New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-26

represents an increased expenditure Of between four
and FIVE million dollars, because Of the Increased
assessed valuation.
The apparent low tax rate Of 81 OF is delusive. and
has been brought about in three ways First, by
the operation Of the act passed In 1900 the first year
Of Mayor Grants term, which eliminated from the
budget $780, 900 heretofore annuity Included IN
the tax levy for the benefit OF the sinking fund;
second by including only one-half Of the amount
claimed By the State its share OF the
tax and which will have to be made up,
by some future administration; and third by in
ccasng the assessment Of taxable property within the
last two years to the-cnormous amount Of s145OOo-
OO0 which increase curiously enough greatest In the
poorer wards where the people are unable to defend
themselves and smallest In the wealthy wards where
II would attract most attention and vigorous and
effective Kicking
Although the taxrate appears to be 1o7. as against
222 Of two years ago. the city Is now actually spend
ing more money ont of appropriation than 1t did On
1883.
II the accounts were now kept, they were in
1888 it would be that the expenditures for 1890
from thirty eight to thirtynine million, exclusive
of g. 900 Of applicable to the Sinking Fund
Last year this amounted to $l5500OO, OF which the
city received back from the State its share OF the
general school fuild only 1851 900. The annual
salary payroll Of the United Stats Government for
administering its affairs In New-fork City In 1889
was SIS 900, 900; the entire expenditure OF Newiork
State for salaries and otherwise was 20 OOO wlle
the salary list alone Of New-York City aggregated
SIS 900 600. In other words, Newfork City is pay
Ing salaries three times more than the United States
Government here and almost twice as much as the
entire State expenditure.
The examination OF the Commissioners OF Accounts
Office has shown that as at present conducted the
Office entirely fails to accomplish the purpose for which
Il was established. OF the two Commissioners,
Maurice +. Holahan appointed by Mayor Grant in
January, 1882 and Edward P Barker about two weeks
later. Their salary Is $4,000 besides this there are
several assistants at salaries ranging from 800 to $75
per month. The Civil Service laws have no spplca-
ton here. This ONCE is charged with the examination
Of all departmental receipts and expenditures either
at their own volition by suggestion Of the Mayor
The purposes in view two First, to systematizc
and simplify accounts, so that publicity is Obtained
and the discovery Of error made easy and second
to aid the chief magistrate In making public investi
cations. This adopted from The French system,
and in France 1t works admirably.
OF all the City Departments, but three have been
investigated by these Commissioners. and under cir
cumstlnccs which have left bad impression the
public mind. The Police Department has not been
examined, yet under the present system Of audit
the anomaly is presented here OF City Department
which receives it's funds audits Its own accounts pays
its own bills, and on which payment and audit no
check is placed until at the end Of the year. when
clerk of the Commissioners Office goes up and
glances over The vouchers.
There has been examination Of the Sherifs
Office nor of the Registers ONCE. The County Clerks
Office has not been examined for twenty five years.
Bills for supplies to the Department Of Public Works,
aggrcgating enormous sums, audited In the Con
uVers ONCE yet no specific INSPECTION Of the auditors
been made Of the Department Of Charities and Cor
| iection. In the Park Department, however one or
two complaints by letter were received, and In.
v,siieaton was instantly ordered. Tammany has not
The Market Bureau in the Controllers Office was
investigated at the Mayors suggestion The prelinl,
| conducted by Commissioner Sherman who had been IN
once fo years but 6e9 sIa e pu1e
appointed in his place. This investigation occu.
pied e whole time Of the Commissioners ISL fos % i
charges. Robert E. Hamilton Market Bureau en-
SV who %n %as IS on the
city pay roll In the subway construction works having
T fi IsiSss H cost the city 5000 or
the DOCK department has also been nyes Ta1a
a former employe Of the book Department, came 70
the Conmiss9ners Of accounts ONCE few moi hs
was at once put upon this work This investigation
was suggested by J. Sergeant Cram. the Tammany
called at the Office Of he Bureau Of Accounts and said
lie believed the Dock Department needed Investigation
The charges were dismissed but the investigation cost
The examination Of Commissioner Holahan disclosed
ca work Of going oyer the accounts Wns eS
dene enc shoWins that BooSEeeper Melville at the TIM
| he was investigating the Park Department was nego
on a Psr for one OF the pa
cottages and also that he had sought TO- secure one
the houses in the new parh for William Raines brothe
The reason given for not investigating the depart
sses 10 cover the expense Tke appopraor
for the Commissioners Of Accounts ONCE last yea
nsE sSs ssssS Tor an
the INVESTIGATION Of tho tt T c 9e
la at T9sr' II was shown BY Colonel reowss tcs
Hmony that the Doodle Aldermen" prosecutions hat
alea pTe the pspers Of The District Attorneys Office
an sfhcav imnicans the inoTmerss Duffy and Full
Important city oihisls were also By the afdsyi'
in that Ct Eiar the SG Rra5 was ore eve
BY De La1's Sr HlsO detndant the trail
not since heen C Jus N peier sar
that Mr. Brooke IS Of the opinion that he returned tn
paper va. 40 ais also brought out that by the order Of A
sistant District Attorney Cunning 8 BEDFORD: e1Cis
cases ave to be omitted from the cur, caieonl un ,
that order is rescinded by Mr. Iedford or by the DIS
ct-Attorney.
TO SPOIL TAMMANY CoLONIIING SCHEMES.
Tho I,nIted states Marshals will have their hand
full most of the time this week. The Supervisor
Elections has found lumber Of attempts to cooniz
voters In various Assembly districts and warrants 10
the arrest Of those who have registered illegally an
intend to vote are being prepared IN the Win a
scmbly District alone at least 100 illegally registee
} names are supposed to DO on the lists. The same
true Of the lower part Of tho With Assembly Dstrit
and the xyIth District. The Tammany i eaa
many places in his district where tramps can easil
S 30 SS.''A''D ''"S '"'''
DESIGNATIONS FROM TAMMANY HALL
Fred Schmidt. q well-known contractor OF IN
Twenty fourth Ward who has been politically active
. q supporter Of Tsmmany, and Q member OF the Tan
| many Hall General Committee. sont his reslgnato
yesterday to General John COchane chairman OF tia
| committee Mr.. Schmidt says: "The extraordnar
course recently pursued BY the Hon. Henry d. Pui