New-York tribune., 1874-02-11
THE FORMER ADMINISTRATIONS.

THE FORMER ADMINISTRATIONS.
TAX COLLECTOR briggs RESENTS THE INsINUATIoNS
OF THR ExAMISERs-TAT COLLECTOR BADEAU
ADMITS THAT BIZ iUDs MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED,
AND THAT HE NEVER WHOLLY TRUSTED CAPT.
GILL.
A TRIBUNE reporter called yesterday upon
Edmund briggs and Isaac Badeau, who preceded the
present incumbent In the olce of Tax Collector to
obtain from them explanation OF the asserted frauds
In the collection OF charges and interest upon taKes the
payment Of which had beon delayed Auditor schaur-
man had stated Monday that in the opinion OF tho
Examining Board, system OF fraud had prevailed in
this Department for many years before the time OF the
present administration; that matters had been con-
Quoted very loosely under Messrs briggs aud Badeau,
and that the responsibility OF the apparent frauds
rested upon hem every opportunity should be Afforded
them for explanation. An opportunity was accordingly
given them yesterday to make explanations through the
columns OF TIKI TRIBUNE
Mr. briggs, who Collector from 1850 to 1868, inclu-
sive was found at the office OF the Wiamsburgh In
Company. OF which he is President at No Isl
Broadway When questioned upon che subject he said
that le had not yet .seen the statements OF Andt0r
schaurman aud Alderman Ropes aud the oher officials
whose testimony Impugned tho integrity OF preced-
ing administrations of tho Tax Collectors ollce After
no read carefully he declared that In his ad
minsraon there had never been any oosoness so far
he knew In any whatever. 81 never had reason
TO form the 81 ghtest suspicion said Mr.. Drlggs that
any person the Tax Collectors office, during my ad
minstration, had defrauded the city in way, and
have not discovered anything left the Office to
lead me 20 think Tle transactions in the office were
carried In careful and correct manner as In any
bank or business office. had entire confidence In my
subordnatos, and nothing they did while was In ofhce
ever made me lose that confidence. My deputy, Mr..
Badeau, served six years under my predecessor, Col
Wood and had the reputation OF thoroughly faithful,
was recommended by OF the best citizens OF
Brooklyn. Ny boOkkeeper, W. II. Butler was carefaily
educated. skilled and Trustworthy. Can't GIL, who IS
now under coui was ny RECEIVING % Serh' d 9 hd ad
shown entire mastery of his duties He mad the highest
recommendations, ani | never mad occasion TO dis
trusi or lnd fau with him. II is possible that frauds
might have committed while was in Office IN the
way cuarged-by entering less amount upon tue cash
frauds could have been carried on without their
coming TO my knowedge ! never discovered any ind
cation TO lead me TO suspect That anything OF the KIND
was going Ii there such frauds, ~ extremely
mprobabe that they were large III amount because te
risk detection would nave been great. An expert
a investigating committee might discover many
apparent discrepancies ana what the} WOuld cohsIuer
yalpable wrong and look upOU as frauds, wnen In reality
fraud had been com nlted In several instances the
interest and charges delayed taxes were RENTED by
of the Common Council but. unless tue records or
that Oody were searched The consequent discrepancy IA
the Tax Collectors Office might be looked upon as de-
faultnG Errors in appOrtonment aud IN lists aud bills
wrong in the remission of defaults The Collectors
might have been misapproprlated or even c0u-
Of which either nothing or only pare had been re.
ceycd. INVESTIGATION of tine books Kept during my
but L do not think 1t would point 10 any frauds. IL
suppose am responsible for it, but do look for
trouble In that way in conclusion, Mr. DrgSs salu
might be justice IN the declarations OF Messs
Schaurman and Ropes that IL was not proper thit he
books left unbalanced when Tax Collector re.
tiro5 from Oice bat there "a no 1oundauoh ioF 'ne
complaint Of lOOSenesS Of administration.
MR. BADEAUs VIEWS.
The reporter found Mr.. Badeau at his residence, No
% Sands-st Brooklyn. lie said that the expert, Mr..
Seaman had told him about week ago that there had
been certain irregularities in the stamping of OF
receipts papers during his administration, by
which the city had lost considerable amount. told
him." continued Mr. Badeau, what have told every
body, that ready to pay everything that the city
could claim and that IL he would reckon up the
whole amount due from me the city before he made
report or return would pay it, He replied, We shall
ruin you that way Mr. Bideau," Mr.. Bldeau also said
him. and he had always been xious to pay thing
he might the city. III any frauds or the klnd
charged In the published statements took place during
my administration" he said. &" know nothing about
them. entire confidence in those under me- had
not wholly trusted Capt GILL For instance, shomu
not have put my name on his bond aftcI leit once
Frauds Of the kind asserted might have occurred wlth
out the Collectors knowing anythhg hDout tne' anu anu
even might have reached considerable amount Inc
Collector could not take ia all the money himself MT
how discrepancies might be nagnified into frauds lie
said he had heard OF such mode OF deaultng
the simple taxes received without the interest ana
charges delayed DlllS, When the WnOle nau reaiB
been taken IN. Remss taxpayers might In few IN,
sauces had their bills made out with interest ahd
charges up certain date, retained them Tor months
and then succeeded at time when press OF business
required the attention Of the officers. In getting receipt
in iu for their obligations when larger amount was
due Mr. Badeau denied that there was any looseness
in his Observation-Disclosures had Deen cbargeh-oeyonI
what was with the force under ms control
and with tho system that time repaired by law He
could not why any Collector need be empalIassea
because his predecessor had not left his accounts oa
lancrd conclusion he urged That many errors III ap
mt and other ways, for which the Collector
could not blamed, had often taken place. the ADJUST
ment which might have caused suspicion OF 1faud
vii hout reason. The new charter he said had made
several changes in the administration ol the IdxCol
,cctor's Office had given them much atten-
lion, and could not say whether they would much
amend the methods which had been In use there.