The New York Herald Newspaper, September 22, 1871, Page 3

TAMMANY'S TOMBLEDOWN. The City’s Liabilities Announced--- $97,000,000 Permanent Debt--- Ficating Debt Unknown. “BOSS” SPEAKS Spoiling for a Fight im the Courts and Ready te Buy More Real Estate. S°SQUIRE” SWEENY’S STAMPS. THE A PIECE. He Finds the Funds for Paying Off the Park Laborers. HILTOWS HINIS ON PARK POLICY, The Seventy Solons After the Scalps of the Tammany Braves, THE VOUCHER VILLAINS CAGED. Arrest of the Court House Janitor, Mis Wife and the Assistant Janitor, THE DOCUMENTS BURNED. What Business Men Think of ay the Muddie. As yesterday intimated, the quiet of affairs was only @ surface sign. Habituated as the public’ had become to startling revelations, the developments Of the day awoke a still deeper interest in the situa- ion among all clases. Tne topic which naturally seized greatest hola of the public attention was the announcement that two men and one Woman had been arrested for the voucher bur- glary, and those none other than the jantior and Assistaut janitor of the Court House, with the wife of the furmer. From all that has transpired it is “A KNAVISH PIECE OF WORK,!” Bnd the miserable perpetrators are among the least to be blamed in the matter. One thiog in tails vusi- Bess will strike the least observant, namely, the questionable haste with which the Superintendent of Police rushed in to arrest the parties against whom warrants had already been issued by judge Ledwith, The sinister whispers which urround the cause of this action point more in the direction of the Superintendent than towards the poor vanity of a police oficer, whose detectives did not previously perform their duty. ifthe afldavits have any vaiue they give point to Ure asseverations of innocence made by Comptroller Connolly and to the cause of the wide split between Bim and his some time associates, Tnat it was “ ‘THE WORK OF ONE PART OF THR “RING” to save theniselves and damage thé Comptroller is evident, Inthe aflidavit of the woman Mary Con- Way there is one portion which may furnish a clue to the reason why the “Ring”? was so anxious that the case should be in the hands of thetr ser- vante. ‘That portion is the statement that ® policeman called at No. 95 Washington Street, where she was staying, and intimated that to the woman who kept the houee that “ they” would do as much for her as Connolly would. The Way, too, in which the name of “Hank” Smith hops in and out of the statement is anotuer hint on the Matter that should and no doubt will be probed to the bottom. That Mr. Tweed called at the Centra Police OMice yesterday morning may mean nothing more than a large hearted sympathy for A FAITHPUL FOLLOWER IN TROUBLE; yet the action is one that many in their cyni- cism will misconstrue. The negligence of the police to examine carefully all the tmmates of the Court House on that Bunday looks unpromisingly like a disinclination to find out what they were supposed to be looking for. The hasty action of Kelso in this matter at the last moment 1s a poor apology for long neglect, and if a coup de main in a political game, still a poor, unprofitable device, The afiidavits, in their crude vernacular, will be foun interesting reading. It is nothing more than might have been surmised that the vouchers were only STOLEN TO BE DESTROYED; but itis to be hoped that all those whom that scoundrelly crimation was intended to save from a vonvict’s uniform may yet find themselves thus at- Ured for the latter crime, i other evidence be not found to convict them of the thefts which the fobbery was meant to obliterate. The examination ef tue two male prisoners at the Tombs before fudge Dowling, thus morning, and that of the woman Haggerty at Essex Market, before Judge Ladwith, will be the points of interest for to-day, “will Haggerty squeal’? Is the question asked. Those who know him and the long purses of his probable employers in the nefarious aced think not. ‘Ihe Board of Aldermen have come forward with an offer of $1,000 reward for the aiscovery of the voucher robbers, and an addt- tional thousand for the recovery of the papers. The vouchers represented ten millions of dollars paid away, in many cases, It is asserted, on forged warrants; and it 1s certain that a paltry million will make A SLIM SHOW BESIDE THE HUGE SUMS which many aman in this city would ne willing to pay away to keep himself clear of any trouble aris- ing from the finding out. I¢ will need a lynx-eyed watch all round to prevent this trial from being a farce: by operations that may take place outside of Court, for if the mysterious “they” of Mary Con- way’s ailidavit will do ‘as much as Mr. Connoliy” that gentieman must either ratse nis premium or see that no tampering with witnesses is permitted. Human