The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-08
SNAGS In BINGHAM'S PATH
COMMISSIONER SAYS METZ PUTS
THEM THERE DELIBERATELY.


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plains He Didn't knOw ~. but Now Ne
Docs Therein he a waiting Spell.
Another Clip was given 70 the strained
relations between Commissioner Bingham
and Comptroller Metz yesterday by a state
ment from the Commissioner in which he
minated that the Comptroller was de-
lIberately hampering him by cutting on
his money from the contingency fund.
This money is essential to the proper rum
ming OF the Detective Bureau and must be
available M the work OF the bureau requires.
Rut the Commissioner declared that he had
had no acquisitions hOnOred since Septem-
her n. although the Corporation Counsel
pronounced them valid and payable.
Trouble has been brewing between Metz
and bingham for some time. Metz got
hot Under the collar a little while ago at a
report that the Commissioners was having
him followed by detectives. This report
was denied by the Commissioner. who was
already eVasperated by the wav the de-
partment's money supplies seemed to have
been retarded by the COmptToller's Office.
Then the men shOoL hands and the trouble
was supposed to he over.
yesterday = statement, however. shows
thai there is still misunderstanding. al
though the Comptroller is not referred to
nv name. The statement was given ont
as a resume Of an interview which the
Commissioner gave the newspaper men.
TO block the efforts Of the Police De-
par;ment ia its elorts to chase criminals
sn,IarFasseS the Police commissioner and
places the department that does the block
ing in an unfavO'able light before the
citizens who expect results from the police.
SAYS Gen. Bingham
-On September -. Isd7. requisitiOn was
made upon the Comptroller for s.. 1888
for the contingent expenses OF central
departments aud station houses Tor 1907
in puI suance of Section 2B7 Of the charter.
Original vouchers were transmitted to
cover the above mOun The requisitiOn
and seven vouchers were returned to the
Police Commissioner on October !. 1901.
with IL memorandum Of Patrick II. Quinn.
auditor Of accounts. giving alleged nature
of errors.
Fairly in October the whole matter re-
Rarding this contingent fund was placed
before the Corporation Counsel for an
official opinion. Under date of October ~
he replied MS follows. a cop of the opinion
having been sent by the Police Commits
siOner addressed to the Comptroller per
sOnally, with "A requesi that the re luisitiQn
of the Police Department for the contingent
money be Immediately complied with.
This request has not been complied with
to date. b Corporation COunseIs opinion
reads in part:
"lt would seem that the auditor has
gone SnllrelY ZOO Tar ~ rus matter. me
auditor IL "A subordinate of the Comptroller
and should not. l think. assume TO override
your decision in matters of this sort, which
are peculiarly within your jurisdiction.
think he should refer such matters to the
Comptroller. and that officer. If any one.
should insist upon the objection.
Ever II the auditors point were well
taken IL would seem entirely unnecessary
that the payments OF large sums Of money
should be withheld because of errors and
"A FAM trivial Ifnuoa Tho fund NTH vnbt.l,
your letter deals has been appropriated by
the Board Of tin and Apportionment
to pay a part, and n very important part.
J of the necessary expenses Of the Police DE
partment. Primarily the Police Commits
siOner IL responsible for the proper usa Of
this fund.
In the very nature of the case many
of the payments are like other paw
ments for secret services. IL is not . sces-
sary or wise or even possible to spread On
the public records all Of the Details. |
think as to This fund particularly that the
Police Commissioners judgment should
govern. and If he il satisfied with the vOuCh-
ers they should not bc ques. Toned by the
Comptroller, unless. indeed. that officer
ia prepared TO charge fraud or gross abuse
of power and discretion
When COMMISSIONS Bingham's state
ment was shown 20 Mr.. Metz the Comp
trOller said:
Bingham is talking again through the
newspapers. II seems, instead Of doing
hiS business in a proper amer. ] haven't
time To attend to details of the kind Bingham
IL bowling about. but il he felt he had any
kick coming why didn't he communicate
with me direct. He knows where he can
find me and he knows my telephone number.
Il didn't now until a day or TWO ago
that Bingham was being hampered by the
holding up Of some Of his bills for con-
tingent expenses. If ! had known 80
would have helped him out in every way
l could, but instead Of communicating
with me personally he talked 10 McCarren
bills.
-MoCaTren did see me and l told him
tina ! and not he was running the Comp
t~rOller'H Office. and now those hills will
stand where they are until ! get damn
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