New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-20
MR. ASTEN ALONE VOTES NO
THE EXCISE BOARD GETS $1,000.
THE KrroRT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF IN
sPTCTORs DEFEATED.


THE EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF IN
sPrCToRs DEFEATED.
Movor Edison got up from his mahogany desk YES
terday morning and greeted President Asten, of the
Tax Department with smile mingled OF pleas;
ure and apprehension. Controller Grant strolled
hole, and greeted Mr.. Asten with the same com
bined smile then President Kirk glided through
and TS silently took his seat There was weighty 81
lence manifest at the opening of the meeting OF the
Board of Estimate and Apporti3nment i ior
j. was known that Mt A;tGn n%G by the
Board of excise. President Haughton came all the
way down from Bond-st and the boWery,
sporrsibiiity which rested uneasly on, his
shoulders He was exceedingly nervous untii . ho
session of the Board began linen ne sa rednced by
] OO9 and the number of iquor-st0re licenses Vpi
respondngly increased. In consequence VI &c ' tbs
change of grade $40 received for each Sd nr
OO9 licenses making total OF ABOUT Yfo,V"vo loi
them. Mr.. aughton became efadia a ycrsase Of
sessed and demonstrated how 'n M in
spectors MR. Asten is sure that this number Is o?4
great by twcntyfve Finally MI hangmfhR S sad
of Excise were considera bly, larger than when II
was the Metropolitan Board
controller Grant, have given the subject careful EN-
consideration Mr. Mayor since the last meeting OF tms
Board have made inquiries and instead OF thlnkng
that the Commissioners could rely upon ,e pUe meal
part the inspection, as did at the last neelng, nave
conp
sDat chance of benetng the city Reference has been
paGe 10 the fact that the Brooklyn Board OF EXCISE n
ony two inspectors do the work for that cry me ne
of ihe Police Department is member OF the Board ana
there many inspectors "a there arc pocei;e IL
any such relation existed or cond exist mere ~ wouu per
Ians be different the Board Of Excise in THIS city mas
Got TO do its work and share the responsibility viii
no one else In the last IL has performed It's WorA
wen The changing of so many licenses Is poS'Ne'y al
President XIX neutrality-suspicious. measure
Controller Grant-Not only that, bat it IS presumed
that each of these changes made for good cause Inc
Board refused 706 applicants too -, l., 80 o.o
Mr. As,sn (npreSsiyeyl-hr Mayor therc IS DO leso-
lulio before the Board Let Controller oler resOiu
ton so that have something to talk about
The Controller offered a resolution approprlatlng
S7i 900 to pay the expenses or the BOARD OF IAcse
for the ensuing year. including the salaries OIL the
Commissioners. 1t amounts to thlS,D eXPlalheu
the Controller: " IL the Board does anything 70
cripple the work of the Excise Dedartment 1t will
have to stand the responsibility. so tar as saying
what the Commissioners snail pay for this or that
] don't think that we have any authority 10 40 50.
When we appropriate the gross sum our authority
is at all end"
Mr. Asten-I must thank the Controller for standing By
e as long he aid last Thursday, and am sorry tiat
he does not continue his aid This Board has the right 10
make this appropriation the Department has asked for
amounts for certain specific purposes. The system
OF Inspection in practice in Brooklyn Is to
te combination between the police and
the Department roe POLE are 5e sb peparment
keeps away disease from 10000 tenement nonses It's
and yet IL is accomplished with bat fifteen sanitary III
speciors and thirty sanitary policemen. Previous to
inspectors with these the Department was required to
examine l03 900 TO investigate Applications
orbudng permits The amount OF Work done was iOuf
times great the Excise Department In the YAK
Department We have eognz1ncs OF every D9lse III inns
city aud OF over 10000 pieces OF uhpIoVe1
Applications for reduction OF assessments hec9ssltte
careful urements aud the work Is consequently very
great Yet Tor all tins we nave Dnt eteven uSpectpa G
ii to that the Excise Department needs
thryye inspectors II dosi eau upon ' 5e FRce M
iartnent The Superintendent and his captains laugh at
when l ask them II they assist the Excise Depart
ment
Referring to a clause IN Mr.. Haughton's letter, in
which it was claimed that the B lard had VI ndl-
Gated itself from the charges made D. the press
against it," Mr.. Asten continued;
How has il INDICATED ITSELF Two years ago it was
shown aud confessed that one name appeared on ~
bonds aud that instead of turning the revenues OF tAe
Department over the city the Board kept deposit OF
$4,000 IN bank and so deprived the cry Oh the ant YER
Department, | acknowledge hut believe mat most OF
Them have been due close watching have done
late This pad counsel they ask an appropria
ton have have never had the pleasure OF
meeting him.
Mr.. Asten. referring again to the legality of
making appropriations for specific purposes CON
tnued:
It's absurd TO say that the appropriations could not be
nj "a the Excise Comm .sionrrs asked for them. with
the entire sum al their disposal they viii use rs they
are not those which they said they We're gong
10 pay when they to came TO us IN 1888. IAey
Tell us that the business of the Department. Is increasing
II that is the they 40 not need more lusectOS Vu'
more clerks 1t Wa shown thar eiT INSPECTORS were ID
INDICATED themselves. Before the matter i. Gec 'led
would suggest public hearing at which citizens may eN
press themselves. ..o,..,. ,
President Krk-I cannot see any economy in reducing
fine force Of Inspectors II j. SHOWN that SoU"J mas
been turned into the city treasury am IN favor OF r.
strictng Commissioners in ths amounts that they
shall spend for certain purposes.
When the vote was taken Mr.. Grants resolqtion
was adopted. Mr. Asten voted decided NO; >,
Mr. Grant then offered resolution by which al
the unex pended balances prOr TO the year 1879
were transferred to the general fund less me
estimated amount required to settle clam;
now pending if such claims are decided
pgainst the city The amount transferred was
80 G79 O62 %. The Controller was instructed to
issue $4,000 worth Of Croton 3 per cent bonds
aud similar amount of Asse 5smcnt gig per cent
bonds. J. A. Hatzel VINO contested the seat of the
Alderman from the With District. having Won ms
suit in the Court of Appeals, the ContIoIer wa
directed to issue 5000 III revenue bonds 10
lquidate Hatzel's claim,
Mr.. Asten SAID after the meeting OF the Boar'i OF
Estimate and AppoItionment that the transfer Oh so
large a sum INTO the general fund would reduce
taxation for this year about 81 of per cent, m
less the Governor should require some new expendl-
tune of the city's money.