The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-18
GREEN IN WEST
CHESTER.
THE END OF THE WEST FARMS (FoRDHAN)
NEW school, WAR

THE END OF THE WEST FARMS (FoRDHAM)
NEW SCHOOL WAR
Recently . foreclosure judgment, originally
amounting 10 q little over $4,000, against the
Board OF Education Of School district No. Of the
town Of West Farms but chargeaoe against the
city OF New York under the Annexation act was
settled, through the admirable" and 'economi-
cal" management OF the city's finances under
Comptroller Green, for the greatly increased
amount OF $42,393 66. briet history OF this
transaction Will show how, in one of many in.
stances. the burdens OF our taxpayers are in,
creased by the negligence and extravaganza char.
acterlzing our present financial regime. On Janu
airy /, 1874, when the act annexing the Weschestei
towns took effect, the city became the owner Of
all the property belonging previous to that date
to the several boards OF education o. those towns
Forming part oil this property was the much
needed new brick school building at Fordham.
Now, in order to complete the erection OF this
nne building, the Board OF Education Of School
district NO. l, West Farms, were forced TO mort
gage the school properly IN their district to tic
amount OF $4,000. Previous to the annexation OF
those towns this mortgage, which under the same
acts OF the Legislature that gave the property to
the city very properly became claim against 1t,
was fOreclosed, owing TO the inability OF the West
Farms Board OF Education to pay the interest due
thereon, an inability arising from the cessation Of
all income to that Board, pending the then imm
nent transfer OF all It's affairs to the city author
commenced the West Farms Board consulted emit
nent counsel, who informed them that no defencs
que the MORTGAGE anu that ne was fully entitled
to obtain judgment Tor the amount claimed.
little over $1,000 o and Tor which
OF TINS was demanded OF the city a
year ago. At first Comptroller Green adopted the
FABIAN policy OF delay, repeatedly putting on the
mortgage with promises none OF which were
fulfilled. Alter waiting Tor nearly 6 year without
discerning any real intention ON the part Oh tho
Comptroller to settle the clam. the MORTGAGE al.
vertlsed and sold the mortnaned property. There
was activity IN regard to this matter manifested
for the first time IN the COmptrOer's Office, but
an activity, aasl that was against rather than In
the interest OF the city, Tor the expensive ma.
chlnery OF the Corporation Counsels ollice set
In motion TO oppose the payment OF debt that
the supreme Court nad decided to be Justly Que,
and which the laws Of the state made charHeaole
the comptroller and his lawyers were defeated,
and additional expense To the city for lawyers
lees. &C., was the only result Obtained. Thus neg
lgcnce on the part OF the Comptroller Ia not
judgment was followed by extravaganza in his
unnecessary reference Of tine matter 10 the Corpo.
ration Counsel, and the loss to the city conse-
quence thereof amounts IN round numoers to
about 50, 800, as IOlows:-
Interest costs paid 20 the mortgagce 50e
ices 10 special counsel employed by Corporation
Interest on cost OF the school house tovcr the ''
amount Of the mortsage) lost by the city losing
one ears ue OF The huidns var - $500
cation The old school house in consequence OF
their not being able TO occupy the much needed
new one AT least L00S
In connection with this transaction IL NAV he
stated that mortgage Tor IS, 500 neld by tue MI.
tual Lille Insurance Company on one OF the West
Farms school houses was through the negligence
OF the Comptroller allowed to be IorecOseu, lea
final settlement thereby costing the city some
$1,000 over the amount of the mortgage. In vie Y
Oi such fac.s rs these, the question very naturally
occurs 10 every taxpayer is Comptroller Green's
management OF the city's finances proper and
Judic0us one1