The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
METZ SUSPENDS E.A. SLATTERY
ARREARS or TAXES NOT ENTERED
UP FOR THE CITY SINCE 1899,


Companies Other Bureaus Thr eatcned
Edward A. siattery, Collector Of Assess
ments and Arrears, was suspended yester-
day by ComptrollsT Metz pending an
investigation by the Comptroller of what
he said yesterday he thought were irregl-
larities in the conduct of the bureau.
Mr.. Metz said that to all appearances
Mr.. Slattery and Some OF his stsf have
neglected the keeping Of the recordso oil the
department in order to work for some OF
the title guarantee companies and that the
bureau seems to have been run as a branch
OF the title companies. He said also that
Collector Slsttery had undoubtedly been
paid by these companies in return for the
work he did for them.
Slsttery has been away from mis- Office
in the Stewar Building for ten days.
pleading i'll health. While he was away
Mr.. Metz began 20 overhaul the bureau
In doing so he discovered a tall pile OF
books marked with the names OF the Title
Insurance Company, the Title Guarantee
and Trust Company and several other
similar companies. Some OF the books
also bore Mr.. Slattery's own name. Mr..
Metz found hat the records of arrears due
on properties in the city were entered up
to date in these books, but that the city's
books had not been written up since 1899.
The assumption I have made, and prop
erly 20, l think, Mr.. Metz said yesterday,
sis that Mr.. Slattery and the officials OF the
department have been practically working
for the companies while at the same time
drawing pay from the city. Whenever
the city was about to purchase property
for public purposes we would send to the
Bureau for the Collection OF Assessments
and Arrears to find out II there were any
liens on such properties. But we we're
unable TO get the Information because the
books were not entered up, and the only
way the information sought could have been
obtained would have been by searching
through huge stacks Of assessment rolls
which ought TO nave been copied in proper
form into the journals provided for that
purpose. The result was that the city had
TO pay some of these title insurance co m
panies for the needed information, and
the peculiar part Of it is that in paying
this money 10 the companies the city was
paying for data given to those companies
by the city's employees. l have taken
possession Of the books belonging to the
companies and to Mr.. Slattery and intend
to make a thorough investigation,
There will be a big scandal in this de-
partment one OF these fine days. The ar
rears bureau is not the only one in which
there is cause for complaint Some of the
Other bureaus need looking into and l in
END TO look into them at once. l know
already that some of the men in this de-
partment succeeded in fooling Mr.. Grout
for four years, but they will not fool me and
before l get through with them some Of
them will lose their places. | will clean I'D
the department il l have TO dismiss every
man in il. A lot Of these men around here
think they can do as they like under the
impression that they are protected by the
civil service laws, but some OF them are
likely to hsve charges made against them
Of neglect OF duty so persistent as to war
rant their removal"
According to the Comptroller, the clerks
Of Mr.. Slattery's bureau admitted tina the
Collector and some of the employees in the
office worked on the books of the com
panies, but said that this work was done
after Office hours and that therefore the
city was not robbed Of any time.
And that reminds me" Mr.. Metz and
denly exclaimed, that the men up in that
bureau have been in the habit Of sending
in bills for supper money on the excuse
that they had been compelled to work
overtime. As the oity's books have not been
checked up ii loOks as il the supper money
paid by the city was for overtime work on
the private books"
Chief Bookkeeper Smith Of the Finance
Department was assigned yesterday by
Mr.. Metz TO take charge of the books OF
the bureau and with a stan of assistants
he will start to-day 70 have the records
since 1899 entered up. Daniel Monahan OF
the bureau OF municipal investigation and
statistics was named TO fill Mr.. Slattery's
place during his suspension.
Mr.. Slattery has been Collector OF As
sessments and Arrears since 1904. He
was appointed by Comptroller Grout be-
cause OF his fine record in the bureau. He
was one OF the b~ookkeepers in the bureau
in 1901 when he discovered that Charles p.
Chip, the chief bookkeeper. had by
manipulating the books stolen about $4,000
from the city. Chip was indicted and
went to prison. Edward Gilon. then Col
lector, was forced to resign. William F.
McFadden was appointed Collector and
Slattery Deputy Collector. Two years
later. when Mr.. McFadden resigned, Mr..
Slattery was appointed head OF the bureau.
Ex-Deputy Comptroller Edgar J. Levey,
who is the president Of the Title Insurance
Company, said last night:
Il think it will be found that Mr.. Slattery
was not suspended for any irregularities
in the management OF his department, but
for an unfortunate falling. II is quite true
that Mr.. Metz found books belonging to
us and other title companies in the bureau !
because the companies keep representa-
tives always in the bureau to keep track
Of all the records and to enter them in our
books. II We did not lave our men in hat
Office we would be unable to do business.
One company indeed hires a o In the
Stewart Building for its men.
Did Mr.. Slattery or his men ever do
n work on your books?' it was asked.
They may have, but only in their own
time and after Office hours, " Mr.. Levey re-
piled.
Was Mr.. SlatteTy paid for this work?"
We'll, o I've said as much as / feel I |
ought to say about this matter until have |