New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-13
ALBANY.

RIVAL COUNTY TREASURERS BILLS.
SHALL THE TREASURES RULE OR BE RuLED-A BILL
IN THEIR INTEREST, AND ANOTHER IN THE
INTEREST OF THE PEoPLE-THK DETAILS.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUNE
ALBANY Jan. 12.-One of the prominent features
Of the campaign in the western part of the State,
where the people have suffered greatly from the
defalcations of county treasurers. was the posi-
ton of Legislative candidates the County
Treasurers BILL Public sentiment became so
well aroused on the subject that most can
ddates preferred to renounce their opposition
to it, and it seems almost certain that law will be
passed at this session lessenng the opportunities of
county treasureTs for theft and improper profit, I'd
making ii possible TO punish defaulters The county
treasurers themselves. who have succeeded for two
years in defeating any bill, seem now TO have
changed their tactics, and have appeared, through
Senator Harris with bill apparently their own
The bill was introduced in the Senate this morning.
and provides as follows:
will be mado between the county reasurers
OF the several counties aud duly incorpo
rated and organized banks Ia such county subject 70 the
.pPrOVal OF he 5oaid OF outNlsos' Ior .hc u1P ;t
the moneys received and Tor the pay ment OF such inter
est as shall be named In such contract Tue treasurer Is
required to deposit IN the designated bank sueh sums
or money as ho shall nave on mana at the uihe ol
making The deposit. These moneys are TO be paid OUT
only on the order OF the treasurer nde only Tor to
payment Of claims ordered by the Board OF
The treasurer IL left free however TO transfer the wnOle
or any Part OF the To any o,nsr n@
To exceed $1,000 and in addition TO ms
salary he il TO receive onehaf Of one per cent on AL
sums received by him, aud oneha OF one per cent on an
disbursed In the treasurer OF any county
also collector OF taxes he is to receive In lieu OF the
above mentioned fees such fees ana compensation as gro
ao we'd by law collectors oi taxes In towns He
Is not To receive any interest or additional ices or com
pensaon his treasurer, except the fees
which he entitled TO receive by law from me state Tor
now allowed by law collecting taxes retIed to him
unpaid The salaries of his clerks are To ss by the
Board Of supervisors and be charge upoh - county.
The act Is to take effect Jan L, 1871
Senator Hammond introduced also substantially
the bill that he has twice seen defeated in the
House 1t provides that the Board of Supervisors
shall designate the banks in which the moneys shall
be deposited daily or as often "a the Board may
require that the bank shall give bond as special
security for the funds and that the Board of Super
ysors shall decide upon the rate of interest. The
salary is not fixed by the BILL which provides, how
ever, that the Board shall fix it. and pro-
ydcs also that the treasurer shall receive no
fees interest other compensation for his services
except IN proceedings for sales Of lands for unpaid
taxes which made by the Treasurer IN some
four or five counties of the State. The bill also re-
qurcs the treasurer To deposit the amount due the
State for taxes in designated bank, subject to the
order Of the state Trcasurer-a provision which
would deprive county treasures Of the interest
which they now derive from moneys due the State
for taxes held back beyond the proper time for
payment The bill makes the defalcation If
the county treasurer punishable with iino
IT not less than $1,000 nor moro than
$4,000, or imprisonment for not less than one
year and not more than ten. or both The diiierence
between the two bills is apparent at glance. That
of Senator Hammond makes the county treasurer
subject to the Supervisors, while Senator ilarriss
makes the Supervisors subject to the treasurer.
The provision giving the treasurer one-hali ol Que
per cent on all money disburscd and the same sum
on all money received except when he acts in virtue
of his Office as collector of taxes, would run tie
perquises Of the county reasurcrs of Kings, Erie,
Albany, and other large counties, up to q very high
upuIe.