The New York herald., 1877-10-28
HISTORY OF 7HE SPOILS.
Accountant TaintOr Tells How the
City'S Treasury Was Emptied.
ADJUSTED" CLAIMS.
The Croton Water Job and the
Removal Of the Aqueduct.
A LIST OF PAYMENTS.
ADJUSTED" CLAIMS.
A LIST OF PAYMENTS.

purpose Of obtaining evidence upon which to convict
the thieves. Az the preceding session Mr.. Taintor
vas examined with reference to frauds upon tho
county treasury and Yesterday sot aside
for discussion of dishonest transactions, as
they affected the city more particularly. Al
though names were brought out
there were many interesting details elected in
regard to those who presented the bogus claims. Mr.
Colo that he mad obtained from the Supreme
Court writ commanding Mr. Bridgport-the wit
ness named by Mr. Tweed as knowing the guilt OF
Hamilton Harris In connection with the new Capitol
traudsto appear in court tomorrow and answer Tor
refusing 10 appear and testify before the committee
Mr. Bridgeport had written TO say that no would
before tho committee on Monday, but Mr. Cole stated
that ne would serve the writ anyhow, "for fear he
might change his mind" Mr.. Twoed with his counsel
Mr.. Edesten, and Charles Deylin, his bondsman was
present during the examination, but distracted
and uninterested listener Mr. Taintor's testimony
showed the city to have been robbed OF about
900 through fraudulent claims presented under
the special acts passed through the efforts of the old
Ring The committee adjourned at the close OF his
testimony till tomorrow afternoon at two O'Clock,
when the witness BRIDGEPORT Il is expected will be
present.
EXPLANATION
Before answering any questions Mr.. Talntor de-
sared that nothing had been further from his mind
than an intention to invite criticism OF the lawyers
whose names he at the previous session having
he suits against the thieves in charge His relation
10 the cases. he had stated mat OCCASION related
Boiely TO the evidence which he had gathered and SUBJ
nitted to counsel ana which in every case mad been
leemed sufficient to base action upon. He could
not perhaps, better illustrate his idea than by citing
Bne case OF Conan The facts as they appeared wcro
aeemcd sunicicnt to base an action upon They were
sufficient in the mind OF witness-taken in connec-
bion with the general circumstances and all the col
lateral facts from the rs the las-to show Coman,s
participation in the moneys paid on account OF the
Court House, but II counsel found that they could not
be established In court and could be admitted as
svdence, that fact would not change tho impression
upon the mind Of Witness though It might materially
Interfere with the case upon trial Thore were
large number of suits pending against the city, and
he was fearful that he might say something which
might prejudice tho ctys Interest in one way or an.
other In connection with them by admitting 10 tho
committee that there was weakness here there in
Connection with them "Now, Mr.. Taintor," said Mr..
Cole, 81 would be GLAD II you would give the commit
tee 10 understand just what the the facts were
as you discovered them In relation to the Conan
case" s'Doeg the committee take the RESPONSE.
!y n,ty OF any prejudice which may result TO
the interests Of the city, county or State
de1ccf" asked tue Witness The general evidence
Will apply 70 several cases still pending" Mr. Cole
iact and passed at once TO the frauds the city
treasury. Witness said he found the most aggravai-
Ing frauds IN connection with the $50 900 Of which
he had already spokeD-tho city ana county pay-
Wents combined-wcre perpetratcd under the special
laws. and the frauds were in connection with pay
ments from funds raised upon the credit OF city
levy and BY the bonds under The Legislature
ADJUSTED CLAIMS
Under section 8, chapter $685. OF the Laws Of 1868,
which was known the Adjusted Claims act and
which gave the Comptroller supreme authority 10
lerQ had man nbnu
6l3 600 600 'sadjusted;" for the payment Of these
CLAIMS revenue bonds were issued and there were
laws passed subsequently which converted those
bonds into others; the idea OF paying them directly
from the revenue under the tax levy, enter.
taincd seriously at the time the law passed; II
was merely intended to renew the bonds then
extant as to the sort OF bills paid under the oppor-
!rn'y fnordea 1y shat aw' wili cite six bl.is in
about 81, 200, bogus almost from first TO asl;
and the proceeds were divided almost as system.
acaly as the county profits were; the vouchers
NIL abstracted from the Finance Department except
one; that, after two or three years invosti-
and found all the forms Tor inc legal proceci-
tngs 10 commence the action named in
the law were In some places blank; some OF them
were filled out aud In others the oil attorneys
were written there promiscuously by anybody, and
tho whole thing was put into an irregular shape Of
somewhat win the forms OF the law under winch the
money was TO be pad but 1t was very irregular; in
all tneso matters there was no attempt, very
vague attempt at carrying out the law; the voucher
found is now III the hands OF one of the counsel.
