New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-18
POLICE FUND SHY &9.827.
BINGHAM WRITES MAYOR.
Er-Secretary Denies Debt - Nc
Adoo's Tice Squad Expenses,

Police Commissioner Bingham in letter sent
to Mayor Mcclellan yesterday IL regard 10 a
deficiency in the police contingent fund said he
was informed that William Howell the secretary
of Commissioner McAdoo. sim owed the contir-
gent fund for 1904 S1.466 %. Mr. Howell replied
that he had accounted for all the money handled
by him while in the Police Department.
The letter of Commissioner Bingham. which
follows an examination Of tho accounts and
funds Of the department. by tho commissioners
Of accounts. shows deficiency in the contiu-
gent fund for 1905 Of 50 So 80 In other words
the new Commissioner has bills for that amount
to pay for which there is no money available
From an examination OF the figures furnished
by the Commissioner it would seem that the de
ficiency was largely due TO the unusually large
amount of money used by the vice squad, the
pet scheme Of Commissioner McAdoo in 1905. It
seems that this squad. the character Of some
Of the members Of which was brought out in
the Claiche trial took $3.50 20 Of the 1905 con
tingert fund This amount was paid before
Commissioner McAdoc left Office. as was $685.
charged 70 meals furnished to secretaries and
clerks
Asked what further action he would take in
connection with the funds of the department as
revealed by the examination. Commissioner
Bingham replied with his svereotyped, "Abso-
lutely nothing 10 say"
II was asserted last night thaJ 10 account ndu
been received from Mr.. HoweK OF the money ad-
vanced him. supposedly on the order OF Commits
sioner McAdoo. It was stated that the Commits
sioners Of Accounts found no vouchers TO show
what had become of the money on the other
hand Mr.. Howell declared:
The receipts and bills were4urned over to Con- /
trOlier GTout ana were honOTed by him, Just as lie
always done when any confidential work is done
by any Of the men in the city departments. Mr..
Grout and I had a perfect understanding All
the receipts are in the private safe of Controller
Metz.
Commissioner Binghams letter to the Mayor
follows
have the honor to call YOUR attention 70 the
fact that there is a deficiency in funds for CON
tngent expenses, Police Department, for 1905
amounting to $9SS7 SO.
When l took charge Of this Office I asked for
an examination Of the accounts and funds Of
the Police Department by the Commissioners OF
Accounts. They made a report dated March
3, 1905, from which the following paragraph is
taken;
The unexpended balance Of the 1905 coming
eut account on January l, 1906, was $1.629 Al.
Liabilities were contra cted in 1905 amounting TO
$1l.036 "a Of such nature that they Could be
remain unpaid. To enable the Commissi Toner to
discharge these liabilities will require an add
ton to the 1905 contingency appropriation Of
$9406 So
Since the foregoing report was written bills
have been rendered chargeable against the con-
tingent fund Police Department for the year
1905. bringing the amount of liabilities as re-
ported by the said Commissioners of Accounts
from S94OS SIS up TO S10O71 IS, to pay which
there is a cash balance hand Of only 1854 SIS
showing a deficit, as stated above of S9,sS7 80
The appropriation for the year 1905 having
been exhausted, there is no money to pay these
bills.
The expenses of the vice squad for 1905 were
$500 20. Meals were furnished 70 secretaries
and clerks amounting 70 $685.. Both of these
items however, we're paid before I took office.
I also informed that there is stil owing
to the contingent fund. Police Department, for
the year 1904 from William Howell the sum Of
81 466 09
Hereto are appended certain sections Of the
charter which bear on The above.
Appended TO the letter are copies Of Sections
297 and 1872 of the city charter. The former
provides that the Controller shall advance from
time TO time such portions of the appropriation
OF the Police Department not exceeding $4,000
as the Commissioner shall make requsition for
on account OF contingent expenses. No greater
amount than $1,000 in excess Of the amount
duly accounted for by vouchers is to be advanced
at any one time. Section 1912 prohibits any
official Of the city in charge Of a department
from allowing a deficiency to arise IN any fund
under his control.