New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-24
TAE FINANCE DLPARTMEYT FRAUD.

John d. Townsend and William /. Beach. conn
sci Tor the two clerks, Emmett and Forester. who
were dismissed from the Finance Department for
gross negligence III failing TO prevent or discover
the frauds of Carroll. have written To the Board Of
Aldermen, asking them 10 consider carefully
whether not the interests of the city do not de-
nand "a more thorough examination into the affairs
of the Finance Department than VIII Ice Afforded by
the mere examination INTO the subject OF hc recent
frauds attributed to the late clerk Carroll. Tncy
add that the knowledge OF these late frauds, which
were only recently made known 10 The Mayor by
the admlS Ou of the Controller came To hlm before
the las election of city officers, and his neglect IN
furnishing tho details then must have materially
weakened the chances Of discovering any coIuhI
nation which may have existed among parties
to the naude. They believe that the interests OF
their clients have been injured IN this way, and
request the Board 10 urte upon the Mayor the IN
portaucc ol making Il complete examination OF tie
Finance Drpaltm mt.
Alderman Cochrane spoke Of length. severely ar
raigning the Finance Department for SO long per
mItIng Il system which allowed ol such frauds
being ptrretIatcd under II. lie Also attacked the
Comm .honcIS Ol Accounts Tor NOT discovering il.
fran >. CAROLS ledger had not b cn written mp
for ten months. and some of The coupons had been
prcscH cd ana paid within three days alter the nIst
pay mcnt. Ana set theat were the men whose duty
II IS 10 discover any lrrcgularty In pubhc depart
mcnt They examined the accounts Of the Finance
Department at least once every three months. and
on each occasion had declared tldt everything was
right. And these officials Eow declare that the
clerical duties Of the Finance Department are
performed IN - very lax manner. aud that the De
partmcnt itself Is III condition bordering on de
liberalization, 1t was rather late date tor them to
roach these conclusions. Had the Commissioners Of
Accounts per orned their duty the city would not
now be the loser 10 80 large amount. / he asscr
ton has been ma Re that every department in tine
CiIy Government IS corrupt They might easily be
So and remain Undecided II II rested with he Com
mis.Oners If Accounts TO bring the iTr gularlcs or
frauds 20 light.
Alderman Cochrane offered n resolution that the
committee appointed 10y the Board confer with he
Mayor III relation 10 the recent deiaicatlun, and
unite with the Mayor IN causing a thorough cKan-
nation OF all the accounts IN tue Finance
Department aud of the business methods employed
there TO he made for the years 1879, 1850 1851 aud
lsS2 ana report the same to the Board. This
unanimously adopted. The letter of Messrs. Towns
emf and Beacn referred to the Special Com
mlttee.
Deputy Controller Storrs said yesterday that the
allegation that Controller Campbell knew about
the cmbezzement at the time Of the last election
was untrue. The first Intimaton that the Control
Ter aud Others III the Finance Department had that
anything was wrong was the discovery about the
middle of December last that 81 900 III excess had
been pad on a semi annual interest account.