New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-08
MR.. ASTEN FREES HIS MIND.
A SHARP CONTROVERSY WITH THE MAYOR.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAX DEPARTMENT SAYS
CITY AFFAIRS ARE LOOSELY MANAGED.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAX DEPARTMENT SAYS
CITY AFFAIRS ARE LOOSELY MANAGED.
The Board of Estimate and Apportionment held
SIS first meeting yesterday since he return of PreS-
dent AstCn from his trip lie rs The secretary OF the
Board hut the work of secretary has been done for
several years by his chief clerk, Charles V. Adee
who was appointed clerk TO the Board on January
trollor is in doubt whether or not
~ pay the salary Of Mr.. Adee, the clerk not having
been formally appointed by the present board.
resolution 70 provide for paying Mr. Adee had been
offered. but not acted ON. When the Board met Nr;
Asten called up the tier: Controller Grant sara
lc doubted whether the Board had authority 10
pay the salary of Mr.. Adee. He thought his case
was similar 10 that OF the clerks of the Commits
sioners of Accounts for whom Mr.. Asten refused TO
make any appropriation or to allow transfer TO DC
made for that purpose. ,,, .,.
the services 81 this young clerk. although INC
Board has failed 10 pass resolution to pay hli' ana
voting thc final estimates agreed 10 an allFcPgtauuI
that the matter had been neglected was gtcaty sur
prsed. want 10 say that unless some proNsSSu ~
Ro1d for INV dntie, as president Of the Department
do permit me time TO serve rs your CLERK wan,
know the Board expects to retain the services Oh DS
young man without TcmunelatOnt IL
There was no reply by the other members of the
Board. n though the Mayor looked up somewhat
surprised. After moments pause MI. Asten con-
Mr. Mavor have found ont that the Official who does
M duty faithfully lncms the cnmity OF The powers that
be- To act faithfully Is to invite, and very Justly 100,
tue deuuncation OF the public. Now am tired OF all
his want 10 resign this position and every other one
ihold am thoroughly satisfied that never within my
memory have the affairs the city been so loosely
WaTor EdsonIMr Astcn do You mean that the
than YOU have ever before known them TO BET
Mr.. Asten-Thatis what have just said
The Mayor-Have you any proof OF this assertions
Mr.. Asten--Yes, sir can prove what say. have;
~ my own expense made investigations. wish nad
been here when the Roosevelt committee , Wa
here, for could have given IT facis
aud es wish tssy that in Sa,e ana ne n Na9T
cal government aud support honest men anu nones.
out bonOraby and as becomes an honest man. WISH 10
tell YOU Mr. Mayor that am not dependent on any once
for living An examination of my private accounts
VIII show that what paid to experts for procurng laSts
figures concerning public exp ndlhies III various ue-
partments was largely In excess OF my salary I'D january
The Mayor-wm you not make specific charges in
order that they he met And do yOn think the affairs
in the Mayors Office are any more loosely managed than
in the FAX Department. ,- =, -.
board which is meeting AZ Is evidenced by IT'S re-
fusal TO pay clerk for work performed. -,,.o,.
The MayOr-But you ought 10 prove what you say.
Mr. Asten-lt is all well enough to ask me this and to
fay " how can You prove this = go,
The May0r-Do yOu mean u say that the affairs OF this
Mr. Asten~fhst is exactly what mean to say Two
million dollars have been lost TO the city through tins
The Mayor-Your two months trip to the South has
not improved your temper.
Mr. Asten~fhat may be, but am personally RESPONSE
controller Grant-By what authority can we pay the
Mr. Astcn-I don't know what the legal aspect Of the
may be- but recognize the official character Of the
failed recognize Ills official character some time
H-O, when there Corporation Counsel
appointed 20 fix persons in office. the opin-
i6n was owen that the Commissioners Of Ac-
counts were legally entitled TO clerks suppose that TINS
board has the right pay it's clerk 1t has to pay
Aqueduct Commission clerks. Now look at the loose
manner IN which the Commissioners OF Accounts were
permitted conduct affairs Look at the Carroll coupon
iauls They permitted them 70 be perperaed when, If
they had attended 10 their duties such frauds could not
have Derpetraiedi one Of the commissioners per
United the frauds to go on night under his nose
Mayor EdsOn-Uuder nose, then Mr. Asten, "a you
arc Of tine Commissioners Of Accounts.
Mr. Asten-I am not sir IN the sense of the law The
Commissioners failed 10 recognize as member, and
said that a. they Board, the law did not re-
qure them 10 meet. complained 10 the present Cor
p1raon Counsel, and he told ne that hai no redress
aud could compel the Commissioners 70 recognize me-
they 2 kind az gO-as yOu-please affair The Com
.siOner. had clerks the first year Of their existence,
hut last wear they secured fourteen. The law never in
tended that they should have clerk Now. Mr. Mayor,
s. ! negligent in my duty, then am culpahe and
yOu ought TO remove me.
The resolution of Nh Asten providing for the
payment of Clerk Adoc was referred 10 the Con-
iTol. cr.
The sum of 1925 Excise moneys, received in
February was app opriatcd to the maintenance of
Various charitable institutions.