The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-18
MR.. JOHN KELLY.
The Comptroller's Claim OF
Economy.
WHAT THE FIGURES SAY.


| from the Evening Telegram of yesterdayl
| Mr. William IL. Morreil was met by Telegram no.
porter this morning and judging. from his former
connection with the Committee OF Fifty in 1877 and
secretary of the Business Mems Organization in
1875 that he could throw light on recent state
ments of Comptroller Kelly as to the financial con-
dtion OF the city government asked to give his
views as to the city's indebtedness.
WELL" Mr. Morrell replied. "as to our city debt
there is evidently mistakes for if the right amount
is given now there has evidently boon o mistake in
the past"
Upon what do you found this statement?"
s'On the following facts Mr.. Kelly over his own
signature, in November 1877, in communication
in the New York World. said the actual debt in
ali forms OF liability is s95.707 1885, In his financial
statement of August, 1875 he made out tho total
funded debt slls 75a.706.' In November. 1875,
in Of these statements. he says. the tota
funded debt less sinking fund. is S129, 2al In
his annual statement of August /. 1872 he sets dowr
the total debt at S24s7s, S59, and then claims
ing Of S5.0O0.000. Now the latest thing have
from him is dated September 80. and published the
Sd or 4th of this current month, where he gives
tabulated statement, which is headed the city debt
represen ted in stocks and bonds September 80
1879. and therein draws comparison as follows:-
Total bonded debt less sinking fund,
December 81. 1878. $ll3 Alb 4G3 40
Total bonded debt, less sinking fund,
August u. 125, S5G143 81
Total bonded debt less sinking fund.
September 80. 1879 1876 277 765 O4
KELLY's HEAD TURNED.
GLOW do you account for these discropanciesY'
ut seems to me Mr.. Kellys head must be turned
by political ambiton for il not, he is totally unfit
for the Comptrollership OF the finances city,
for were he fit for such position he would not
make such statements these his own official
signature. 1t is, in my Judgment, high time the
selves. Mayor Cooper has failed to get any
satisfactory figures from the Comptrollers
upon the Comptroller's accountant. 1 think we
had better clean out the place ana get rid of Tweeds
old employas-and OF the gentleman who advocated
his release his signature at the time of the
Tweed trial. Our people are not aware that there
500 900 900 per anum handled by our CITY Treasurer
| 1t is enormous amount of money and when the
deposits are made from the accumulations OF the
sinking fund and the various other accuInulations
ut the disposal of the Comptroller the City Cham.
berlsin in the various monetary institutions all do
posted at low rate Of interest. it is not difficult
and Leading directors to forfy the statements that
| Mr.. Kelly produces
'.Now, what are the facts?'
| well, l will not allude to the saving made by
| Governor Robinson and the varied retrenchlnents
| in State expenditures contrast it with our ex-
travagant expenditure i'll the city further than
mind you Of the reductions that ought to have
made in orr city debt Since 1876 in items entirely
| independent OF John Kelly's control the amount il
81 ana shs 10 a .aws
to run under political bargain and intrigued.
The items which make up the s9.0O0.00o are prnci-
| pally from four sources-namely. accumulutions OF
| the sinking fund.- derived from markets. docks,
rents and properties belonging to the city premium
on government bonds sold. savings in tho Public
Works Department and the reduction i'll the State
taxes. This last item passes to tho credit of Gov
ernor Robinson.
| THE PUBLIC BURDENS BILL.
'what's the truth about the Public Burdens billf~
friends out Of this so-called Public burdens bin,
| which Governor Robinson vetoed aud which Kelly
| claims would have saved two millions per year. This
| assertion. that under the present laws regulating
| salaries saving of two millions be effected s
simply absurd unless Mr. Kclly chooses to reduce
| la 6rcmen.
salaries That he is not very much inclined to do"
WHERE TIKI ECONOMY COMES N.
| els there any department Of the city government
| conducted economically
As an illustration Of the only economical depart
ment OF our city government, let me quote to you
| the following figures Tho expenditure Ill the Pub
| lie Works department is:-
For lS7l... $l11Cll9l
For 1879 .......................... 5yi9.55a
For 1873. 2sco.soi
"What is the remedy tor this extravagsnce?'
"Among the things that are most needed is the
1 have recently received from tho Tax Department
find that $4,000 900 worth of real estate has
escaped taxation IN this CITY, and Is untaxed to-day,
and il we included the corporations that amour.
would be tremendously swollen.
"second. a new. simple and concise city charter
that any understand. Third, q system OF
audit similar to that of the national government.
Fourth, new and better system OF handling the
sinking fund. now amounting to over $4,000. 600.
and which must be largely and rapidly increased
under the provision OF chapter 1888. Laws OF 1878.
Fifth the total abolition of political half and half
commissions and the substituting therefor of
sponsible heads Of departments. who should be
directly responsible to the Mayor. and who would
servo as Cabinet similar to that of tho national
government.
LOCAL. PROBLEM.
"Many OF difficulties caused by the mix.
ing up OF city, State and national issues. What has
the soft money idea of Ohio to do with fnan.
cial situation in this city? ECONOMY in city and
State expenditures will be made the issue OF the
people when they come to vote in November. All
that is required is that the should understand
the facts OF the case and they will then decide
whether Kelly 10 fit to manage our city finances.
We will let the Presidential election of 1850 watt
COLONEL PRATTI ACCUSED.