The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-27
MUNICIPAL REFORM.

Mr.. H. F. FAINTER ON THE RING FRAUDS.
The Municipal Reform Association Of the Seventh
Assembly district held meeting at No. 43 South
Washington square last evening, Mr.. F. b. Thur
Der IN the chair. After the usual preliminary
proceedings Mr.. Fl. f. Tanter, OF the Comptroller's
office, delivered an address upon 1.-THE Ring
Frauds" He said these frauds were set down In
the newspapers at s30,O0o,OoO He wished he
could stop there. This amount consisted OF direct
payments made from the city and county treas
uries on warrants signed by the notorious official
robbers and was Independent OF all the Depart
menJs except that OF Public Works, which paiu
out their own disbursements Neither does it IN
clude the amounts pald under contracts. The
things burdened with this vast amount are the
adjusted clains-the new Court House, the Har-
lem Court House, repairs and alterations OF the
Lqueduct, street lamps, &C. The authority for the
payment ofthe bills OF the county found In the
action OF the Board OF supervisors In the com.
mission appointed by the Legislature and known
IS the Interim Board and the Court House Com
mission. In the city he regarded the Board of
Public Works as chiefly responsible. Mr.. fainter
then called attention to the special legislation
passed in the interest OF the Ring thieves BY
which they were enabled to perpetrate
legality. Tue most important or these may
be found IN Sec !, chap. s53, of the Laws
trolier 20 adjust claims; the ostensible OBJECT
being being 10 prevent costly and unnecessary litlga-
ton. That LEGISLATION cost the city sl,OooOCOa
$G2l4,5o4 10, of which, PROBABLY, from ei.hty.ive
TO ninety yer cent was based fraudulent
claims. the law directed payment by, the issue
!axatIon; bat before the assessment Of
funded and permanent debt OF the city.
Durine the wear 1867 Connolly nad exhausted all
the genuine element in ihis fraudulent structure.
By Ulll passed the 10th OF April 1870 all lIapil.
ties conirace ed before the passage of the act were
TO be audited oy the Mayor ana Supervisors. and
revenue bonds issued therefor. This opened the
way Tor rad on the Treasury by which $780, 600
were obtained, and which was Afterwards added
to the permanent debt. In January, 1865, debt
was $685. 000 000 On the 10th September 1871 it was
s97, COO An analysis OF this increase shows
thai $iG 600 900 OF 1t was fraudulent. The speaker
then described the process bv which the frauds
had been traced and the names OF the persons 10
whom the money was paid discussed Many OF tho
"hrms" were bogus, and nuniber OF the persons
whose Dames appear III the body OF the warrants
were proven to lie fictitious. 1t Is gener-
any supposed that these moneys passed
into wide crce, but this is not COR
rect; The recipients were few and the per-
eentage paid each has been tracec and can be
shown at the proper time. lie claimed that the
firm OF lngersoil & 60. had no existence save ior
the purpose oil distribution, and through concur
rants by the firm and Of checks by tue various
members OF tGe Ring he was enabled to arrive nc
tDe percentage received Dv cacn. At the cunclu-
;on of NJ. Iaintor's address the following resolu.
l0ns were adOpteu:-
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved that II Is DISGRACE to the men who admin
MD county OF New YORK during the three years Ring
Eie no portion has been recovered, and that the men
tansfer ana DISPOSE OF their i'll gotten gains. j.
aesoyei That the members OF tbs association will
Tic Ring robbers pressed 10 speedy trial.
The meeting then adjourned.