nature comes out weak between sucn powerful rivals as Mr. Connolly, the public interest end “they.” In spite of all this, as will be seen be- fow, the Comptroller's ofMce presented a picture of Small excitement, and the same may be said of the Mayor's, Mayor Hall nas recognized the Comptroller in a left-handed manner through his “proclamation,” anent any “wartants what- tver,” and his willingness to sign when properly vountersigned at the Finance Department. as thisis B time of great charges, 80 it is one of great chances for a man to make a show of magnanimity under them, Mr. Sweeny’s offer to pay the Park Workinen on his own responsibility is one of these chances taken advantage of, Everybody knows that the ‘Squire will not be out a cent on the trans- action, but It is better done than left undone, ONE POINT FOR THE BACKGROUND STATESMAN. Judge Uilton’s explanations of the management of the Park Department to a HERALD reporter will show how lovely things are in the rustic branch of city affairs. Mr. Tweed, trom nis fortress at the Department of Pubic Works, has spoken at length, but without much more pith ihan he expressed a few days ago through (hese columns He will meet specitic fharges, ‘This courtesy of his ischarming. For the fest he advertises how largely he is INTERESTED IN REAL ESTATR, and that he is willing to buy, but not to sell, “Sweetest of Wiillams! Adorable Bill!’ The Tweed Central Club will shont his praises to. aight and express the coniidence he 1s 80 @uxious to merit, The work of the committees goes bravely o Very important is the statement of sub-comui''ee of the jomt on city liabilities, Ninety-seven ruilions permanent aevt and a foat- ing impossibie ‘0 calculate—twenty-flve millions at Aeas. ‘ihe whvs and wherefores of this foaung NEW ‘YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET, debt, which, instead of bemg absorbed by the arnual taxes, “sets? like plaster of Paris into permanent debt, wili fur. nish more matter for the political economist of the future when they consiaer HOW THINGS CAN'T BE DONE. ‘The great three-score-and-ten were busy witha resolution on the stolen voucher question, They hint that they have discovered undoubted proofs of Mr. Tweed’s and others’ complicity In the frauds. Bring out your specific charges, gentiemen; for the “Boss” wants something pal- Pable on which he can ground his ‘“confidence.’? The dead-lock 1s felt by the Department of Docks to the tune of half @ million dollars, for which they ardently pray the Comptroller. The excitement among the people 1s again rising, and to-day will doubtless briag it to a temporary flood. AT THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, and, in fact, throughout the entire Court House, there Was a great lack of evident excitement, as on the day previous, There was, of course, much more to talk about, on the arrests of Mr. and Mrs, Hag- gerty, and Baulch, the assistant, for stealing and destroying the vouchers, “That's unfortunate about poor Haggerty,” was almost the untversal observation, but nobody Seemed to be well enongh posted to give any definite eialls of the occurrence or wnat lead to it. “What do you think of it?” “How did It come about?” and such hike questions, were bandied avout, and the only answer was, ‘Don’t know exactly, but the detectives say they have got nim ‘dead to rights.’ ” ‘The clerks in the various departments were all on hand, and apparently very industrious, In the County Auditor’s bureau Mr, Lynes and his assist- ants—Moloney,0’Connell and others—were occupied in filling out warrants, which may be taken as an evidence of the fact that the dead lock was broken, aud business was to go on as usual. THAT WONDERFUL FELINE FAMILY remained in full possession of the quarters on which they had “squatted,” the mother looking wise and the youngsters as cunning as any friend of the feline race or any old maid could wish. The HERALD re- porter attempted to interview her on the situation With but poor effect, as follows:— “Won’t you tell me what you know about the vouchers??? The cat got up from the rug on which she was lying, sunk the claws of her forefeet into the rug, drew back until her chin rested on her paws, while her back formed a perfect arch, then, aiter a most nonchalant yawn, she said:— “Mur“r-r-e-w, nee-ow.”