New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TAKEN IN HAND BY BLACK.
THE GOVERNOR BEGINS TO EXAMINE
EAsToNs ACCOUNTS
AN INCIDENT SHOWING HOW AN APPROPRIATION
OF s2Do FOR THE CAPITOL WAS
STRETCHED TO OVER si00 O0

AN INCIDENT SHOWING HOW AN APPROPRIATIONS
OF $500 FOR THE CAPITOL WAS
STRETCHED TO OVER 100000
Albany. April 80 (SpcclaD. aD.-Governor Black
gave his personal attention to-day 10 the grave
charges which have been made against Frederick
r. Easton In the management Of the Department
OF Public Buildings. Mr.. Black had Mr.. Easton
before him at the executive chamber, and also
J. " Jacobs. of Troy. the Deputy Superintendent
Of Public Buildings. and in company with these
officials ne went over several Of the big bills
paid by Easton. The examination Of the papers
not conducted in private, but openly In the
executive chamber. and in sight Of a good many
callers One OF these visitors Senator John
Raines, who looked upon the Governors pro-
ceedings with a smile. Most Of the Senators ap-
pear to consider themselves fortunate In having
escaped the duty Of investigating Easton.
Mr. Black" said Colonel Griffith. the Govern
or's private secretary. intends to have a thor
ough and speedy examination made Of Mr.. East
on's accounts. Letters have already been sent
off to the subcommittee OF the Senate Finance
Committee. whose members inspected Mr.. Eas-
toms books for all the information and docu-
ments they possess"
will accountant or expert OF any kind
examine Mr.. Easton's vouchers for the bills
paid by him."
Yes" replied Colonel Griffith. IAN accountant
will be put to work inspecting Mr.. Easton's
books and the bills which he has paid and
contracted. 1t is hoped by Mr. Black within a
week to have accurate information about every
feature of Mr. Easton's administration"
1t is already hinted that Easton's defence Will
be that he directed by the Legislature to
make certain Improvements to the Capitol ana
IL it cost a large sum to make these improve
ments. such to put carpets on the floor OF the
Senate Chamber, the Legislature. not he. was
responsible. Mr.. Black. however, personally un-
derstands that Easton had 40 men on the pay
rolls Of the Department Of Public Buildings In
January last who were not needed. for he as q
Trustee Of Public Buildings. struck these names
from the roll He also has reason 10 peheVs
from a brief inspection OF the bills Easton paio
for furnishings Of the Capitol that the most
expensive sort Of articles must have been pur-
chased.
The Public Buildings Department has cnaree
Of four public buildings, and they are all IN
Albany They are the Capitol, the Executive
Mansion the State House and the Geological
Hall II should be stated that the Capitol Com
MISSION which has just been legislated ort OK
existence has had charge Of the new "ork IN
the Capitol and the Superintendent OF Bu'id-
ings has supervised alterations ana repairs
Controller Roberts's report for 1874 SHOWS "la'
during the fiscal year ended on SepteH'oet "''
1896. the following amounts were eXpehded Oh
the Executive Mansion, the Capitol, tn" S'A's
House and the Geological Hail:
General construction BY days labor. ,9i
General construction by 506 -
Salary OF commissioner. ..'''''.'''''.'''''' eDos
Interss, on s%aS mara 0I pa as provided by Chap
541 Of 1896. 6.........,.....'..''''
Services OF employees Is es
supplies -. - sp "a II
Total ..........................''
Here is over S1OO0OO0. but 1t apparent-
" does not include all the outgo for the Capitol.
Superintendent Easton for instance had MI
Nixon. the Republican leader in the Assembly,
introduce a bill appropriating SSo'oU Tor ths
unusual alterations. repairs, changes anu HI'-
provements in the public buildings aHea"'
made under his charge, and for deficiency now
evisting in the appropriation for care, cleanlhs'
labor lights services and other necessary eN,
penses' of the department. Ihere is aiso d p.'
annronriating 500 915 for the 3. w. wooster FUR
ritura COMPANY and another appropriation Dill
of 81 $50 for plumbing. The Supplemehtal sup
ply bill contains an item OF S93'oJ % lor @ ccli-
oleting various committee rooms or the SeHat'
and Introducing q heating and ventllatng apn~
Daratus Thus in addition to the Si"o II 20
already referred to. there appears TO nave peen
exnended upon the Capitol S2l2.3l4 ~, maklns
total of ST DO 42G Is The appropriation or so'-
80 50 for the Senate committee-rooms ana l9r
ventilation and heating shows upon what slieht
authority expenditure OF vast amounts ate
made The Supply bill Of 1896 contained the fol-
lowing item:
For changing and repairing the present committee
rooms If the Senate and for finishing and furnishing
additional comm ttee-rooms LOT the USE 1I 'r 80
ate Committees Finance. cues ana Codes anu ~.
innroving the ventilation OF the senate CHanluer,
the sum Of $500 Is hereby appropriated sucn worS
to be performed by the Commissloner OF tne ,. nem
Capitol under the direction OF the Senate COMMITTEES
on Finance. 49,,
The item also said that ANY deficiency in the
appropraticn for the above purposes shall be de-
Sraved ont of the CAPITOL appropriation already
made" But the $500 was used up ana the ex-
fra amount expended, 800 40 So was not paid
out Of the Capito. Appropriation already made.
The item in this years Supplemental supply Dill
covering this matter follows:
To pay for work performed for finishing and fur-
nishng additional commit rooms for the use
OF the Senate Committees on Flnance Cties ssh dna
the third story of the tower for telegraph tele-
phone and press association Gices ana d. ressaa
in the State Library: Installing system OF heatn8
and ventilation In the Senate chemDer, Assembly,
Chamber and Senate commttee-rooms the sum OF
s9975S 49,
The Senate Finance Committee might be asked
TO explain why II was that on authority TO expend
50 800 and possibly little more, IL managed
IN authorize the expenditure OF this vast sum.
The work was to he done by the Commissioner Of
the new Capitol Mr.. Perry under the direction
Of the Senate Committee on Finance" 1t, there.
fore is partly responsible for the expenditure Of
this money.
ADVENTURES or 4 CHARTER BILL.
Albany April 3o.-The Mayors in the Creates
New-York territory will have at least one oppor.
tunity weaken the operation of the Greater Ne".
Work. charter II they so desire. A supplemental,
Nm 10 tho charter defining the powers of super
v'ors I'm Greater New-York was passed after the
ctar,or " and The two supplemental bills had been
cha IA ~