The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-01

School Teachers and Other Unpaid Employees
HesieGo Treasurer Knapp's once.


HesieGe Treasurer Knapp's ONCE.
Seven months ago Long Island City detaulted
in the payment of tho salaries of members of
the police force. Five months ago the city
failed to pay its school teachers and Police JUS
tees and court clerk. Every month since the
employees of some one Of the departments of
the city.government have failed to get their sal
aries. The official life of the city ended at mid.
night and all the employees were left without
their pay.
Under Il law passed last winter The city could
issue revenue bonds against taxes remaining
uncollected after Aug. l. Since that time.
however, instead OF preparing for the issue the
city officials have been pickering and the bonds
were not ready until about two weeks ago.
Bids were asked for $45O,o0O of revenue bonds
and they were awarded to the banking firm of
Il. d. A.. Richards or this city. The firm en-
gagged a force OF expert accountants to examine
the financial condition of the city and to ascer-
tain If the law had, been complied with in the
issuing of the bonds, City Treasurer Knapp
the firm was not ready TO take them at the time
agreed upon. Finding that their experts could
not complete their search of the city records In
time the bankers secured from Justice Van
Wyck an order restraining the City Treasurer
from disp5sing of the bonds until their search
A motion to make tho temporary injunction
permanent was argued Yesterday ,:and:it vas OK
pectcd that the tr insaction would be concluded
and the cash be received in time 10 pay off the
city's obligations yesterday. Long before the
terday morning unpaid city employees began to
arrive. Among the first were a number OF
school teachers. As soon as the office was
open there was n rush to get In line. The
school teachers managed to capture the posi-.
tions in front of the cashiers window. and they
partition. The two lines reached to the office
entrance and were continued outside in the
crowd gathered outside the building, and the
scene resembled n run on n bank:
The Treasurer,,s office was in charge of Dep:
clerks busy arranging the books and getting
things in shape. to turn over to the new Govern:
Treasurer Knapp was down al the Queens
County Bank trying to induce TINT institution
900. Frequently the bank had discounted tho
warrants nftcr. they had hccn registered at the
CITY TreaT mr. 9 pltl &c making them preferred
sidering the matter. concluded that nJ they al.
ready held 100000 they could not continue to
When Mr.. Knapp entered his Office shortly
before noon his arrival was greeted with n
school teachers. Tho expression ON the City
Treasures face tod the stony palmer than
words, When he stood upon = chair there was
efforts to get money and how he had met with
failure. This announcement was followed by II
series, Of g.0ans by. the, waiting lines. The
school %tcachers continued 10 lingor about the
nihc" for some IN aft.r they had learned that
10 meet the indebtedness.
deputy Treasurer Feisel said that the Supreme
Court, after hearing argument on the Richards
injunction. mad intimated HAT the city had
reached ia debt limit and could not issue The
Slh0,OOO OF b0nds. Treasurer Knapp attrib.
uted the shortage Of funds to the action OF the
courts IN reducing the assessments laid last
year. which caused II delay in the collection of
taxes.
Mayor Gleason denied that tho city Ind
reached tho limit or was anywhere near ii. lie
also denied that any such statement or infer
encc was made In the court. He said that there
was ample margin left for the bond issue and
that Il, was othe: causes Of which no could not
speak that lud made the delay. lie placed the
blame entirely upon the shoulders OF Mir. Knapp
and sand that had tile financial officer OF The city
been sincere in his efforts to pay OF the en-
pIoycos he could ha We used money IN tho sink
ing funds and made good the amount with
revenue bond. which would be u perfectly legal
transaction under the lHw. He said that reve-
M" bonds were not u city debt. as they were
issued against uncOllcCted taxes.
a"eeH" County shrrin VIII Retain ola Em.
nlOyHFE.
The Queens County Bolrd'o Supervisors has
fixed tho rat VI boirl for prisoners in the
county jail NJ S. n week each. Sheriff elect
William Baker will take possession OF the office
Today and. VIII hold n reception in the Court
House at Long Island City. He has appointed
John J. LuySler MS Under Sheriff, and will
going Sheriff Don't