good morning Mr.. Bantai WHAT'S this trouble2
What do these charges against you imply"
Banta didn't understand the aliusion, and the
s1hey are Jrumped up charges to inlure me.
This whole arrair is Dut-up job" was the reply.
Mayor, and he handed to Banta for examination
hall dozen formal receipts on printed slips, with
Bantas own signature for the receipt OF fees Ban
ia weakened instan taneously, and then said some.
thing aDout counting full Investigation There Is
no appropriation, however, with which to organize
a court. The Mayor thought he was court enough,
and, after little further conversation he awarded
DIPLOMA TO TRAVEL oN:-
CRY Hall. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
NRw York, August 20 1873.
sIR-Take notice that in consequence of complaints
and others insps their weights and measures
ses Tor ne MAJ already been onee
he sa' or
Sss q sha & s1:!
decaTsd Ma as5soy
In the course OF the interview His Honor gave
Banta to understand that, as an official, he had
proved hi nself to be "a standing nuisance,n and
win probably abandon the reform party thus iaii
THE sorry RECoRp.n
Ameeting OF the Guy record Board was held
the Corporation Counsel and che Commissioner Of
Public Works. Commissioner Van Mort brought
and supply wc wa the saec h
letter 10 the Mayor, already published a lew days
ago. lie stated that he had addressed three sew
eral communications TO the Comptroller upon the
subject, with view OF ascertanng the amount
unexpended OF the appropriation OF $4,000 upon
which he might draw. The resolution originally
adopted permitted the Departments OF Law, FL
nance and Public Works TO draw for themselves
upon the appropriation, and all other departments
drew for their supplies upon the latter depart
ment. He had received no reply however, to h.s
communications and the consequence was that
there was
GREAT EMBARRASSMENT.
The resolution after some discussion was re-
peaed, and the rule requiring all departments in
Guiding Law aud Finance, to draw upon Commits
sioner Van Mort was declared to be IN full force.
communication was received from Colonel
Pnckney, Clerk OF the Common Council, setting
forth substantially that there was no appropriation
Gil, and stating that little $4,000 had been
already expended, or had become due for work
done when the appropriation OF that sum was
made. He therefore desired that some provision
be made for the printing for the balance OF the
year.
The communication was referred to the Mayor as
MEMBER OF the Board OF Estimate and Apporuon.
ment, with power.
II will be remembered that there was considcra-
Bile surprise expressed when the contract for print
tractor, p W. Rhodes. should nave stipulated to do
the work at less than ordinary rates. The reason
peared before the Board and asked It's authorize,
tion permitting him to publish in the Record
such advertisements as surrogate's notices,
tpuo
notices, sunmonses, &c. He based his claim
on the provision OF section g. chapter 1853, Laws OF
Nothing contained In section 3 or chapter 355,
Laws OF 1878, shan prevent the publication or any
ever, that no such publication shah be made unless
the same Is authorized Dy concurrent vote OF the
and snss ns had
met with
from supervisor Dlsbecker In this matter, and ne
presumed there had been an arrangement
OF some sort made on behalf of some
that that that insinuation implied that this
Board desired TO act unfairly. MIR. Rhodes denied
intending 70 make any saen "a the cSarer
and showed that such publication coud not %
made under the law, and that these sectlons weae
30 modified and harmonized originally 10 deleas
Just su IN a plan as this proposed He said ne was
present at Albany when these various mea astans
were discussed and framed and knew tne in.ens
OF the trainers as well as the meaning Oh tne ie.er
OF the law lie closed by stating that sacn cre
not .oficiaI" in the sense contemplate, , os
e e Wss m nn improper that the
city should place itself In competiti9nn w,tn inc
regular advertising mediums anu Puumsn osueI'
matters than It's own oirlcal proceedings ana re.
ceive pay therefor. The Mayor SAID tast even
these yertlsements we're receives ana lnserteo
he did NOT understand how Rhodes, who Is the
printer and not the publisher OF the paper, could
receive more than the contract price per thousand
nemsv for his actual printing. To receive the full
Il rates of these ''adsr as he proposed would make
him publisher OF the paper, SO lar as they were
concerned.
ton Counsel for his opinion, which means tnal
although Mr.. Rhodes little negro has been coaxed
out OF the fence he will die natural death from
the consequent exposure,