The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17

Il
on forever" Mayor Hylan paid
this tribute to New Yorlxs financial wizard
and veteran employee. Joseph Haag, secre-
tary of the Board of Estimate and Appor-
rionment, who on September 80 last COM
ple-ed his dftieth year in the service of the
city
The Mayor was one of many who called
to congratulate his chief manipulation Of fig-
ures, and he was followed by a swarm of
Joe's associates. who went there to present
a gold watch as testimonial of their re-
gard. The presentation was made by Fran
els P. Bent, director of the Bureau of In
vestigation, who said that diligent search
had failed to find any other municipal en-
ployee with longer record than that of
Joseph Haag. and that he defed any other
city in the country to equal it,
Many other nice things were said; huge
floral tributes were brought in and piled on
top of millions of dolars-in hgures-and
then something happened.
The girls and women closed i'll on the an
niversarian and each kissed him-some of
them twice. The first assistant adding chief
counted fifty kisses. then stopped counting.
kiss for kiss. 1t was a wonderful scene. Joe
had discarded his glasses and his arms had
full sway. He met all Corners like a real
gentleman, and the Mayor beamed with de-
light.
Living in Mass of Figures.
For fifty years Joseph Haag has been lit
orally living in mass of figures and the life
agrees with him, for at the age of Sc years
he is recognized as the city's leading finan-
cial expert. He entered the service of the
city October 1, 1870. as a clerk in the office
Of the Receiver of Taxes when 16 years old
during that interesting period when the
city's budget had to be passed upon by the
State Legislature. Joe will never forget that
time for he had to wait eight months before
receiving his first pay check
The veteran secretary has served under
sixteen Mayors and is going strong with the
seventeenth TO say nothing of two acting
Mayors, and he isn't bit bashful in say
ing that he got along well with all of them.
When he started in the Tax Receivers Of
flee A. Oakley Hall was Mayor. After re-
tiTlng as chief executive Mr.. Hall became
all actor, but failed TO develop into star
IN 1872 young Haag was transferred =;
the Comptrollers office to assist, under thu
direction of Deputy Comptroller Richard A.
Storrs. in the work of the board of appor-
tionment and audit, board authorized by
the Legislature to audit the large amount Of
unpaid salaries and claims, which had ac-
oumulated prior to Jan. 1, 1872, as the result
of the financial condition Of the city, caused
by the loose methods then employed in tho
citys departments, and the disclosures In
1871 Off some questionable transactions.
\ Dung Haag continued at this work for
several months, and when it was cleaned
up he was promoted by the Comptroller,
Andrew RI. Green, to the position of book
keeper in charge of the appropriation ac-
counts of the city and the registration OF
city warrants.
In those days It was the practice to paw
NIL obligations of the city, including interest
on the city debt. and salaries, except those
Of policemen and school teachers by war
rant to the order of the individual entitled
to pc yment Every warrant had TO be signed
by the Mayor and Comptroller personally
except when the Comptroller designated his
deputy to sign for him. This entailed vast