New-York tribune., 1901-12-25
RUSSELL TOLD TO SEARCH.
PLANS To MAKE THE ACCOUNTS
BUREAU A USEFUL BRANCH OF
CITY GOVERNMENT

MayOr-eleC Low has indicated 10 W1IHam
Hepburn Russell, who is to be Senior Cofnnlis-
sioner of Accounts, that he wants rigid in
vestigation made of the handling of the city's
funds particularly in the Bureau o. Arrears
in the Controllers Office where defalcations
were discovered last week Mr.. Russell. for the
last three days. has been inspecting the work
ings of the department of which he will become
the head after January 1. and he said yesterday
that Mayor-elect Low was disposed TO accept
Richard Croker's challenge to show up official
wrongdolng if there was any When Mr. Rus
sell was seen at his office yesterday afternoon
he said:
IF the heads Of the other departments work
in harmony with the Commissioners Of Accounts
we can systematic the entire bookkeeping or
the city the next years and by esta5-
fishing checking and counter checking system.
we will make it impossible to great extent Tor
such defalcations as came to light last week to
go a long time undiscovered. The existence OF
some sort of deficit in the Arrears Department.
has been known for months Apparently 1t was
condoned until after election. Then the Con-
trolIer began an examination that could not
very well be finished while he was in office
1T will fall to the Commissioners of Accounts
to investigate the methods that have prevailed
in the last four years. I find that the Depart
ment of Accounts is In intimate touch with every
other department in the city government, and
all the county offices in the city Its supervisory
powers extend to magistrates courts and TO
county departments within the city From the
investigation Of the Department of Accounts
that have been able to make in the last four
or five days. it appears to me that. Ike Iopsy,
the work of the department has growed' but
there has not been a corresponding growth IN
the functions of the Accounts Department TO
make ii practical and efficient to the highest de-
gree The department has done some good work.
but there is plenty of evidence that il has been
hampered both by tradition and by the pontlcal
obligations of the present administrator AS
l understand it. the Commissioners of Accounts
will be one of the hands of the Mayor The
commissioners will keep him in touch with the
financial side of the city government through
general and special reports
This is true to a considerable extent under
the present administration. 1t will be far more
true under Mr.. Lows administration. because
it IS his purpose to systematiZe the citys ousi-
ness so that it may be conducted like the busi-'
ness of other great corporations He is DETER
mined to get matters in such shape that ne can
economize stop leaks and prevent stealing.
With the cooperation and support OF the heaos
of the other departments the CommlsslonerS OF
Accounts ought to be able 10 do TINS during MT
Lows administration. Three things that We
shall strive for are. first. TO improve sreatiy
the system and make more complete the count
ing rnatbods of the various departments; sec
Ond TO check up the transactions OF tnS IdsS
four years, and more. If necessary IN oIueI it %
disclose any wrOngdOing that has been CoInI1It-
ted there; third, to uncover cases WIlSIe ,Is
fuI profits have been made ny oniceloIuetS ON Is
tbrorgb .ra ke offs and shake downs thrOugn
the carving out of corporation contracts 1hIS
NAV be difficult Of Accomplishments
sometimes it is impossible to locate 1raud 9L
+biS cbararter unless somebody 'squeals- IL
carfainiv seems probable that the rascality dis
closed in the tax arrears 9orgI eau - Few Wv vears
dishonest transaction in the last Ie" yI,., yedIs,
I'VE have the power to call for the produeIloh
OF books and papers and all contracts. SpTCi =
tions and vouchers, and. in addition 10 thss so 20
caII and examine witnesses / have no DOUBT
that these powers will be freely exercised
am safe in saying that the new commissioners
ILL ertar on the discharge of their duties un-
n1adged except to discharge their duties ana 20
help Mr.. Low 1t goes without SAYING tn4t ss,I oL
errIx- elected Controller and other city of1ctaiS
vii themselves do much in investigating tne
records they receive While remain CoII1Lns- Ci
rjoid methods 10 the work Of the new heads
OF DEPARTMENTS as in the examination OF tne
work of the last four years
.sWhat will you take uD 1rst<
..NaturaIIy the first thing TO claim our atter-
tion will be the following up OF the recent
discovery made by Controller Coler- AFTER tnae
certain transactions involving payments lot
asphalt pavements will be made the SUBJECT CT
our Investigation -.-,
IIertIe would retire from the Accounts Depart
ment. while Commissioner owen on account OF
his long experience IN the bureau. viii be re-
tained in some capacity. There are fifteen ex-
aminers and clerks in the exempt class in the
department and 1T is understood that all but
foI,r or Ave Of these will be asked TO resign
When Mr.. Russell was asked direct cues
tion to the distribution OF pduohdS0 SCs
terday. he said:
1T is all a question Of an efficient and eco
nornical administration with men VINO can oe
trusted If there good meE IN
the department unhampered by past po1tcai
afiIia tions they should not be removed merely
for DoJiticaI reasons On the other hand. prae-
ticaIly every position in the department. Is
confidential one and even the humblest ex-
enoinsr N not perfectly efficient and loyal.
might hamper the work OF the department
have no doubt that Republicans viii be ap-
nojnted to some Of the vacancies which VIII De
made There are fifteen confidential positions
" nile the rest are nominally In the Civil Service
We are charged with the duty OF inVestgating
the affairs of the city administration of the last
four years We hardly do so successruny
II forced TO retain examiners either committed
70 the noItcy of that administration or actively
identified with il in political way tnlnk
however, that the good and efficient men IN the
department will be retained
ESTIMATED LIFE OF KIMBERLEY HINES