New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-29
rrlltLNrRS az MrNICLPAL lCCOUNTN

nointnent of Commissioners Of Accounts,
whose duties were to investigate the DOCKS Oh
anv of the Lublic boards or departments
Their powers were ample; public opinion was
behind them the system OF examination WIS
nracIically that OF the Government examination
of the National banks by expert accountants;
and their success should have been cOmmehsu-
rate with public expectation We have heard
of no frauds of any magnitude which this Com
mission has unearthed we do not know indeed
that there are any to disclose; but the Com
missioners report rarely and to little purpose.
II would be some assurance, IN view OF recent
Developments in adjacent cities, to near occa-
sionally these Commissioners cry "Alls wen,
and to have more frequent evidences OF ther
activity. 1t is equally due the people ana the
heads of departments that such announcements
or reports be made frequently, for II anything
is going wrong the people are entitled to kho"
il that they may insist that it be remcdlcd' ana,
on the other hand, the departments are cntitied
70 nublic credit and acknowledgment when
everything is all right.
We believe that none Of our large ncl@hbor-
ing cities have any such safeguard rs our Com
pissioners of Accounts. But ii Is very evident
that some Of these cities are sadly III need OF
them and of their constant watchiulncss, more
especially Brooklyn and Newark. In TACT
there is hardly a city of large dimensions with
heavy annual expenditures where such Com
mission is not necessary to honest and economl-
cal Government. The Commissioners of Ac-
counts for New.York City were authorized by
the Legislature when providing new charter
but thew are under the control solely of the city
. hot in ~ I n
Them for such cities as Brooklyn, Albany,
Buffalo etc, municipal rather than state legs
latioh would have to be and might best be de-
pended on. 1t is well known that we have
never thought highly of special Legislation ut
Albany for the large cities Of this State. Inc
Common Council in each city Is competent to
provide such Commission rs we suggest
Especially is this action possible and opportune
in BROOKLYN. where "a Republican Board of
Aldermen and an Independent Republican
Mayor are about to come into power. More
over, recent developments IN prison and
school management in that city indicate that
there l. -ottcnncss there.
There are objections to the organization OF
our Commission of Accounts other than the
fact that it is crcatio" + - STATE Legisla-
turc. Some are Poss, -' be avoided
others We think, cal ~ ,yrd easily. The
Commissioner, are ap'1,l.cd D. the Mayor and
removable at MS pie gre. 80 the selection OF
men for places of 80 gree. Importance TO the pub
lie finances there should h" Il rOniirmiDg vote by
the Aldermen, as in the ca, o. our other Commits
sioncrs. This vote should be such proportion
Of the whole body of Aldermen as will compel
the Mayor 10 name only men of acknowledged
fen. ..E
mere politician, such rs a Mayor who IL mere
politician might choose TO appoint, by the vote
of the political party dominant IN the Board
ought not to be possible. In matters OF inan-
cial administration such rs this which we are
discussing, politics should have no voice what
ever The confirming vote III all such cases
ought Ia be twO-thirds at least, II not three
fourthg. of the Board of Aldermen. Such
provision would tend TO secure good appoint
mcnts irrespective Of politics, and then to make
the appontccs independent Of the Mayor. The
MAYORS influence over them is now too great.
4 shrcwd politician III the Mayors place could
so use tne Commissioners rs to harass the de
nortmcnts under the control of his political OPP
moments and save those Commissioners of de
uartments politically friendly TO him from de-
served exposure. The Commissioners should
b,vc mower TO initiate investigation either
unon their own motion or at the request OF any
five mr. more taxpayers and citizens of good re-
nute They should not only have power to make
public the result of such inquiry, but be required
to do 80 at least once every six months Not
merely should pay rolls securities, bonds
moneys on hand, but every form and dctail of
contract should be subject to their inquiry at
~ tipU ut thn EIIsr-
gestion OF taxpayers ~ before Indicated. They
would doubtless be frequently annoyed and the
CITY put 10 some expense by uniounded COM
plants by disappointed bidders for contracts
mon which they might be asked to act, but
snch inquiry would work no injustice to any
innocent official or contractor, and the report
when made public would reassure the taxpayers
and discomiit and discredlt the false com
plainants The result would be that COM
plants would be made only on ample evidence
There are minor suggestions which might he
made by Others who have had occasion to study
the subject more closely. We do not charge
that our Commissioners are inefficient because
we do not hear of their discovering frauds oc-
casionally At the same time we do not believe
that frauds are not being committed, particu-
larly in leases and contracts, which escape their
observation or are beyond their powers to in
ouire into. The government of this city is too
bic and too expensive to be absolutely free
from corruption. A remodeliug of this Com
mission in the points Indicated viii add to its
efficiency. In the meantime what il has already
accomplished, not to speak of what it has pre-
vented, IS enough TO warrant other cities, like
Brooklyn and Newark, with such leaks in their
finances as in the Brooklyn Board of Education,
the Kings County Penitentiary and the Newark
Auditors Office in adopting and improving the
system.
REPEALING TIE PENSIONS ACT