The New York herald., 1876-11-19
THE COMPTROLLERSHIP.
Expiration of Andrew H. Green's Term.
To-Monsw
SPECULATIONS AS ToA SUCCESSOR
Peculiarilies Of the Law and Mayor Wick.
hams Powers.
PATRONAGE OF THE OFFICE.

The term OF Andrew H. Green as Comptroller OF the
city OF York expires twelve O'Clock morrow.
The gentleman was appointed Acting Comptroller ON
September 16 1871 and full Comptroller on the 20sh oi
November OF the sano year. The period OF his SCR
has been exceedingly stormy one "a far as The
government OF this city concerned. 1t commenced
at time when the Tweed Ring exposures startled tho
community and sent those notorious public plum
dcrcrs into prison and exile. Richard B. Connolly
fed from the consequences OF his crime shortly after
the insIamcnt OF Mr. Green as Comptroller, and the
strong arm OF the law fell upon "Big Six" him
self
THE SITUATION AT THE TINE
II was VOL understood at this time shat the city
government was in chaotic state, as subsequent
events fully established Nearly ail tho departments
dlsregartcd tho provisions OF law relative 10 the cx
pcnditure OF moneys entrusted TO them. Each do.
partment obtained It's money in bulk without the
scrutiny OF tho Comptroller's Office. Hundreds Of
sinccurists the payrolls, many Of them with
largo salaries duplicate salaries being paid to large
extent Powerful politicians Of both parties wero
almost impresnably intrenched In important local
positions, who could bring strong influences 10 bear
TO prevent disodgcment. The bonds OF the city
scarcely saiablo in the market, even although
bearing fully per cent per annum interest. This
disastrous state of affairs required change and the
and the flight OF Comptroller Richard D. Connolly
from this country Since September 16, 1871, up 10
the present time Andrew II. Green has exercised tie
important functions OF head OF the Finance Depart
ment with what Is for the public deter
mine.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
II is a difficult problem 10 solve to what will DO
Mayor wickham's action in the appointment of
successor. Ho will not give any hint whatever AZ
mentioned Tor the place, among them Mr. John Kelly.
Mr. Arthur Leary, Mr.. Hurd and othcrs But II 10
difficult to say present vino will be chosen. Some
positively ASSERT that Mr. Greon will not bo disturbed
and that under tho law, although tho present Comp
troler's expires tomorrow, It is not incumbent
upon Mayor Wickham to send In name at all Then
Il is argued that the power OF appointment does not
rest under the present charter with the Mayor and
Board OF Aldermen. and that certain laws must be
passed by the Legislature before tho places Of the
Comptroller and Corporation Counsel be rcAlcd.
The term of the latter tbcing appointed to m the
expired OF +. Dclateld smith, removcd) expiroa
tho Sd OF December.
The question thon naturally arises. Will Mayor
Wickham construe tho law In this way and refuse &c
scnd in either Offices the Board OF Aldcr.
men, thus allowing both gentlemen TO hold over until
Mr. Smith Ely, Jr., takes tho Mayoraty chair This
clause OF the charter bearing upon vital issue
printed in fridays HERALD, and lawyers seem tn
differ materially as TO its exact meaning.
TIE FRIENDS GREEN MOVING
This tho condition OF affairs yesterday whom tho
HgRALp representative called at the Comptrollcr's
Office Tor the purpose OF asccrtaning what was IN the
wind on that side OF the house. Mr. Green could not
DO induced TO discuss the subject TO DO inter.
viewed He appeared perfectly happy but decidedly
Mayor Wickham equally unapproachnblc. The
nearest friends OF Mr. Green. however, seemed TO
think there was strong probability that the gentle.
would not very soon DO compelled 10 vacate tho
Finance Department. Que enthusiastic official who
discussing The merits oil Mr. Green's administration,
pointed ou, tho following points bearing upon The
work OF tho last i've years Of tho tinance Depart
III cnt:--
Fust4- Obligations lawfully incurred promptly paid.
SecoadContracts givcn out at public letting aud VI
reasonable prices.
TAird-Snecures largely reduced.
Fouyth-Departments Keeping within their approA
priat,ons With one notable exception.
FtH-fhc narkctmcn protected In tho quiet enjoy
mcnt OF their law iui rights.
sirM-o Obligations incurred by tho several depart
common sense teacho thsy should be-
SereaM-rhe seven per cent bonds OF the city bring
ing ut auction premium OF eighteen per cent, ana the
bonds issued at hvc per cen. only anu also
manding premium.
These arc the leading arguments put forward by
many OF the present Comptroer's friends officials
the SUCCESS OF his hvc years term, just about
close. They aiso argue that tins the very worst
rshp OF tho city us the tax levy ior 1s. has yos 10
be passed upon by the Board Of Appurtionmeni. OF
which tho Comptroller is member Then II any III
tercaiion to the legality OF Hpppoint tnens
The active business OF the city government might
suddenly brought 10 u sandstill and grevous conse-
quonccs result thcrcfrom. hey us0 contend that
city securities sod high to-day. National
apprehension, political exists
ture anu paralysis is threatened to tho banking and
business interests OF tho country. Those ideas
further urged rs additional reasons why municipal
complications should be avoided at this time.
STORY.
Prominent parties, who seem TO know good deal Of
the inner workings Of the CITY machine, however as
Mr. hnu u0 chu
the place. Some OF thcm acge that agreement has
already made by which Augustus schcll Is TO re-
originally offered 10 Mr. John Kelly but that he post
lively declined IN favor OF Mr. ScneL II Is we'll un-
gentleman slated Tor the Mayoraty nomination up
few days before election, but the outcry against
my candidate" policy necessated hts withdrawal
Another story is given out that Mayor wckham in.
tends 10 secure the confirmation Of City Chamberlain
Tappan; lew days after his appointment this gentle
mau will rosgn; then will follow the resignation Of
the Mayor, who can DO appointed Tor Tnppan's
pred term through Acting Mayor Lewis. Several
oithis character are floating around tho City
Hall.
rMrLoyEKs AND pArRoxAGs OF rnK FINANCE DEpARr.
In vicw OF the possible changes which may take
place Comptroller Green does not secure reappoint
mcnt list Of tho different employees, with the
amounts of their salaries. is published. II Tammany
Hall should again obtain control OF the department,
n vs. probable that the patronage will be almost ex-
ciusively given to that organization II indepen.
dent gentleman such as Mr. Arthur Loary should be
" presumed
that nearly all tho present force Will be retained.
Whatever else may have been the drawbacks, az
claimed, In the ivo years admnistratio oil Comp
troer Grcen IL Is conceded that he has, the whole
surrounded himself with caroiu ard panstaking OF.
uciaIs
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE coMrrRoLLERsurp
In n document presented to the Legislature OF 1870
the prescut Comptroller said :''lt Is exaggeratou
10 say that the Comlrocr's duties
and abors exceed those OF any other officer OF tho
government When The present incumbent took Office
The Comptroller compensated In one form or
another at S17 900 per aunum. The salary has been
reduced to $40 900 per nnnum at which nguro 1t now
stands The salaries In this department have been
IRON year 20 year greatly reduced. The various
bureaus connected with tho Finance Departments
IN 1871 carried on at tho cost OF s53l 72 whereas
tho amount now appropriated Tor 1876 Is $500 OUO.
These amounts do not include the City Chamberlain
IL will thus be seen that by tho reduction already
elected Ia this department the service is now per-
formed at onethird OF tho former COST whilo its
labors have increased than ourfod The Finance
mai