The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-27
QUEER JAMAICA FINANCES.
DISCOVERIES MADE BY OoMPTROL-
LEI EXPERTS.

lIe says II Will ne Necessary to Contest
Many or the Issues OF Bonds RecentiJ
Made BY Municipal Corporations That Arc
TO ne Consolidated with New York City.
Comptroller Fitch gave out n statement yester.
day in which he said that IL has become quito
evident, rs the result OF the work already done
BY tho expert accountants appointed by him TO
overhaul the accounts OF the boroughs of Brook
lyn, Richmond, and Queens. that II will be neces-
sary for the Comptroller to contest many OF tho
issue of bonds by the municipal corporations to
be consolidated with New York city.
One OF the reports recently presented by the
expert accountant engaged in investigating the
accounts and records OF tho town Of Jamaica
shows a remarkable condition OF AFFAIRS. Tho
report shows that. In the Office OF the clerk OF
that town, there is 10 system OF indcxing and
recording papers on Ale; that there is no record
OF the several bond issues. as required by chap.
ter 6s5, Laws OF 1892. as amended by chapter
$50. Laws of 1895; that the cash accounts Of
the several Supervisors do not show the sta us
of tho several appropriations; that moneys ap.
propriatcd and raised for specific purposes have
been paid out for general purposes.
Also, that the Board Of Supervisors Of Queens
county on March 10, 1897, authorized.the town
of Jamaica to issue $i50.O00 worth OF 4 per
cent. bonds, and authorized the Supervisor OF
Jamaica to sell them at private or public sale,
hDu W thiIBcl Va hAo " iSNo 4 " NSbt- " q
ceivinR and paying out the proceeds: that the
bonds were sold at private sale by the Super
visor and that he paid himself the commission
of / per cent. out OF the proceeds; that the reso-
solution of tho Board Of Supervisors also
directed the Supervisor OF Jamaica to pay out of
tho proceeds of the bonds the interest which
should fail due on them prior to a new tax levy,
and to include the amounts SO paid in the town
budget for 1898.
Also, that after the bonds were sold a contract
was entered into for the work OF matchmaking
the highways OF Jamaica at an stimated cost OF
$457. 233, and a further contract for the engi-
e ceet. of e tSe Contract MSs m price; q that ato u rS' to 't Oct p per r
1897, there had been paid out OF the proceeds OF
the bonds, for commissions to the Supervisor,
F. w. Dunton. to the Commissioner of High.
ways. for inspectors fees, land damages, legal
services. interest on bonds, &c, $I6.3S7.32,
% sneinssrin W't EXPENSES ems F ss.i%stsd p at sss ses . g.
the total sum o Of $496,4 si:97 that the interest
amounted, Oct, /, 1897, to the sum of 81, 331.5 81;
that it would appear therefrom that the
eaeendsedi the fSn nppropri W,tn t the aSR' bg the W s%m
of $45, 100. 40. and that to that extent there is a
deficiency in the funds.
making M, a copy Of the 90 sssessment roll; that his
to legal rates. it should have been only $780, 20.
making an overcharge of !S1,ss3.s1; that this
Srer. and d1 that as am a matter alter Of 81 fact itC1eeHWseo Work WAS was
done by others for Mr.. Dunton. for which he
paid only S450.
Also. that the interest on bank deposits has
not been credited by the Supervisors since 1890.
and that moneys which, should have been col
lected from the Long Island Real Estate and In
vestment Company for rental OF fro hydrants
has not been paid or collected. Also. that on
strip OF land about thirty feet wide and four
miles long for nincty-nine years to tho New
York. Woodhavena and R~ockaway Railroad COM
pnny for 5000 per annum. which, OH a 3 per
cent. basis, would represent the value of the land
to be 81, 600: that on May g, 1880, the town Of
1nmnirn rDnvnvan in 700 Sinlnla IN the luma
railroad corporation 6. strip Of land $50 feet
in width and four miles in length. which included
tho land leased as above stated, for a considera-
tion OF 1854. On the basis Of valuation on
which, the lease was made, this property must
have been worth at least $20, 1t also APP
made on extremely unfavorable terms: one hav.
ing been made for u term expiring Dec. 81, 1912,
and another to begin at that date TO run until
1892.