New-York tribune., 1875-02-22
UNADJUSTED CITY CLAIMS
THE CONTROLLERS STATEMENT OF UN-
SETTLED BILLS.

SETTLED BILLS.
TIE ACCUMULATED ITEMS or THE MUNICIPAL DEBIT
ACCOUNTABLE FIGURES CONTAINED IN IhE
ANSWER MADE TO tbs BOARD or ALDERMEN.
Tho communication Of the Controller in answer 10
resolutI m Of inaniry of tho Board OF Aldermen as
to tie Indebtedness Of the city. the receipts anu
expenditures during tho past year. tho amount of
the bonds and stocks the claims In his Office against
the city unaojustod etc, was received last week.
The Controller shows In detail the unad-
justed claims in his Office. without ref
erenco to their legality. and thew include
bills which have remained unsettled for many
years. The stat temeDt begins with the advertising
claims of 1871 and prOr thereto and then specifics
the m colaneOus claims also presented to the Board
of Audit and Apportionment. under the act OF tho
Legislature in 1872 but not acted UPON by thai
Board Then follow what are known as Depart
mental Claims" incurred by the several heads OF
Departments. and disputed for various reasons not
stated.
Tho remaining miscellaneous claims against the
city amount TO nearly ;sS0OoOOO. aud embrace many
Of those for tho Tayment OF which suits are now
pending IN tho courts. Tae claims for taxed costs
in street opening have beon strongly resisted
by the Controller and amount to over S6oo,oOO. The
claims for awards on street openings include the
awards for widening tho Kingsbride road.
which are stated at $l.276,997 IA, and those
for opening Tentil-ave.. which amount 10 $99G26.
The LIST closes with the name, Of tho Municipal
policemen vino present claims for services between
June. 1857. and April 1862 amounting to SIRIUS H.
1t Is stated that the large number bils for advertis
ing prior to 1872, remaining unpaid, Is owing 10
tho fact that many of tho newspapers received
authority to insert advertisements from COM
mitees Of the Board of Supervisors and other city
and county officers, which wero not anthrzed Dy
law, but which would have been paid for II those
officers had continued in power. Among other
items in this statement OF unadjus'ed claims is o
bill OF John w. Cumpt for renumbeiing
the streets north Of Fifty-ninth-st at an
expense Of Sl7.sSo; William d. Tweeds
salary for September. 1871. $500 and the bill Tor
rent of the District Courts $3.50. a'o in his name
Is still unpaid. William Honnes'ey Cooke. wei
known for his connection with the Department of
Public Works in former days. is also classed as
creditor of the city for amount of SALARY for the Fall
of 1871. The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
for 1871 have not yet been paid and their claim Is
on file for 5000. claim OF John Hardy. clerk OF
the Common Council. for 5000 for compiling the
Corporation Manual. Is unpaid. The former keeper
of the City Hall. George w. Roome includes in his
unpaid bill an item Of SlCS5 for the funeral ex-
penses of the late County Auditor. James
Watson. There Is also further item
of S2j for reviewing societies in front of the City
Hall. and of SS25 for reception of societies. and
reception of tho Feuian exiles at a cost OF SSo'
The bills Of inspectors, water policemen and axmen'
employed by tie Department Of Public Works
under Mr.. Tweed. have been refused pay
ment, and are disputed by the Controller
Among other unpaid accounts is q small bin for
Goodyears chest expanders, The attendants Qn the
Court of Oyer and Terminer for 1870 and 1S7l have
hoon hair ta
troiler as to the service rendered. The disputed
bills of Matthew L. brennan. ex-Sheriff. also
appear on the list. aud will probably DO
adjudicated upon by tho courts. The amounts
are large and the fees are claimed under certain
statutes regulating the business of tho oherifs
Office The unpaid rents for armcrlrs. under leases
made by the old Board of Supervisors. amount to
more than $l.oG0,0Oo. The Controller has
delayed paymen. OF the bills Of John d.
Tracy for supplies TO the County Jail. and contests
tho prices Of many of tho articles furnished. John
G. Prague, architect presents bill for
services in building the Third DISTRICT Court
house. which amounts to S335oO and the heirs
of John Kellum. architect, claim the sum Of
$1922lS SS. being per cent the cost of the New
Court house on Chambers-st.. which was con-
structed under Mr.. kellum's supervision. Dexter
A. Hawkins has claim for Professional services.
amounting to 1885, which also remained
unpaid at the close of last year. Ex-Sbeiif james
Lynch deceased is represented BY aclaim Of $4,000
for Sherils fees which have not yet been adjusted
Among tho minor items is bill for $1,000 for por
trait of Thomas Conan. "ex-Mayor." and an item of
nearly S4OOo for funeral expenses Of the late James
Fisk. jr.
The gold badges for the old Board!of Supervisors
are charged OF $4,000. and gold badges for other
City and County officers at $1,000. making in all
S20,OOO, as appears by tho bill Of Thomas Kirk
patrick. John Foley's claim for salary Super
visor $1,000, and another ono for salary as Deputy
Chamberlain are still unpaid. A very largo claim
for damages is presented by Charles Knox, on
account of the bridge erected at
Broadway and Fulton-st. 1t is believed by
persons familiar with the operations of tho City
Government that these unadjustcd claims can DO
settled and compromised for worry small sum. COM
pared with the amount charged. In many casos
the authority on which tho work or services arc
claimed is doubtful and in others tho proof of fraud
is overw belming.
The following list gives tho names and amounts
of the principal claims set forth in the Controllers
statement. with brief reference TO the work or
ooL.