New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-25
uRPrGVIAR TRANSFERS.


supplies moderately and. If necessity nave tns Oils
made pay able in 1874 as " come out 81 the aPopn
alton for that year.
IRREGULAR TRANSFERS.
This pan however, was not adhered to; but at meet
ing held in October motion of Commissioner Wilam-
SON IL WIS resolved that the bookkeeper be directed to
upon the books of the Department several sums
amounting the aggregate to SlO319 49, from inc oeot
Of the Maintenance account TO the debit Of the Constrc
Il dccount and in order that tle pV t I'LL, 80
with those Of the Finance Department the secretary was
directed certify to the Controller upon the pay Vls iH
amount oi sI03j9 ga CONSTRUCTION out OF tho Main
the Board the Oookeeper made such an entry as IL Su
Sr1ed Min to x fS and a ts entry ts ua s%
OF SlO359 So to Maintenance account account; b., me
action Of tho Department during the first four months
of 1873 by Gsns part OF 1t ior eonstraei9h poses
ance Of the above resolution, three payols amount
iug 10 81 Sl3 49, and Dec 30, 1873 the DooAkcoper
PARK whereby he charges that account with $i33s3 90,
being just tho amount OF moneys Inlsapped OUT Oh
crnnIson created by this Irregular system OF conducting
the Affairs Of the Department renders II Impossible 10
accurately determine from its accounts It's true position
The bills and purchases made In the latter part OF 1873
by the Department. were found to DC IN eAeess 81 t, te
as were Transmitted TO the Finance Department az al-
rcablc to 1873, were returned to the department OF
PARKS and this time remain unpaid w al amount
slightly exceeding SllOoO.
IXPENDTrURrs EXCEEDING APPROPRIATIONS.
1t is further stated that in June, 1874, new book
zee
made no balance sheet for December for the year. as
lie claims that all the accounts balanced and II was un-
necessary willie the books Of the Department show that
there are number Of unbalanced accounts dating back
to 1871 st open, and la ing dc5 or credit balances Ia
from tue items OF the construction account OF Nay,
1879 appears inA ne amount 9 & s ~
sloners were charged with the daly OF laying
out Grading aud rSaa'nS d Mannaa' 5s nSI
the Metropolitan Museum OF Art and the American Au,
scum aC Oh ouG be- ereaed the annual nerst OF which
should not exceed $4,000 on each building THIS iuhd
crc stHyS W." and manapng such buildings on oct s.
1874 President Stebbns and Treasurer williamson who
to the Board OF Park Commissioners the amount OF
money expended, reported that the sum Of $3SlO6 81
had enormously charged against the fund Tor the
construction, erection and maintenance OF the buildings,
and this the Controller was requested 10 transfer
on tho books the Finance Department to the fund pro
yided for the construction aud Improvement OF tue pub
lie parks and SQUARES IL was further resolved That tAe
SUN OF S3S LOS 81 he reserved TO reimburse the fund
from which IL bad been wronginlly taken The
Commissioners OF Accounts say that whatever
pretcxt may be made To the recommendations con
tanned in these resolutions as spread upon tue minutes
OF the Board the simple signitcatlOn of the same was
that the Department OF Parks had expended out Of the
moneys specially set apart by tue statute Of 1871 Tor the
purposes Of erection, construction and maintenance OF
This building an exceeding 3s, 0OO and thereby
reduced tue amount available for that purpose. and ex-
pended the moneys uOn works ~ construction OUTSIDE
tne building proper, AID which expenditures should have
provided Tor out Of the proceeds OF bonds issued Ior
the purposes Of gen cral construction. An amount
cceding II 900 hs sO been spent works adjoining
the Metropolitan Of Art and charged to the land
authorized only Tor the purposes OF the erection OF that
building which should have been charged up against tine
fund aut lorzcd to De issued for general construction
heretofore explained Thus the Department OF Parks have
msapped money authorized only for the purposes Of
erection, CONSTRUCTION and maintenance OF these two
buildings To amount exceeding S4S,OOO. in addition
other moneys msapped, aud which have been aIead
referred tO.
PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER VIOLATED.
Tho Commissioners say further that tie Commission
Of Taxes have evaded the provisions Of the Charter
which requires that all supplies or jobs requiring an
expenditure of more than $4,000 shall be done by
tract Nevertheless the Commissioners OF Parks gave
NJ Buckrck ord for ten iron unals to replace brick
ones.
With reference to salaries and duties Il Is claimed by
the Department OF Parksand IN tiis claim the Con
troer and Corporation Counsel evidently cOncur-that
salaries OF tie President aud all their CLERKS, rent
OF their Offices must be- provided for partially OF the
construction money, tins proceeds OF bonds. and
u the amount apart by the Board Estimate and
Appel 0nmen a. applicable 10 salaries OF nanten-
ace when raised from taxation. The Board Esii
June 30 1871 designated the amount OF $50 900 IA
applicable maintenance and government of Parks
and Places and including the Of 100000 for the
kecpng preservation and exhibitions OF the collection
I'm the American Museum of Natural History and
Metropolitan Museum Of Art, and Including the entire
salaries OF the President clerks, officers. and employees
Notwithstanding this restriction OF tho Board OF
Estimate and Apportonment which was concurred in by
all its members, including the Controller both Ia this
meeting above referred 70 and also al meeting held
Doc ~, 1874 10 make up the Budget for 1875 which
there was similar RESTRICTION the Department OF
Parks has continued down 10 March 3D. 1875. when IL
ascertaned the construction fluid exhausted, to
pay the salarics Of toe President, clerks and other
officers divided amount charged up against bOn funds
except the President shall receive salary Never,
tifeiess. Aug ~. 1879, ID. h. wlla uson, the
Commissioners, elected Treasurer VI Board ana
on oal 10 1871 Ut meeting Of tho Board aresoluton