New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-17
SCARE IN MOUNT VERNON.
OFFICIAL REPORT SHOWS LARGE
SHORTAGE IN MONEYS run
STREET IMPROVEMENTS

The residents OF Mount Vernon last night had
q taste Of revelations which in store lot
them when the experts who are inFestsauAS
their city government under its recent Demo
cratic administration completed their Work py
the reading Of q partial report. The report
deals almost entirely with affairs in the once Oh
the former receiver Of taxes, John H Brett MI
Brett lie a prominent business man IN Mount
Vernon, and has been president Of the LOBSTER
Club an organization composed Of all OF the
leading sporting and politicians OF west
chester County. He is known everywhere as q
proverbial good fellow and il is said that ne
has opess more wine and presided at more
clambakes than any other politician in Mount
Vernon. Mr Brett was SO popular that he helo
the Office of receiver Of taxes fifteen years before
the Republicans could find to beat HIM
II has been believed for a long time that the
affairs or his office were in bad shape, but MOTH
ing was known officially until last night II
was generally known that the report Wonln o.
read at the meeting of the Common Council
and a large crowd of citizens were on hano 10
hear IT,
The report which bears the signature OF :,
\. Patterson. the expert accountant IN charge
of the investigation, shows that since 1870 theIe
has been levied in Mount Vernon total OF
2S4 assessments for street improvements. sewers
these and completed forty-eight, or less than
one-fifth. and assert that they find an absolute
shortage Of from $4,000 to S21.0oo-
The amount received for the 234 assessments
is S24S. 597. Alderman James P Hayes. chal'-
man Of the investigating committee. said last
night that if the proportion Of deficiency coz
tinues the same in all items as i is in the iorS
eight completed. the shortage on assessments
alone viii not be far from $4,000. or about one
fifth CT The total amount received In the same
period" continued Alderman Hayes ABOUT
S25e0ooo in cash has passed through the TAX
ONCE. the records Of which we are now scru-
timing. How many irregularities there VIII De
in these accounts we do not know The cash-
toot, IA missing. and we are now fighting in the
courts to get it. as it contains important rec
ords. There is no doubt that affairs are in
bad tangle, because the Common Council is
called on at nearly every meeting to cancer
taxes moi cancelled the records Tor WHICH
the owner holds the receipts Of the Tax once
Mayor Fiske. who has been at the head Of the
Democratic machine which has run the city
fer the past six years. issued public message
in which he demanded that the investigating
committee go back TO 1892, when Mount YER
non became a city and was controlled by the
Republicans. He declared that the present IN
vestigation was partial and that Z was being
made for political purposes. Much TO Mayor
Fsske's evident surprise his suggestion was
heartily approved by all the aldermen Alder
man Hayes declared that for once he agreed
with the Mayor. He offered resolution that
the investigation extend back TO 1892 and take
in every department Of the city.
Alderman Hayes said that It was an unfort-
innate thing that for the last two years the re-
ceiver of taxes had not been under bonds. The
records, he said, had been searched for that
time, and no bonds had been found. This con-
dition Of affairs he declared, was due TO the
negligence Of the former Board OF Aldermen,
who took steps TO protect the city 1t mas
been at least two years and a half. Alderman
HAYES declares, since the receiver has been
under a bond and in that time he has handed a
million or more Of dollars The report was
spread on the minutes and the investigation will
be continued with renewed vigor. Rich develop
raents are expected when the accountants reach
other city departments. a member Of the IN
vestieating committee said that few places in
the country have been fieecec like Mount Yer
The committee in the last few days has OBJ
tanned certified copies Of the bonds Of all public
officials as ii is feared that some Of the or glnals
may disappear the invest ga+lon progresses
The members declare that this step IS neceS-
sary as they intend 10 proceed against the
bondsnaen in case any official is found de-
lincuent The action TO compel Nj Brett 10
produce his cashbook is still pending Corpora
ton Counsel Marshall has obtained peremp-
tory order compelling the surrender OF the
books To-day the Gay set for the filing or
a repiy in the maudamus issued by Justice
Dickey. Yesterday morning Mr. Marshall act
ing for the city, decided 10 consent TO the petl-
ton made by Mr.. Brett's counsel, Brennan q
Curran, of Yonkers. Cor weeks adjournment