The New York herald., 1874-08-25
Meeting of the Board Of Estimate
and ApportiOnment.
PRESIDENT VANCE on THE wARpA1H.
The Comptroller Still Harping on the In
creased City Debt and the Extrava-
gance Of the Department 4
of Public Works.

broLcr occupied MS USUAL Beat uankeQ ON tne leI6
by his faithful adjutant. Mr.. Richard A. storrs,
who had before him the usual mountainous
quantity OF financial documents, upon which
actions were to be taken by the Board.
Secretary WHEELER read the minutes Of the pre-
vtous session, which were, on motion, approved,
as were also those OF the two previous meetings.
This much settled the Comptroller led on by
offering o resolution TO transfer the sum OF S. 600
from the appropriation for repairing and pre-
serving documents IN the Record once, which was
adopted.
The COMPTROLLER next proposed that an amount
OF $4,000. from the appropriation OF the Commis-
sioners of Records for 1871 be transferred to the
contingency OF the Law Department, which was
running short owing to the insufficient appropria-
ton for 1874 Mr.. Green earnestly advocated this
measure. but Mr.. Vance moved to lay the resolu-
tlon over, and the latter's motion prevailed.
The Comptroller handed in q batch OF applica-
tions rom charitable societies for Donations which
were laid over for examination.
The COAPrRoLLRR nereupon moved to take from
the table resolution offered by him at the last
meeting, to transfer any unappropriated balance
or balances remaining In his hands, from whatever
source, to the Finance Department
In support OF hts mOt1On the Comptroller stated
that had 50 reduced the salaries 0f his employees
and also the force that there Is danger the bust
ness in mis- ONCE will sunfer.
Mr.. VANCE met the Comptrolers advocacy OF
this measure by Offering the following res0lu-
tiOn-
% & 0s 1na posp
& 81 II & s5 n % the
the departments 81 Finance made against or yabe
,s he o MADE ns $ 5 2s
lud;gnenY paid from the appropriation of saoO made
The COMPTROLLER stated that this entire subject
had been explained, as 1t had been published in
Mr. VANcE-The Comptroller has not made his
report for the second quarter OF this year ending
June 81, consequently nothing Of this nature has
80 lar been published, although have examined
the papers closely. am, therefore, unable to
judge what judgments are pending against the
city.
The CoMPTRoLLEk-In my report ending June 81
al the gentleman requires to know can be seen In
Mr.. vANcE-Before voting on any transfer of bal.
ances must know how much said balances amount
TO. will not vote for the issue OF any more long
bonds SO long as there is any unexpended balance
MIR. r. wHEELsa We likewise objected on the same
The Comptroller, however, pressed his motion,
and the resolution was again read, quoting secuon
any unexpended balances TO the use OF the Finance
Department, and again reiterated that 'he has to
rely on other bureaus to hep MN out IN his work.
and that he needed the $4,000 for the payment or
salaries"
Mr.. WHEELER remarked that 'rf the request of
the Comptroller were granted the Board would
nullliy Its previous action"
Mayor HAvEMEYER-Ifa good deal else was NULL
ned that tins Board mas passed the city would be
MIR. WHEELER proposed to lay the subject over,
and the Mayor wanted to know the usual parlla-
mentary practice on such questions when motion
had been LAID over once De1OreY However, u vote
was taken and the motion lost-rne Mayor and
Comptroller Tor and Messrs. Vance and Wheeler
the COMPTROLLER laid before the Board payroll
from the Department. OF Puolic Works, which, he
said. amounted to $4,000 and which he had no
means Of paying and II would probably need
$500, 600 more for a similar purpose before TINS
BOard maets aHaiD This the ~ do
is increased.
the MAYOR wanted to know what this labor was
for and what improvements had been made with itY
The COMPTROLLER rephed-Uptown streets and
boulevards
CoMPTRoLLRR-The Common Council. In the
course OF time million Of names are sent In here
to be paid. The Department OF Public Works has
no cneck upon It, Improvements are made long
before they are needed.
Mr.. vANcB-we sometimes get an account of
what is paid by property owners. These bonds to
meet the payment for labor are issued for city i'm
provements for which contracts have been made
contracts existing. Ihave been lighting ior two
years to have the work carried on by contract.
This is all private WORK.
ments. am inclined In opinion that something Is
loose in levying and collecting assessment bonds
collect the money before the Improvements are
made or stop improving. Assessments have been
work has been done there. The properly owners
thus lose the interest on the money which they
have paid IN good faith to have their property i'm
The Comptroller had sent for Mr.. Spencer Kirby
the Collector OF Assessments, who then came into
the Office Mr. GREEN asked Mr.. Kirby whether
everything possible was not done that could be to
collect the assessments levied. Mr.. Kirby an l
swered in the affirmative. !
MIR. VANCE said that the Comptroller misstated
his remarks. He lMr. vance, had said that 1t was
hls impression that the manner Of laying and
collecting assessments was loose. II the Comp |
troler tries to give his remarks that twist 1t is not
his Iault. ~
the collection Of assessments was loose. Mr. Kirby
replied tina. everything possible was done 10 COL
ieS5 hs sne Mnns sane, ana apsad pe.lredc a. .,ov
other system to do this collecting, to which the |
Comptroller made answer ''rhe present system or |
plan adopted. I have opposed the continued I'm
but have received no support from |
posed the laying Of the worthless rotten, wooden
pavements, which was authorized despite the pro-
test OF the Mayor and Comptroller. Work Is
and when assessments are levied It Is found that
the same assessments are vacated. l am not
bonds amounting to $500 600 for the Department
OF Public Works and here is $20o,O0o more asked
be 100000 additional asked ior-and all
wCrss and nd n. thus nqs..ni TIE city
sented is that OF the foreman, who receives Sc per
diem, and mis- name appears again for 50 per day
refused to pay the same, but the courts have de-
cided that the foreman has right TO own the
horse and cart, and must pay AS the eiecrion
these payros lncrease.r -"
The question was then taken on the issue of
$500 900 City Improvement bonds, which was car. |
red, the Comptroller, Messrs. Vance and wheeler
voting In the Affirmative and the MayOr In the |
negative. The latter said he Is determined to stop
this contract business on the ooulevards,
The C0MPTR0LLER offered resolution 10 issue
bonds amounting TO $4,000 for improving Third
avenue. in The Twenty -thlrd and TWentvfourth |
wards. and again remarked that this also Increased
the city debt. me issue was authorized BY three |
votes the Mayor voting no |
TDe COMPTRoLLBB offered an0thor resolution
which would likewise help to swell the catv in. |
deotedness-to issue " Croton Water Main Sfock u |
pursuant 70 section ll2, chapter z35 Laws OF 1874 |
amounting 70 $l50oo0-statng that the original
$l50.0O0 had already been issued lie also remarked
That Crot0n water pipes are being laid up town
now, when Will rot before people get ready to use
them. The resolution was adopted moi otwiIhstand.
ing the Mayor voted no.