New-York tribune., 1910-06-28
THEFTS BEGAN IN 1908
Controller Biames Aitken for
Failing to Discover Them.
ssREAL CAUSE OF DISMISSAL" +"
Concealment Charge a False
hood, Prendergast Says-Blll-
board Rental Explained.

Controller Prendergast replied yesterday
70 the charge made on Sunday by Peter
Aitken. former superintendent Of markets
and collector of city revenue, that his dis
rnissal was due TO political causes Incom-
petency and nisnlanagement are declared
10 have been the causes Of the dismissal Of
Aitken.
The Controller says that the defalcatons
referred TO by Aitlzen amounted TO more
than 5000 and began In December, 1908
They continued. he said. until the first
week Of May, when they were discovered
by Fred Goetz, a deputy collector or reve-
nue., appointed by Controller Prendergast.
As a result Of the discovery Of these def
slcations q warrant has been issued for q
clerk who had been in the bureau under
Aitken from March, 1908, at a salary OF
sl.2oo, and who lives in Brooklyn.
The greater part Of the defalcations.
which amount TO s2,1ea took place during
the last year that Mr.. Metz was Con-
troller," said Mr.. Prendergast yesterday.
Mr. Aitken was in charge Of the bureau
su that time He did not discover the def
aIcation- If this is not mismanagenent by
Aitken as q bureau head ] don't know
what should be called mismanagement
Mr. Aitken's charge that he had no
chance to defend himself has no foundation
in fact On May Is, after the defalcation
was discovered. told him I would expect
his resignation when I came back from a
trip He said he would like a little more
time 10 consider and wrote a long explana-
ton. but if he is not TO be held responsible
for the conduct of his bureau, who is?
las TO the assertion that the place is in
tended for some one else, II is absurd. /
do not know yet who will be appointed to
replace him and viii take my time choosing
his successor,
The statement that tried TO conceal the
defalcation is g falsehood. AS soon as the
accountants had made sure that g defalca-
ton existed Deputy Controller Mathewson
went with Aitken 10 Police Headquarters
and reported the matter. A detective ser
seant was assigned TO apprehend the man
charged with the Cffence- This was on Fri
day, May 6, and the following Monday a
warrant was issued. Accountants from two
bureaus have been working on the books OF
the bureau. and the transaction has been
common knowledge in the department for
weeks.
There IS no truth in the statement about
the American Billposting Company and the
resembling Of the contract for its use Of
fences around lots owned by the city. As a
matter Of fact, Mr.. Aitken recommended
that the use Of the fences by the company
be continued"
The Controller showed a report by Mr..
Aiken saying that two billposting COM
panies were prepared to pay substantial
increase for the privileges. and recon-
Inending that the American company be ad-
lowed 10 retain its privileges until a higher
offer had been secured. At the bottom Of
the report was written in the Controllers
handwriting:
The American Billposting Company must
pay as much as any one else will. If the
present arrangements can be revoked I
want TO know it"
SO far as any personal interest in the
company is concerned - said the Controller,
"a man have known for fifteen years re-
marked 10 me some days ago that he had
an interest il the company. That is all I
know q bout Il -