The daily gazette., 1878-12-13
TIE CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met in regular ses-
sion, last evening, President Lichtenstein
in the chair.
The Water Committee reported that
The report of the Registrar of the Water
Department for November was correct
Inc City Treasurer reported: Balance
IN bank subject to current expenses
l0,733 IS; paid during the week on the
draft OF the Water Commissioners S76 2S
total paid to date, $142, ,S39 25.
Ihe Auditor reported collections dur.
ing the week amounting to $26S SO.
Ihe Street Commissioner reported 2S
men, 4 single and double teams EN-.
ployed in the Street Department; pay
roll, S1S6 32. '''
The Chief Engineer reported 32 men
employed in the Water Depar, ,meut and
IN the extension of water pipes; pay roll
MIR. Guthrie presented the following
letter from City Treasurer Vincent:
To the Honorable, Ute City Council of WI.
miltgt0n:
RESPECTED GgNTLEMsN:-I, on the
llth inst, re ceived final notice by two
gentlemen Of the Finance Committee,
MIR. Guthrie, the chairman, and Mr.
Hart, that you had elected Mr.. Cornelius
Stinson accountant or clerk ia INV Off ce,
AS am held under S2j, 900 security for
the faithful performance of my duty, and
as am responsible for the actions of the
clerk Ia my office. rs did not know the
gentleman although with great pain
feel constrained to refuse him admittance
to my office, or allow him to have any,
thing to do with my accounts. My rea-
sons are as follows:
The Treasurer is by law appointed Gus
todian of the city's money. For this he
gives security. Every dollar received by
the city Is receipted for by him as mouey
received as Treasurer. And so his re-
also the custodian of the bond books
containing the blank bonds and records
To bis office. And again LIE Is ordered to
see that the Council do not overdraw
their appropriations. If he allows them
to do this he is subject to the penalty of
$500 In ca h case, and also the amount of
the sum overdrawn. His duties are pre-.
scribed by law, and so are those of the
Council. The Council have no power be-
yond what is given them by their char
ter,-neitner has the Treasurer. And
again, the Council give no security, and
thert fore pecuniari y are irresponsible III e
/
pecunlri' " responsible.
Now, these matters being as l have
stated, renders 1t imperative upon me to
have none around me except those in
whom | have implicit confidence. 1t IS
different with the other officers of the
city. Their assistants can in no way in
volve them, as my assistant can involve
me. For instance, as have said above:
| The Treasurer is subject to a penalty Of
H..
overdraw their appropriation-and 1t
takes the constant watching both of him
self and his assistant to prevent this. An
unfaiIhful assisian might ruin me. do
| not allude to the present council alone,
but to previous Councils, as well. All
are In this respect alike. The first year
| was Treasurer / found SIX appropria-
tions attempted to be overdrawn. The
gentlemen assisting me at that time were
not aware of II, but found 1t out. After
wards became extremely watohful-
Now, the business of my office, from the
manner of conducting it, has increased
more than three fold since l first enter
ed 1t. People are coming in every min
ute upon business requiring information
on every subject connected with the Of
fee; | have to trust to my assistant to
look to the appropriations. An unfaith-
full assistant, through neglect, Ignorance
or fraud, might thus involve me in pen
a ty. Again, l have TO send him to b inK
with money. Again, have the custody
of the bond books of the city, and one
disposed to fraud might damage my repu-
tation by forging and selling bonds. And
so on, might mention list ofperils to
me from this circumstance almost with
out number. Now, the present gentle man
| have full confidence in. He knows my
otii CO and the laws binding 1t, from four
years SerUice; and the complex, but COM
pete system of housekeeping | adopted
through the recommendation of Council.
A stranger coming in is ignorant Oft all.
Again, | will say to your honorable
body that there is a mass Of business TO
be performed IN the Treasurer's office,
which, although interviewer with it and
extremely convenient to all who have
done there, still is no part OF the Trea-
surers duty And that l would not under
take this duty, or allow of its introduce
tion into my office, until promised an
assistant. 1 was then Informed tas was
the then Finance Committee) that no one
could come into the office without my
consent; and the outlines of the first ordi-
nance called for bonds from the Clerk TO
the City Treasurer Afterwards, with my
consent, the present ordinance was draft
cd and passed the Council.
I | would neg leave diso W nIdIo w you
that the City Treasurer's Office is no place
to have piece of wax or lump of dough;
but for the interest Of the city TO have a
living, breathing man, who understands
his duty and means to do right. No sem
sible citizen will gosecurity for any one
holding that office, who would allow peo-
nile with whom he was unacquainted, or
those unfit, by character, to enter his Of
flee In a responsible position. The Trea-
surer must be able in such cases as to say
no. for in proportion to the numbers of
the people and wealth of the city in the
future, the rascality of Tweed may be
nothing TO what may be done in the Trea-
surer's office in this city.
1 also beg leave to state to you that l
think il would be outright that the Trea-
surer should choose his own assistant,
with the consent of Council. respect
fully recommend this for consideration
IN vour honorable body. Heis more in
tere,ted than any one else; answerable
for the pubic money and should know
and have confidence in the person who
assists him to handle It,
Knowing you to be. gentlemen VINO
seek the good of the city, and have Its
honor and interests at heart, and think-
ine that you will see aud appreciate my
| responsibilities. o.
remain, with great respect, &c.
l FRANCIS VINCENT,