? “How does the “old thing work, Madame Grimal- kin hut, tizz” “Well, how does the new thing work?” “Don't you think you are doing pretty well, five of one family In the Comptroller's office t”” “Mul-d-r-r-ow.”” Finding the feline as acctdedly non-commital as most of the politicians, the reporter gave up his at- tempt in disgust. Pussy was the omy one who was not busy, and it may well be judged that under THE NEW REGIME the clerks will have to earn their money. Mr. Green has tasued an order directing the clerks to appear ia their places promptly at nine o’clock A, M., and prohibiting them from leaving until four P. M., ex- cept one hour at noon time for lunch, There 13 a similar order in force at the Department of Docks, where it works very well, but the Comptroiler’s clerks generally do not like tt. They will be obliged to toe the mark, however, and those who appear only semi-occasionaily will be made to squirm. CALLERS ON THE COMPTROLLER continue to come in great numbers. Atter the arrest of the janitor and his assistant, the members and counsel of the Committee of Seventy called and had quite a lengthy consultation. John Foley looked & little careworn, but smilea pleasantly nevertheless. Those who have noticed the progress i local politics during the past year or two would have observed A STRANGE SIGHT yesterday in the Comptroller's private room. Ex-Sheriff O’Brien appeared at the door, and was immediately ushered in, He conversed aside with “Sammy” Tilden, and then, turns Ing to Comptroller Connolly, they grasped hands and shook as if they had always been the firmest friends in the world. It was curl- ous wo note those two inen, who, but a few days since, were supposed to be ready to cut each other's throats, standing hand in hand. Politics, in this city, are ‘certainly like misfortunes, they “make strange bedfellows.” In conversation with the HERALD reporter Mr. Connoily regretted that Hag- gerty should be mixed up In such a dirty affair as the stealing of the papers, and that his aMidavit was made solely on the information he had received. He said arrangements were being made to pay oif the laborers, and that the injunction would be modified so a3 to enable him to raise money. Fur- ther than this there was nothing new. AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE and in the old City Hall there was, if possibie, greater Guiness than on the previous day. The Mayor was on hand, but had nothing to say except jUMM.?? “Mumm” is the word, He assured the reporters that he had “Mumm” for lunch; that it was asplei did thing to get lat on. From a placard posted con- spicuously in the Mayor's office It may be seen that the Mayor has finally yielded to the Corporation Counsel's opinion, The placard reads as follows The Mayor wil promptly countersign, and the Chamb Jain will promptly pay, to laborers and Contractors all war- rants whatever, and @@ soon as they are drawn by the Finance Department. There was some inquiry as to what the word “whatever”? was Inserted for, but nobody could ex- plain tt, There was no gossip, no news, nothing but duiness, and so it continued during the entre day. THE “BOSS”? was atthe Department of Publlc Parks yesterday attending to the business of the office as usual, He appeared to be in nowise flurried over all the rumors that were flying thick and fast about town in reialion to the muss in the Comptroller's omice, and waded through documents and letters as patientiv and as serenely as though there was nowing in the political air to scare anybody, lie had a good many callers during the day, nis counsel among the number. He was closeted for along time with this gentleman, and shortly aiter the latter left a HERALD reporier called upon him, and was, as usual, gractously received. The “Boss” during the conversation that ensued spoke quite freely about what he was willing and ready to do when the investigating committees or anybody else saw fit to make charges against him Individually in a court of law. “You do not fear investigation, then, Mr. Tweed 7” asked the reporter, “Never! What have I to fear? A guilty man trembles and ts afraid when he feeis and knows that With which he ts charged is true; put 1 am not afraid of thing they can do in this matter." ‘ere are many rumors afloat about what those committees intend to do.”? “I Know there are, but what do they amount to? Do you suppose I ought to fight phantoms, and come out in A CARD TO THE PUBLIC every time & charge is made against me, or when this, that or the other one circulates a rumor to the etlect tyat I have done sv ana so. When the proper time comes the people will ace whether or not I have good reason to feel as J du now feei—perfectly fearless of all kinds of fair investigation. “They say that the committees are going to make e against the city authorities and bring it into court.’? “Thope they will, if they include me among the ‘authorities.’ That 18 all I want—in fact, I desire it. Ail this palaver aud talk and beating in the air does not amount to anything. Let them bring their charges in Court against me If they have any reason to believe that Lam Sally of any wrongdoing asa city Officer, and then we'll see who will come out on THE WINNING SIDE. The people of this city who know me, and who are not warped by prejudice, will not be disappotuted When they find that I know how to defend myself when it is necessary, and how baseless tney will find to be all charges Cory. me of any wroug- dog if they are preferred in a Court of justice.’ “Tsee by one of the newspapers, Mr. Tweed, that it is stated that tae were in cousultation with some politicians here last evening.’ “That 1s not so. [leit town yesterday afternoon, and did not return untili came back agai ts morning with my family.’ This ended the conversation, Mr. Tweed being very busy, and the documents from the outside ofice to be looked over and scrutinized having accu mulated at @ tearful rate during the confab, THE CENTRAL TWEED CLUB'S VISIT. Late in the afternoon a committee from the Cen tral Tweed Club, of which Mr, Michael Nor ton Js President, called upon the “Boss? to inform him that they had organ (ed. The chairman of the committee, Mr Randolph Guggenhetmer was the spokesman ‘of the occasion, Ne referred to the “splic? which had untortunately been made in the club, and afier speaking at some length avout the assaults which had been made upon the character of Mr. Tweed as a public oitleer, expressed on Lehalf of the club the great regret the club felt about the matter, and assured iim of their utmost confidence, Mr. Gugeenheimer then read the following resoiutions, Which, he said, had been passed by the club:— Whereas peronal attacks have been made by certal BeWEpApOrS in the luterest QC tho Fadienl party upob the prie vate character of the Hon. William M. Tweed, and asper. sions cast upon his family which are grossly offensive, wholly inexcusable and a disgrace to the cause of honor bie jour- nalism Whereas certain charges have also been made by the nat ijeve are unfounded, ih the official character of Mr. ‘and which unfounded until same newspapers Tweed, which we we shall continue they shall be estal able proof; and wher belie d this delegates from all the ward Tweed clubs in the city and county of New York, peroeet ‘and political friends of Mr, Tweed the it fore, be ) That we unanimously and emphatically reite- rate our firm and unabated confidence in the personal and olicial integrity of the Hov. William M. Tweed, and hereby pledge to bim our undivided and determine! support, hoping and believing that he will emerge with honor from the clamor of abuse and detraction which at this time calum- is fame. ate Mr. Danforth then followed, explaining how the “‘gphit” had occnrred, and Coroner Young then briefly alluded to the formation of the organization, its aims and intents, The club was a unit, he said; that is, those members who were the real membery of the club were a unit. There had been A LITTLE DIFFICULTY In the organization about the way it ought to be formed, but that was only a minor matter. The club believed that every democrat during the next election should do his duty, no matter what his little differences of opinion’might be on minor issues. By this means he felt coutident the democ- racy would be triumphant next November in State, city and county, THE “BOss’ ” SPEECH, Mr. Tweep in reply said:— GENTLEMEN—I am yery giad to meet you. I am sorry that there should have been any almMiculty in | the organization of the club, but diterences aiinost | invariablygarise in the orgamzation of all clubs, and they are to be expected, I hope, however, that the aificulty you A ere of will not be a lasting one, and Tam sure it will not be if you use your best eiforts toward securing harmony. Iam glad and delighted to see you for many reasons, An opportunity like this 1s the only one I have to make known EXACTLY HOW I FEEL about certain matters about which there is nowa great deal of talk and rumor, The press has been dull to running over of late with charges against my oliictal character. I here distinctly state that | am fully prepared to meet any and all charges that may be brought against me Ina court of law. There are people who wonder why 1 do not answer the charges made against me in the newspapers. I have re- frained from answering thein, for it would be use- Jess for me to ATTEMPT TO DEFEND MYSELF by replying to any article that 1s written about me. If I made a rejoinder the same charges would be peer reiterated the next day and the next, and wouid be Kept busily engaged in writing re- joinders ail the ume, only to be met every time with the same kiud of charges that 1 am anxious shoula be made in a court of law, if the people who make them are desirous of proving that they are well founded. I am perfectly ready to meet any charge that may be made in the courts, In fact, it 1s my desire that those who now make such an outcry against my official character should go into the