Year: 1873

The lively discussion in the Board of Appor
tionment on Thursday over the appropriation
of money for paying the debts of the city and
for public works brought out the characteristic
traits Of Comptroller Green. He showed him
self to be, what every one believed him to be-
strict constructionist of the first water. NJ
Southern secessionist ever construed the con
stitution more strictly than he the laws relative
to paying money from the city treasury, and,
no doubt, he would risk the health and credit
of New York or bring other disasters upon the
metropolis, just as the Southern strict con-
structionists endangered the Union, rather than
yield to necessity or doubtful point of law.
Besides raising quibbles about paying the
laborers and for the work in laying the Croton
pipes, he opposed the appropriation of few
thousand dollars for clerk hire and stationery,
requisition for which was made by the Com
missioners of Accounts. In the first case of
the call for three hundred thousand dollars for
work on the Croton pipes, in addition to the
two millions already expended, there was the
appearance of some reason in asking for delay
till the full estimates could be furnished; but
the Comptroller knows very well what money
will be required of him and could prevent de-
lays, which obstruct public works and submit
the poor laborers to great inconvenience, if he
chose to do 60 In the case of the three to
four thousand dollars for clerk hire his objec-
ton appeared 90 captious and unreasonable
that the Board, and particularly Mayor Have
meyer, became irritated. Mr.. Green harped
upon the law; che did not see at present any
authority of law" he wanted time ''to
examine the law" and so on through
out the discussion. The Mayor was
so provoked that he expressed his
thought in rather strong language. "Well, :"
he said, 81 am for doing it with or without
law, or under the law we have got which
directs this work to be done" OF course, he
did not mean to violate the law. His mean
ing may be fully understood from the subse-
quent remark, that 'if the law directs docks
to be built the Dock Commissioners .are not
expected to do the work at their own expense,
even if they do get their salaries The work
must be done, though, and the money raised
to meet the expense" He said that both he
and the Comptroller did things which were
paid for when there was no express provision
of law. Cases arise no doubt, Of urgent
necessity in the public service, in which, in the
absence of express law, officials have to use
their discretion. 1t is SO in all governments.
While we would be the last to condemn neces-
sary vigilance in financial agent or not to
commend him for having due regard to law, we
must say that the Comptroller strains the law,
or his own conception of it, in spirit of cap
tousness and to the injury of the city. To
use homely expression, he is ''penny wise
and pound foolish" In his efforts to save q
few dollars he damages the city, directly or
indirectly, to the amount of thousands.


We have noticed this incident of the sharp
controversy in the Board of Apportionment by
way of illustrating the exceptional position
Mr. Green occupies among the city officials
his disposition to oppose and obstruct the
views of others, his assumption Of authority
and his pretence of the virtue of economy
He forgets that it is not always economy to
avoid spending q dollar. A man who should
refuse to buy props for his house when it is
tumbling down would hardly be deemed
economical. But it is not as obstructing
directly and unnecessarily the public works
and service only that we complain of the
Comptroller. He is in q position to suggest
and promote improvements either under exist
ing laws or by recommending legislation. In
this respect he has great power for doing good.
He might, in fact make himself renowned as
the benefactor of the city. But he has no
have the reputation of miser. Judging
from his past conduct, the public
works might sink into decay and the city be-
come byword for filth and ugliness if he
could withhold the expenditure of money.
Fortunately the provisions for such improve
ments as have been accomplished and are
going on were made before he went into his
present Office. 1t grieves him, possibly, to be
compelled to furnish the means, and if he
could only find some defect or doubtful
clause in the law he would probably dc de-
lighted.


Any one who goes to the Battery and con-
templates the improvement there, looks at the
fine stone piers and docks adjoining that were
commenced some time ago, and then casts his
eye at the rotten piers and wharves from that
point all along the North and East rivers,
will perceive striking contrast and the diff
ference between large and liberal views of
city improvements that once prevailed and the
wretched parsimony that exists now. No
great commercial city in the world is more
favorably situated for making commodious
and beautiful piers, wharves and docks, and
hardly any have worse. They disgrace the city,
Yet the work that was projected is suspended
through false idea of economy and want of
public spirit. No doubt the best system Of
improvements along the whole water front on
both sides of the island could be executed
without any loss to the city or any unneces-
sary burden upon the taxpayers. With all the
superior advantages and facilities that would