THE CkOTON WATER
Under chapter 2l3, Laws of 1871 called an .sAct TO
Extend the Distribution OF Cfoon Water" there were
witness SAID, many frauds perpctTased; It PROVIDED
that the Mayor, Aldermen and Commoualty should
be authorized TO extend tho laying pipes
sufficient supply OF water to he institutions OF the
Department Charities Correction Oh The islands
not to exceed 900. 900; there was over Il
million dollars paid IRON that 1871 and S56sO 900
OF that sum was pad on GAINS entirely rauduIonl
containing very large element OF fraud the Uiils
were false as to The amount oil material FURNISHED
the prices were two or three times market rates
not more than teen per cent o the money pad uDder
this act was ON genuine Claims, witness inough,.
Mr.. TaiDor's attention was then called 10 chapter go
OF the Laws OF $780, authorizing the Uro-
Ton Aqueducl from Nineythrd to ll3,n the cost
was limited simply To such amount the Commis-
e!oner Of Public Works should certify 10 be necessary;
Mr.. Tweed was the Commissioner at that time. tho
cost oil the work was set down at 81 000 tho
expenditures Tor 1t IN 1870 ana up middle Of
1871 far as bills are paid, was So 100 600; the eyi-
depce of fraud in connection with some of the pay
ments Is abso uely conclusive both respect TO the
quantity OF material said to been furnished and
IN respect TO the price; at the Comptrollcr's
office witness was informed mat there are
still large number OF claims against that work uu-
decided, amounting TO So 900 COO; that would make
5000 0C0 spent under that year moving The
Acqucduct about twenty blocks; witness had idea
oi the real cost OF dong thcswork Dut thought from
the data al hand and analogy, 1t would amount
10 more than hfteen per cent OF the ount paid out;
she rest OF the money was divided among the mana
gers warrants beng drawn to their orders aud paid
bank notes at the Broadway National Bauk for uds
In this connection suits had been begun against Bcr-
rian Morgan, Jones and Mariner The cost oil tue
Court House witness estimated at from SIS 600 900 TO
$3 GOO 00o 1t very difficult 10 state wnat expen.
ditures were chargeabe to it, because whenever tho
Ring found that building was 100 heavily oaded''
they charged expenditures to "county buildings and
Offices" but the county buildings and Offices upoa
winch this money Was spent could not be found SO
that IL was really chargcable 10 the Court House.
rNREcoRDRp s'cIAIMs.n
Here witness presented the list OF claims paid undor
chapter $685. Laws OF 1865. he alleged fraud in all of
these cases; ne mad submitted the list the Chief
Clerk OF the Department OF Public Works about three
years ago, and that gentleman, who mad been en-
pioyed IN the department great many years re-
ported INA there was record upon books OF Tho
old street Department or the Department OF Pubic
WORKS OF anything relating TO these claims Mr.
Tainor ngured up tho list In moment and an
nounced that u looted up In round numbers about
So 600. 000 The claims upon the list which he
had examined into and found TO DO fraudulent were
then read as foows:-No 1,3I3, W. &. Rogers 4 Co.
June T. 1870, stationery Tor various Departments to
December 81; 1865, ts79es s5; No 1916, Transcript
Assoc atloD, June 7, 1870, advertising for Common
Council TO Marcn 80 1870, SAL ss3 10; No l334 Ber
nari,kcliy, June ), 1870, rebuilding pier 80 North
River, under agreement with tns late street Depart
men October IL, 1869. S6l7S3 90; No. 1885, tne
same, rebuilding pier 80 North River, under agree
mcnt with the late street Department, October 49,
1869, s54,6l6 IA; No. ,S3d, reouiiang pier foot OF