The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-02
MORE IRREGULARITIES AT
THE HALL.
The Department Of Finance Again
In Trouble.
What Does It Mean

We are reluctantly forced to :he conclu
sion that affairs III the Department of Fl
nance at the City Hall are loosely and dan
serously ma aged.
The various rumors which have gained
currency on the streets and which have
formed the principal topic of conversation
among brokers and business men generally,
have brought the actions of the Administrator
Of Finance somewhat prominently before the
people, and the BULLETINS expose of the
Metropolitan warrant transaction created
painful and profound sensation.
Inexplicable as that matter was, we We're
consoled by the reflection that the city had
not been a loser by the transaction, and
while we did not approve the manner III
which a broker was permitted to enter the
Administrators office and speculate OH
Cancelled warrants, yet there was nothing
showing any criminal completely on the
part of Mr.. Schneider, and the small,
amount made by the broker was not snili-
cient to make noise about
Scarcely, however, has the warrant bust
ness been settled than other graver rumors
are set ahoat in regard to irregularities i'll
the office which leave the door wide open
for fraudulent practices, and render possible
extensive speculations on the part vi those
in the department.
The matter is somewhat complicated ami
will require some explanation. Under an
ordinance all certificates of appropriation
and other city scrip paid in for taxes are re-
quired to be endorsed by the party paying.
and a statement made over his signature OF
the purposes for which they paid. 1t is the
duty of the AdmnistI ator under the or
dinance to see that this is done.
When certificates, etc, are thus paid in
and endorsed, they should be sent at once
into the Department Of Public Accounts.
where they are cancelled, filed away and
warrant issued for them, which is returned
TO the Administrator of Finance as Il
voucher, and authorizes him to appropriate
the amount to the redemption of the scrip
paid in.
Now, it is manifest that if warrants OF
certificates, or any character of city scrip
were paid in unindorsed, that the party re
ceiving such evidences of Indebtedness
might hold them in his possession and
through broker exchange them for other
evidences of Indebtedness that were selling
at a lower rate on this market and make
the difference.
Now it is alleged that just exactly this
thing has been done, that brokers presenting
warrants, etc, in payment for city taxes,
have been told that they need not make the
endorsement required by law, and that large
amounts of scrip have been paid in to the
Department of Finance unindorsed.
Hearing these statements on the street,
and being DESTROYS of gaining accurate i'll
formation, we proceeded to the Department
of Public Accounts. and made inquiry as to
whether any city scrip had ever been turned
over to that department without the requi-
site Endorsements. We We're surprised to
learn that such had been the case, but that
the Administrator of Public Accounts, as
was his duty, refused to issue for those GER
tificates cash warrant, and had returned
them to the Department of Finance, where
they have remained ever since.
This is very serious matter indeed, and
involves much graver consequences than
the warrant business. 1t proves laxity in
the conduct of tie Finance Department
which is most reprehensble, and Mr.. Schnei-
der is expected by the people, who placed
him in the very responsible position which
he holds, to make satisfactory explanation.
The Mayor, having with commendable
promptness, had an nyestisa cation into the
warrant matter, will, no doubt, take steps
to what cause for complaint exists III
the present instance.
1t is an old adage, but true one, tina
where there is mich smoke there must be
fire, or II modern saying might be impro-
vised for the occasion, where there are
many and continuous rumors of fraud, there
is fraud.