The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-18
COLER ATTACKS BROOKLYN.
SArs 0ED CITY OFFICIALS PAID
OUT SaOO,OOO ILLEGALJY.

~
Auditor sutton A~ccused-Money Went, He
Says, to Worth, SRnen, and Harman-
600 ocO Diverted from Park Funds.
Comptroller Coler gave out a long statement
yesterday in which he said that an
ton which has been made OF the payments to
former County Clerk Jacob Worth. former
County Clerk Henry O.. saren, and former
Register Granville W. Hartman Of Kings county
by the financial officers OF the city OF Brooklyn
would seem to indicate that George W.. Palmer
rs Comptroller. or his deputy. George H. Rowe.
disbursed from January. 1905. to December.
1897. in violation Of provisions OF law regard
ing their respective offices. and without war
rant OF law in general. over 100000 in large
individual payments 10 County Clerks Worth
and SRffen and 10 Register Hartman.
The facts further seem to show. the state
mont rays. that Auditor John r. Sutton. or his
deputy, David s. Qulmby. In violation Of the
charter OF the city OF Brooklyn and OF other
laws bearing upon his Office. approved the
claims for these sums and declared them cor
rect az audited. when every detail in connec-
ton with the transactions would seem to prove
that no legal audit was either ATTEMPTED or
pretended. The facts further appear to show,
according to the statement. that former Mayor
Wurster approved these payments and affixed
his signature to the warrants In plain violation
Of the duties OF his office.
Ihken more IN uotnll,' continues the Bthp0-
ment. "the facts show. specifically. that Comp
troller Palmer and Mayor Wurster approved
bills and signed warrants for the payment OF
i've bills in 1897. agRregating $75.000. to
County Clerk Jacob Worth for alleged sorting
and arranging OF records OF the former City
Court In Brooklyn, wherein the special law
under which any payment whatever for the
said work was permissible was hagrantly vio-
lated.
Tho facts also show specifically that aside
from the charges for indexing and reindexing.
which were common to both the County Clerk
and Registers Office. Jacob Worth received in
1897. besides the above $3.50 for sorting
and arranging the papers OF the former City
Court Of Brooklyn. $25. 900 for sorting and
arranging , the papers Of the former Court of
Sessions OF Kings county on a bill OF appar-
emily the flimsiest character, and $5S,000 ad-
ditional for sorting and arranging the papers
in his W Office on six bills, also OF a like APP
parent nimsy character.
Also that during the single year Of 1897 the
financial officers OF the city of Brooklyn. at q
time when they had to take S250.00o Of the
next years taxes to pay the salaries of the city
employees, nevertheless paid to Jacob Worth
alone $317.6l7.33 in cash; $159,000 for rein
dexing' county records, and $15S.617,33 for
sorting papers In his office.
THAT there was paid to Register Hartman.
during 1897. S103. 900 for 'reindexinG.' OF which
sum-. however. Register Hartman turned back
to the County General Fund on Dec. 80. 1897.
S31. 340.15. which fund was later turned over
to the greater city. but no portion Of the sums
paid 70 County Clerk Jacob Worth was re-
turned by him;
manipulating their funds to provide for these
s ssid s Sh Do '%hic iRr p%HT S5R BHiFP shosr dnR have atyf beea
used Tor the improvement OF the parks. into
the County General Fund. from which fund
i isS99 Worth alone was paid *2'8'ol7'SS in
In order to make these charges moro, clearly
history OF the transactions mentioned. WHICH
he says was made up from the records OF the
Of the old city OF brooklyn. The report says
that in 1894. when Thomas j. Kcnna was Reg
pare all MAPS and books for the Inauguration
q the block indeGX; system in his and the County
these, preparations should be Completed by
ian. l. iS,3. According TO the statement
that Mr.. Kenna's requests Tor money &c. 10 his
WORK were closely serutlnIzed: that he WAS
e e2penditSr TO pT Tsfah it emoaeteS se in al to q s7 his
600. and that Comptroller Palmer, when he
came into office, tried unsuccessfully to have
his acts in awarding contracts for work done in
viewed by the Grand Jury,
new Board OF Estimate appropriated Sl3h.O 00
4 the neXt six months l9r the use OF Register
indexing. In 1896. the report says, Register
Harman. got S75, 900 and County Clerk saIen
on file in the office of the former Comptroller
Of Brooklyn for the money given TO Register
$37. 800. which was made for that sum because
only bonds to that amount had been issued
which could apply to the Appropriation; The
nor was the bill made out in items as provided
for by the charter Of the city Of Brooklyn.
was certified, to as being correct by
Comptroller Palmer and A. Lawrence Jensen.
voucher was not made out in items. the report
says that it shows that on June n. 1896. one
Auditor Sutton signed the certificate approx
inG the account as eorregtn oG The voucher of
Is not made out, in items. is not certified to
by Mr.. SeIEen, and Il not sworn to as the law re-
Certified to also BY Gomptr6Iiieer Palmer and
e. Sie tx Jensen It and r. t was audited Ttt one day, prior
Of Of lis lis. a appr0 Sa ats lncS With iR' t lnst r lgs5Htlm ssRs
was for ths entire year. was received
County Clerk sailen, according 10 the report,
T received the $l2f0OH balance OF his ppproppria-
months in advance OF the completion Of the
work for which the money was appropriated.
itemizod or sworn To-. the report says. but was
certified to as correct by Comptroller Palmer.
passed the Mayors office and bear the stamp
OF his office. Mr.. Worth became County Clerk
upon tne deatn OF MIR. Sanens and the state
reindexing before Dec. 81. 1896. Register
Harman also got an additional appropriation
for reindexlng in 1896 $4,000. Concerning
these last two appropriations the report says:
$4,000 Is presented. in the handwriting of
Clerk of Accounts Jensen. not sworn to by the
Register, certified by George II, Rowe. deputy.
aud A. Lawrence Jensen, Clerk OF Accounts;
audited by Auditor sutton on Nov. 20 and the
money paid on Nov. n, 1896. or five weeks in
advance OF the completion of the work for
which the Appropriation is made.
THE voucher for the payment OF $20.000 to
County Clerk Jacob Worth shows even greater
expedition and less regard for the law In its
progress. 1t Is in the handwriting OF A. Law
renee Jensen. under date of Nov. &c, 1896, |
audited by Auditor Sutton on the same day,
passed the Mayors office on the same day and
or sworn to by Mr., Worth, and is certified as
being correct by Deputy COMPTROLLER George
The statement then goes on to say that Worth
and Hartman got appropriations Of $40 900 and