New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-15
THE" GRAFT" In NASSAU.
Is COMPARED TO TWEED'S.
For AdUertising Sale, sS4,580-
S12,O46 II Realised, 1t Is Sad.

Two hundred taxpayers of Nassau County
met yesterday in Mineola discuss the county 5
finances A committee of three was named to
consider the affair. Townsend Scudder. Con-
gresham from the district presided and Will
lam J. Youngs. United States District Attorney,
took an active part.
AS Nassaus affairs stand to-day according to
a report handed out by two Of the supervisors,
the third disputing its correctness, the county
has a floating debt OF S175, 7OS AZ. Against this
Is the fact that the county cannot now borrow
money from the banks. not enough to
meet the current exenses outside Of salaries.
from this time until July l, when the budget
funds for 1904 will become available. The sal
ary fund is ample. County Treasurer Lewis
took care some time ago 10 gather enough
money to meet these fixed charges.
If the floating debt be inserted in the budget
FOR 1904 the county will have to raise S4S2 239 ~
next year. and some of the taxpayers say it
would amount TO something like condscaticn
OF their properties 10 pay the taxes. Last year
the budget was S256 2S5 "a. There seems TO be a
strong sentiment against the further issuance
Of bonds. even short term ones.
The report banles the old board for the pres
ent condition OF affairs It is declared that
when the present board assumed Office, although
the year had eight months to run there re-
mained availa BILE for use only S23. 1856 with prob
dDte opiISdL4OllS OF S-tslcdt o. incomes winch
are precarious have added S133OG IS since then
TO the funds available
The report states than method Of the
former boards was TO raise $4,000 annually for
road maintenance, and then spend much more.
Figures are given stating that as gainst $4,000
raised for roads in the last four years the
county has paid out $2545sS -. In court ex-
Penses, the report says, the same method was
used. In four years $4,000 was raised for this
item and S6S,S19 40 spent For the care of the
county poor, it is asserted that in four years
$4,000 was raised by tax and So, 232 Al spent
This is. however, outdone, according TO the re
port, by the way the Advertising printing and
stationery account vas n.aI.aged IN the four
years, the report says, nothing was raised by
taxation for this account, but 500, ,694 81 was
paid out An item is given which seems to show
that the county paid oIt $345SO for adver-
tising a tax sale, and obtained $12,G46 Al out Of
the sale. The report says the present board Will
have the law changed so it will not have 10
pay So D a folio for its advertisements.
Supervisor Jones presented a minority report
made up yesterday in the County Treasurer's
Office, giving the following figures: Floating
debt. $4,000; audited bills. $4,000: bills road
work etc. $4,000; notes, SST, coo: total floating
debt, S139000; taxes due and unpaid. S6S 900
Mr.. Jones through his counsel, claimed that
the S6SOO0 unpaid taxes should stand against
the $4,000.
Townsend Scudder questioned Mr.. JoEes's re-
port. A g. Sullivan denounced the conduct of
York, and said that the graft" in Nassau was
greater ia proportion