The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-03
Ex-Mayor Hall on the Comptrol.
ler's Love Of Litigation.
EXPLAINING DETAILS.
Green Convicted of Wilful FalSehOOd in
His Recent Statement.
Mr.. JOHN B. HASKIN'S CHARGES.
Dock Commissioner Wales on Mr.. Green's
lJrbanty.

The Committee OF Law Ut the Board OF Aldermen
appointed to investigate Green's misconduct re-
sumed its sessions yesterday afternoon at half
past one O'Clock. The examination was conducted
by the Chairman Alderman Purrov, in a thorough,
yet rapid, business.liEe manner, which left no
doubt OF the intention of the committee to sift
The charges against Green to the bottom
Ex-Mayor A. Oakley Hall was the Arst witness.
The Chairman, Alderman Purroy, explained The
purpose OF the investigation to the witness and
read to him the first resolution, relating to the
resistance by the Comptroller OF just claims, &c.
Ex-MAYoR HALLS TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Hail. can put you in the way of
obtaining this information, suppose, II 1t
Is necessary; 1t would probably not be
legitimate for me as lawyer TO tell what
my clients might; l can only say gener.
ally that my ONCE could furnish large plumber OF
names of persons whose claims were resisted
@. DO you remember any case OF such unjust re-
sistance where large sums OF interest accrued
against the city9 A. can say that every suit in
my office comes under that category.
@. How many Of these suits nave gone through
your ONCE? A. At least fifty. in which, II not
judgments then adjustments against the city were
the result.
@. Can you remember any particular case ofthis
kinds A. think the litigation OF the Comptroller
against the Supervisors comes under that head ;
the Supervisors brought sutton their salaries, ana
the Court adjudged that they should have 1t;
they obtained the judgments and were paid.
@. Was there more than one OF these claimants
A. There were eight or nine, and although the
legal question was settled against the city to the
effect that the Supervisors were entitled to their
saaries the suits went on month after month.
the Comptroller still persisting In his refusal to
or I nj n nj h,a
fessionaly. (Laughter.)
Q. Were the costs against the city paid? A.
am sorry for the city's glad for my o1ce's sake
to say that the costs were paid; they amounted TO
as much as from ST. 900 to g. 0OO believe, in these
cases alone.
@. Did the Comptroller make any reasonable
defence? A. His first defence was that their
Aldermanc salaries werequite sun1cient, but the
Court held that they were entitled TO the two sal
aries.
Q. Do you know whether the Comptroller had
taken the Corporation Counsels opinion in these
cases. A. In the first case the Corporation Coun-
sci attended in person. and on the appeal to the
General Term he stated in open court that there
was no defence, whereupon the Judgment OF the
lower court was confirmed
@. And alter that decision the litigation still
went on for months :? A. Yes, not by answer
sometimes, but by compelling suit and process
and entailing ices and costs and heavy items Of
interest upon the city.
THE CASE OF DIR. RosENTHAL.
Q. Do you remember any other case Of this
ktndf A. There was the case OF Dr.. Rosentha,
the interpreter OF the Court OF General sessions
II you subpoena the Doctor have no doubt he has
q clear, unvarDished tale to deliver.
@. DO you know the facts In his cases. A. Only
as derived from him.
@. Please state them. A. The predecessor OF Dr..
ROsen thai as interpreter, was Louis KasnZki,
whose salary was refused by the Comptroller on
the ground that the Supervisors had had au.
thority to fix or increase his salary. understood
that Kasinzkl suffered extremely in consequence
OF this refusal and his rienos allege that he died
In poverty because he couldn't get his money.
HIS representatives procured the passage of an
act by the Legislature confirming The resolution
Of the Supervisors which fixed his salary; but the
Comptroller said this act was void as 1T
stood alone. After KasinZKrs death, DR..
Rosenthal was appointed in his place.
There was resolution making his salary
$4,000, which was never confirmed by the Legsla.
ture: after tins the act was passed making the
saary So. 800; Mr.. Green finally paid Mr. KasnZkps
representatives under the act saying that 1t In
creased the salary OF the man but not OF the on
Ger; Green presented Rosenthal's claim, however,
but his answer was stricken out as frivolous, and
Mr. Kosenthal's salary was paid with interest and
costs next month Rosenthal GAINED his salary,
and there was another SUIT and more costs Mr..
Smith, the Corporation Counsel wrote to the
Finance Department that the claim was right and
then Green put up new defence and defended
his refusal on the ground of the second uncon-
firmed resolution by the Supervisors: that matter
is now before the courts ana have no apprehen-
sion OF the result.
Q. DO you remember the aggregate amount OF
costs. &C., III these cases? A. No. not exactly.
O. DO you know OF any other cases? A. There
were TWO or three cases OF Martin b. Brown, the
BtatIonor. but other gentlemen In my ONCE know
more about these cases.
Dock Commissioner Wales asked at this point
whether Mr.. Halls testimony would occupy mucn
more time.
Alderman Purroy-O, 1t " ont be very long.
Mr.. Wales Cocosely) An nour or sol
Mr.. Hall--No, 1t can't take so long, for have
promised TO SURRENDER myself at tire Tombs at
haii.past one O'Clock. (Laughter)
q. what Is the amount oil profit realized by your
ONCE through the Comptroer's resistance OF just
claims2 A. on, the profits are debatable Qaugn.
Alderman BIings-We lawyers should keep that
to ourselves. t.augnter.)
Wei, am not good at accounts ana figures.
q. Was Green appointed by your A. His origi-
nal appointment was maze by me, nut his pres sent
appointment Is rom the Legislature.
Ex.MAYOR HALL JOKING.
q. You first appointed him? A. Yes; but hope
that VIII not be urged agalnst him. (Laughter.)
@. Was there any arrangement between you
and his friends at the timer A. decline TO an
swer the question. 1t Is not within the scope Of
q. Has his appointment been preJudical or bene-
fetal 10 your professional interests ? A. should
think that the results were beneficial TO my in
terests.
q. When you were q member OF the Sinking
Fund Commission were you cOgnizant OF dlspo-
aitIun OF the Comptroller to aDandon suits against
parties Illegally III occupation OF city property
A. There was a large amount OF real estate be.
leved by eminent lawyers to be illegally possessed
by private parties, such as illegal water fronts,
&c, certain parJies furnished the commission IN
formation about the properly, and resolution
was passed, In pursuance OF winch suits were
common against them; not long after l had
lett the SINKING Fund Commission Mr. Green at
tackled the resolution, hau IL rescinded, and the
SUITS were abandoned.
O. What became OF these mattcrsf A. Some OF
these SUITS are barred by the statute OF mita-
tions others are slll open; 1t IS probable and Mr.
Green mas so stated That the suits were vcXa
tlous, ana that the CITY mad no Just claim against
the parties.
O. what was the result or this disposition OF
Comptroller Green A. The suits were dscon-
tiDued al I have already stated and the matter
catnot be investigates; The suits would have at
tackled immense iniei esis-steamboats, railroads,
mllliunnaires &c
q. DO you THINK these cases could have been
prosecuted to the Interests OF the city 2 A. We
were SO advised by such eminent lawyers as ex-