The New York herald., 1874-07-25
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
A DIsCORDANT QUARTET.
Meeting Of the Board of Appor-
tionment Yesterday.
The Old Battles Fought
Over Again.

The Board OF Apportonment met yesterday
morning at eleven O'Clock in the Comptroller's
Once, the Mayor looking rotund and joi,y the
Comptroller appearing stf and formal and cold,
while Mr. Vance bore himself with his peculiarly
lofty dignity, and his colleague Mr.. Wheeler,
smiled aud bowed at every one with mis- wonted
pollteness. Deputy Comptroller Storrs whose
Dimensions begin 10 rival those of the Mayor, at
tended the meeting, acting Mr. Green's secre-
tary and prompter.
Mr. WHEELER, the Secretary OF the Board, read
the minutes OF the last meeting in reference TO the
issue OF assessment bonds
Mr.. GREEN moved that the approval OF the min
utes be postponed until he had time to examine
the resolutions adopted at that session. They
were oi great Importance on account Of the large
assessments which they necesstated
Mr. WHEELER made the point that the resolu-
tions were not copies but originals, and had been
perfectly accessible to the Comptroller, as they
(the originas) had been in his once ever since.
THE OLD VOTE.
Mr.. Green's motion TO postpone action on the
minutes was then lost by the following vote:--
Yeas-Green and Havemeyer; nays-Wheeler
and Vance.
Mr.. WHEELER then moved to adopt the minutes.
Same vote same result.
A blank pause ensued after which His HONOR
he had voted for laying the minutes on the table
because the Comptroller had desredit. {Mr. Green
looked very grave ana did not seem TO be ap-
peased) 1t would have been impoite to have been
otherwise, as the Comptroller had the greatest
share OF responsibility IN the matter, and he
therefore ought 20 have an opportunity to examine
the resolutions before they became binding. He
did not think the Mayor smiled as he SAID this
that the Comptroller had any sinister design in
asking TO be allowed TO read the resolutions care
fully, and 1t was but natural that he (the Comp
troler) had not had the time to do since the
last nesting.
Mr.. VANCE inquired whether the Comptroller
suspected that there were any inaccuracies IN
these accounts.
Mr.. GREEN, nothing daunted, retorred that there
might be for all he knew, as they had only been
casually read here.
The subject was then dropped, to the manifest
relief OF all the members
HINT TO MR. VAN MORT.
Mr. GREEN then addressed the Board on the sub
ject or the large amounts OF money required for
the laborers the Boulevard. There were 500
more men employed there this week than during
the corresponding week last year, and their pay
amounted to 100000 month He thought that
those works in the upper part OF the city ought not
to be pressed unduy. This was dig at Commits
present to receive it.
Mr.. GREEN moved that he be authorized to issue
$50, 900 assessment bonds from time time as re.
quirea. The motion was carried.
resolution was passed to pay DR.. Hammond
s4Ss lor medical services special post-mortem
examinations}.
The CONTROLLER read a long paper setting forth
the great number of assessments vacated by the
various courts, and the great expenses caused
thereby. He finally offered resolution asking the
Commissioner OF Public Works for his estimate Of
the amount required Tor the completion OF these
works, the assessments on which had been vacated
by the courts. He called upon the Secretary, Mr..
Wheeler, to state whether copy Of the resolution
adopted by the Board on June 23 requesting
this information had been sent to Mr.. Van Mort.
Mr.. WHEELER stated that by an oversight he had
omitted to transmit copy OF the resolution TO the
Department OF Public Works. but would do so i'm
medately.
Mr.. GREEN said month had elapsed since the
passage OF that resolution. Pubic business could
not go on properly unless tney had a secretary
who wound promptly attend to his duties.
The resolution offered by Mr. Green was rejected
by the votes OF Messrs. Vance and Wheeler.
The MAYOR sad that the Secretary tMr. Wheelerl
had frequently spoken to him OF
HIS DESIRE TO RESIGN THE POSITION.
He saw 1.-The way business was conducted here"
The Comptroller, that great and good man. was
put to considerable inconvenience by reason OF
the papers being IN the hands OF persons outside
posed to relieve the secretary OF his orerous
duties and TO appoint gentleman who would find
no Iaut with his duties. He moved that the Comp
trOler ACT hencetorth as Secretary.ol OF the Board.
Here the Mayors eve lighted on that OF the Comp
troller, ana they smiled.)
This motion was lost by the following significant
vote:-
Yeas-Havemeyer and Green; nays-vance and
Wheeler.
Mr. GREEN grmiy bowed to MIR. Wheeler, and
moved that he continue to act as Secretary.
Before the motion was entertained Mr.. WHEELER
complained that he would be put 10 great deal OF
inconvenience If the papers were lett IN the Comp
The MAYOR said that he only considered the in
terests Of the people, and never looked at q ques-
ton from Green, Wheeler, Vance or Reilly
point Of view.
Mr.. GREEN reiterated his complaint that he had
no opportunity to examine papers before he signed
them.
MR. WHEELER TO THE FRONT
Mr. WHEELER said the resolutions regarding the
assessment bonds were exactly as read before the
meeting, and II the Comptroller had sent u clerk
for them he could have obtained them at once Tor
examination. He had offered last January TO re.
sign. and the Mayor had told him that he wanted
him 'to be 8 check on the Comptroner;H - and how
couid he uhl this purpose without the .papersY
Mr. GREEN pressed his motion that Mr. Wheeler
continue 10 act.
Nj vANcE made the point OF order that there
was no vacancy.'and that the motion was there
foYe, inadnisSiDle.
The MAYOR came to Mr.. Green's assistance and
delivered IL speech. He said the pubic business
was greatly retarded by the papers being In one
place whiic the business relating TO these docu-
ments was transacted in another place. He, Tor
one, was willing to trust Mr. Green; bur. perhaps,
Mr.. Weeeler was not. No good could come OF
these petty qnaffcls. IT PANIED nm to see mat
ters OF Importance assume such partisan shape.
Mr. NANCE inquired II the minutes oi the Board
were not always accessible 80 the comptroller.
The MAYOR sand the Comptroler's ONCE the
place for them, and not the Tax once.
LIVELY TILT.
Mr.. VANCE said this Board of AppoFtoIment was
as Independent OF The Finance department as
IL was Of the Mayors onice or The Tax Depart
mcnt. He was opposed 70 having this Board
merged IN the Finance Department.
fhe MAYOR Sad he was also opposed TO that.
Mr. GREEs SAID tne Finance Department was the
lfrAt. fstf,a
mortal II had been the duty OF the head Oi the
finance department TO submit tue budgets OF the
dnerent departments not the duty oi the Presi-
dent OF the Board OF Aldermen or Of the lax De-
partment, some agreement must be made by
when the papers should he left with him.
Mr. WHEELER insisted that, as Secre tary OF the
Board, ne was the proper custodian OF the papers.
He was secretary Of the Board, ana he deemed 1t
his duty TO remain IN his position for the present.
The MAYOR gave II az lls opinion that 1t was