The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-28
DEPARTMENTS, ExPENDITUREs.
HeyIvinR the DiseussIon ut "A Meeting OF the
Board Of Apportionment.


The consideration OF the applications for
money made by st. stephens Home for Chill
dren. the American Female Guardian Society,
and the Home for Fallen and Frendless Girls
provoked discussion Mt Yesterdays meeting
Of the Board OF Apportionment Comptroller
Kelly snid that tho question Of the disposal Of
about $1,000 VI Excise money was now IN llu-
gation. and until II was decided the only money
available for charitable purposes was that coll
loctcd by the Excise Commissioners. The Com
missioners would pay In some money at the end
Of this month He therefore recommended that
action OH the three APPLICATIONS DO postponed.
Mayor Cooper thought that those institutions
had Il legal claim which must BIO paid.
Mr. Kelly said that somc OF the institutions
came under n law OF 1878 which required taxes
to bo levied for their support For that purpose
$4,000 only was put in the budget for 1879
Mayor Cooper replied that the sum had been
SO divided down that the three institutions
would have to wait until next month He then
asked how much money was required to make
those COMPULSORY payments.
Mr.. Kelly replied that he could not give the
exact sum.
Al this point President Mott revived the dis
cussion I'm relation to q departments cxpendi-
lure Of money nftor its appropriation has been
Board wus devoted He read resolution to re-
duirc heads OF departments 10 write on the faco
~ every rcquistion whether tho Board Of APP
portionmcnt has made IN appropriation Tor
whit they nsk. lie intended, he said, TO offer
the resolution, because he thought that some
mems should be taken 10 protect Innocent
creditors. He would. however, not press u be-
cause the Mayor thought that tho Board had no
~" Nv direction to the resolution" Mayor
Cooper said &" is TINT don't wish to recognize
A. 14 !
there Is no APPROPRIATION. Departments should
be hold responsible for such violations 81 law
President Mott said that departments had IN
cured liability after tho exhaustion OF their
appropriation. 49,
Department can have no knowledge OF what tho
heads Of departments are doing. They may
buy ma;erials and contract for work without
the creditors knowing that there IS no appro-
prHtion to pay them. Tho Comptroller can
have no knowledge Of these facts. Tho county
officers are in n different position. The SherlTs
charges for instance arc fixed by law We
/ must pay his bills when they are presented. n
/ we have the money. As matter OF economy we
I have allowed him $4,000 whom he has ask ed
! for 100000. The appropriation Tor this pur-
pose will be exhausted in nine months; md at
the end Of the year $1,000 or $4,000 will he due
! him. His remedy Is In the courts. The Corpo-
! ration Counsel says that we have no defence.
and the sheriff rec2vers his Judgment 70 save
money 10 the city the Board last year made IN
| appropriation for judgments and claims. The
word claims was added TO meet such cases as
this. We take good care not to pay departments
| ''Thcn you have no knowledge In the Finance
/ Department that any department has incurred
! expenses in excess Of its appropriation z" the
| Mayor inquired. and Mr.. Kelly replied that he
! knew ot no such cHse.
Thcreupon the Mayor said that tho transfer
! from one account TO another for 1878, asked by
/ the Park Department at the Boards last meet
/ ing. would not have been applied for unless
! that department had spont the money appro-
I priat"d tor the purpose Tor which more money
! h asked.
The Comptroller replied that the Board had
] no actual knowledge Of such excess OF eNpendi-
lure. The Board WAS not TO suppose that the
I Liability for which the transfer was asked had
! been incurred. Tho Mayor reiterated that II
I appropriation. He added that II any transfers
/ were asked for 10y the county officers. they too
should be applied Tor before tho liability had
] been Incurred.
Applications from the Park Department for
/ 5000 for surveys OF a suspension bridge over
! the Harlem River. and from tho Corporation
Counsel for money to nay tho expense OF the
liuckuey trial were referred to tho Com ptroller
Before tho Board adjourned Comptroller
! Kelly presented u statement Of the judgments
. rs'oyered against the city in ls1s remaining
, unpaid on jan. l. 1879. and certified 10y the Cor
/ porntiOn Counsel 20 the Finance Department ms
due and e. be paid 10y the city These ludg-
. mrnts aggregate 1854 COG IS. Among them ar,
! Judgment of J.. s. Stockwcll for the rent Of an
! arirory OF SIS 1921; judgments Of s22 Gal .Ge
I and f.ll6.3O recovered respectively by Hugh
! j. Hastings and William caldwell for adver-
/ Using. and William Z. Corners judgment fol
| rants for all, except ten OF these judgments
have been signed by Comptroller Kelly. and
! now await Mayor Cooper's signature. Appeals
| may be- taken from some Of them.