The sun., 1878-12-19
a Card from Mr.. Rufus L.. scott.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir In to-
days issue Of THE Sun there appears AN article
rcnecting upon my conduct IT, the management
of this department Believing that such article
was the result ot a mi-apprehension Of the
facts. justice 10 myself require IN explanation
similar attack was few days previous made
10y portion ~ tho brooklyn press OF which
took no notice knowing as | do the motive
which inspired il. In the conduct OF the Office |
have endaavored 10 correct such abuses as
have cN sted chief of which was the monstrous
sums Of money distributed between certain
newspapers Of this city for advertising sales Of
real estate. Tho persons who insti.atoI tho at
tack In some of the Brooklyn papers are the
same who have constantly urged me 10 proceed
10 "a sale. and whose iinportuntics have con-
tnuallv resisted. IN communication 10 the
Mayor tpf De-. T. 1879 have mado "A recon-
mrndatun which would rrduse the expenses Of
adNrr,sing s,lns fltrtn hundred per cont, and
bo equally rhectual rs notice.
Ar Illustrative ut the present method | will
briefly refer to n few facts attending the sale
Tor taxes ana water rates OF 1872. There was
PAID Tor advertising the sum of twrnty-oight
thousand i1ur hundred and siNtY dollnra. and
haWhnle eAp"nse saidied upon the city except
one hunIrrt and forty dollars for thirty-tVe
pnr"ls, aud au tho city rrniHed as the pro-
ce" ni uir Sn" was three Thousand seven hun
ured ana nity-rlgnt dollars and sixty two cruts.
NOM i'w words ~, 10 the facts. The charge
~ tht IN appointing An extra clerk this month
AZ salary OF less than S4OO a year aud distrih-
u ing the balance OF the appropriation for tins
department Tor the year 1873. 10 wit. tijO.Ol
among certain other clerks OF the oftic, | COM
miu"d public wrong. lt Is well known 10
every OH lul in Brook lyn that this and the lat
ter part oi November II the busy season Of the
year. requiring vast amount OF extra labor in
TINS office. he new tax rolls pass through our
1lil'o and all parcels IN arrears are So stamped
ny us Tie same are confirmed and payable ON
the LIST ot D"cemher. This brings great num-
Der OF uNpayera TO this department for arrtar
bills. Tho old tax rolls come 10 this depart
mrnt. ana ara entered ON our books. and our
accounts and balances are made Tor the
year. rms has required the labor Of
a large Lumber Of clerks before and
after office hours. InsteGl Of employing extra
hnip. NJ has been usual. hpvo thus pat the adj
diuohdi abor upon tho clerks in tho onice. In
view OF these facts and the fact that tho salary
account mas been, during the year. reduced Is
per cent. and that there IL TO De further da-
crease IA January OF % per cent. and also the
lact mat, during tho year, We have nearly fin
lSh"d an entire new set of index books forty
seven IN number-which. when completed will
have involved the Aborot from two to six cl.rks
grounds ul complaint on the part of my c0ustit-
uehlS. Instead ut - present, the extra pay has
been Justly and faithfully eurned. Nor has tho
lnrrcusr been unuroc'drntcd. In 1878 the first
year OF tlr department, the Increase OF snlnrins
ol ll~rmhcr in excess of November was SBJggl !:
IN 1874 the same WIS $40 %; In ls75thaamount
was sunsianl ally the Sumo; In 1875 the same
was $500 IN 1877 the same WAS S32I o.
, ~ IL prop"r To say also, that the eN ponse Of
this this department has becn reduced n greater
per cent. during nay term than that uf any other
department IN }roOslyn for the same time.
RUFUS l.. NrOTr. hvgistrar of Arrears
BHoOKLiN. Dee IS. 1873.