The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-01
CITY FINANC
A SHARP HINT TO THE con
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, n 3

EXECUTIVE DkPARrhENr,
NEW YORK w..
Hon ANDREW II. GREEN, Comptrole
sir-My short term of the Mayoralt lsNg Pee
that the relations between tins Office AgNe
ment OF Finance far these refer r.-ls.l.
by the Mayor OF the duty imposed NJ -r
countersign the warrants signed b. ill
ought to be modified.
1t is provided in the charter section g. shat all
payments, by or behalf of the corporation. shall
be made through the proper discussing officer
of the Department of Finance by means of warrants
drawn on the Chamberlain by the Comptroller ana
countersigned by the Mayor
The proper dsbursng officer Vf the Department Of
Finance is the Chamberlain, who is the mead OF one OF
the bureaus of the department
1t is further provided in the charter, section "a. that
the Chamberlain shall pay oil warrants drawn on the
treasury by the Comptroller and eountersigned by the
Mayor and no moneys shall be paid out oi the treasury
signed No such warrant shall be signed by the
Comptroler, or conntersgned by The Mayor. . ex-
amount named therein examined and allowed BY the
the Department, Of Finance except in the case Of udg
ments, in which transcript thereof shall be hled. nor
ordinance and shall refer to the law ordinance. and
The c6ambeTain shall not draw any moneys rom said
banks or trust companies unless BY checks subscribed
troler; and money shah be paid by either of said
read noSs Of The orgapc law
imposed OF satisfying himself that ali warrants he coun-
n o by the %aaoT and by e
trollcr Until he satisfied he ought not to counter
sign
OF salary and for all the small ordinary payments which
require TO be made in connection with the government
has increased the work to such extent that II is inn
possible for the Mayor to perform the physical
duty of countersgning the warrants and keep with
the demands of those entitled TO receive them.
To examine the papers and see that the proper vouch
Mayor an possibility Under this system the Mayors
signature upon warrant is more OF a that
the requirements of the law nave been fulfilled TO
any particular claim. than Is the signature the clerk
in your department who certihes that the warrant is
registered III the books of the department
he Mayor. in the signing OF warrants is reduced to
the position OF mere clerical appendage to the Depart
ment OF Finance. Importance whatever in so tar
his action is intended safeguard protect the in
terests of the city.
The remedy tor this is. think clear. No wa rrant
does not include the amount certified by the Auditor
and correspond with the amount of the voucher.
One warrant Tor the entire amount of payroll all
that should be required and this warrant signed
Chamberlan-the discussing officer OF the government
pay the money included therein to the parties en-
titled thereto. This, think, is the system which the
law intended and requires
Considering the very onerous duties which are i'm
posed upon the Mayor of the city, the supervision
required exercise the several departments
responsibility which rests upon him IN the admnstra.
ton of the government in all It's parts. II is
III order that he have the opportunity of attending
" those duties in manner their Importance demands
that the system OF administering the Department. OF FL
to the payments upon warrants be changed
modified rs | suggest.
cannot leave this office without thus pointing ont to
you what consider to be serious interference with
the proper discharge by the Mayor of the duties
interference which have felt is removed Respectfully
yours, SAMUEL B. II. VANCE, Mayor