The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-22
COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS.

In accordance with the provisions OF the charter the
Commissioners OF Accounts, consisting OF Messrs
Howe Westray and Wheeler, have In their an nual
report to Mayor Ely OF the condition OF the Finance
Department for the year 1876 They proceed to show
that the appropriations for the city government
made yearly and as the government officials pro.
hib.ed from incurrng any expenses beyond the
amounts appropriated therefor tho law ought impcra
lively require that the books of the Finance De-
partment each account should al fixed date (ay juno
S0), be closed each year. Alter setting an amount 10
pay claims upon the appropriation which may have
been filed the balance should lapse into the treasury
The Commissioners direct particular attention to a
payment OF 81 800 on January n. 1876 TO counsel
for the plaintiff In the action OF quo worrdnto IN the
OF Stcmmer against Mcguire, involving title to
tho Civil Justceshp Seventh district The report
condemns the practice OF paying from the city treas
ury the bills OF successful tgants, in this instance
and recommends the repeal OF section ll3 OF the char
ter authorizing such payments. Alusion Is also made
to the sinking fund.- which has n surplus OF
&c. PSI 545 O5 OF Accommodations, against which claim
exists except the 81 74S 900 OF the floating debt fund
bonds, that this peculiar anomaly will he continued
Of raising by tax each year amount sufficient TO pay
cumuating in the hands Of the sinking Fund Commits
si0ners amount every year sufficient To meet this
debt, but which cannot be applied TO the purposes nor
to any other purpose SO long as the present laws re-
main IN force.
The report then goes to says: 'Thcsc laws should
be amended at once. making all the present bonded
dobt OF the city payable from taxation charge upon
the sinking fund ahcr applying sufficient from that
FUND 10 pay all the bonds and stocks at charge
thereon; aud by continuing the payment to the fund
OF the present revenues the ulatons will be sum
to meet all tho bonded debt and Stocks payable
from taxation, and thus relieve the annual tax levy OF
this special burden"
The Commissioners deal with the subject OF assess
mcnt bonds outstanding which amount to S22 81 400
OF this there at least 81 900 900 which rop
resented by assessments and Tor which assessments
can be mposcd:-"ro classify, therefore, and continue
this ~ 600 900 OF assessment bonds rs portion OF inc
city's temporary debt secured by assessments to DO
recovered is not correct statement OF the facts For
this 81 000 900 the CITY must provide otherwise, aud
"a favorable
low rate OF interest, Tor converting these temporary
bonds into long bonds TO be provided Tor by
taxation from the accumulatlons al the sinking
fund. The power 10 issue these long bonds should DO
at once conferred upon the proper officials. p"
Reference made to the TACT that IN the Finance
Department four contracts are on Gc, entered INTO by
the present Commissioners OF the new Court House,
for work that building, the total amount beng
1881, 49, while the Board OF ApportioDment appro.
priatcd only 500 600 Tor this work. Tho charter
expressly provides that no officer shall incur any
expense in excess OF the sum appropriated for any
purposes. IL urged that the Com miss Of the
Court House have contracted IN TINS way for expenses
exceeding $3.50, 900 above the Appropriation thus
m NH