courts and test the truth of their asser- tions, Now there has beena great deal said, too, about me TRANSFERRING MY PROPERTY, and & great many other things have been sald about me equaily as true, 1 take a great deal of interest in real estate matters, but as far as the transferring of any of my property 1s concerned I will state that scarcely a day passes by that I do not receive very tempting offers to sell; but I have from the department. boa § ~ keeping the exact ‘ime of the hours of work Yet, but if we do not get an answer soon I will ene deavor myself to have the men paid, ‘They wiil be IN WANT OF MONEY, and if I can help it they will not’ be deprived of Wet wages because of any hitch in the city govern- “It will require quite @ large amount, I should think, Mr. Sweeny, to pay the men ‘"? “Yes, it will I will have them paid, however; bat there 13 a limit to everything. If the Comp- troller should continue to disregard the requisitions {rom the Department of Parks the men at work will have e.ther to be suspended or discharged.” 1t will be seen by the order above quoted that the determination of “the Squire” to have the men paid against all odds was carried out in a Way that un- doubtedly causea considerable joy among the la- jorers, ‘The rumor prevaile yesterday that the Acting Comptroller was about to take hold of the Depart- ment ot Parks to see if he couldn't find somethin, Wrong about it, Indeed it was given out in one o1 the newspapers yesterday that he had determined to examine tts books and papers. A HERALD re- orter, at a loss to Know what authority the Comp roller has to examine any books or papers in any public ofice outside of ni’ own and that of the De- partiwent of Public Works (the only department out- side of the Comptroller's ofMce whose checks and vouchers pass through the City Chamberlain's office), called upon Judge Hilton to satisfy himself on the subject. “hey say the Comptroller 1s about to investigate the affairs of the Park Department, Juage,’? was we reporter's opening. “The Comptroller has nothing to do with this de- partment as far as any authority over it is con- cerned: but if any one of the committees would like to look into our aifairs we would be only too glad to accommodate it, If they find anything Wrong then there is nothing right in the world.” “But has the Comptroller no power over this de- partment ?? “Why, certainly not, This department is an en- tirely independent one, as are those of the Police, ene ane the Commissioners of Charities and Cor. rection, Each draws its own checks and KEEPS ITS OWN ACCOUNTS. The only thing the Compwroller has to do with either 48 this:—When either wants a certain sum of money to carry on its business 1t makes a requisition upon the Comptroller, and he places the nec to its credit in whatever bank the depar nates for the purpose, Aguinst that amount. he bank to the credit ary amount nent desig- ‘Then the department draws The Comptroller, when certain’ sum to a ‘certain of either of these de- artments, gets a receipt from the bank for the amount. That's the voncher the Comptroller sends a hoids to sliow where the money went, and there ends all transactions between him and'the depart- ment, Each of these departments I have mentioned holds its own vouchers. The vouchers of the Depart- ment of Public Works are ai the Comptroller’s oltice, it being the only department outside the Finance Department which draws its money trough the City Chamberlain.” “You say the Deparument of Parks courts investl- gation? “1 do.” “I8 THE SYSTEM OF PAYING CHECKS, distributing the labor gangs and tallying the work done such as to be considered proof agaist fraud 7? “Itis, Itis so complete that no man who does not work his full time to the hour can get paid for more time, No one who doesn’t work gets any pay Our clerks are kept busy the day before Qt every mau not tranferred any of my property since this | employed, and two nights every two weeks dificulty began, and 1 have made up my mind ey, are up to midnight making out the pay rolls not to transfer any while it lasts, However, if | and examining the vouchers, Isce a certain paper there 18 anybody who has Says a great deal of work Cone by our employés 18 A NICE PIECE OP PROPERTY waste, I leave that for apy fair-minded man to that he wants to sell ata fair price Iam ready to helt for himself after he has examiued how thor- hay it. (Laughier.) While I am still ready to invest | Oughiy our work. in all our various departments in real estate I am not anxious to sell. It is ru- mored, I understand, that certain parties are pre- paring to bring into court the charges that have been So loosely made against my oficial character. If this be so I am heartily glad of it. When the trial comes off I will be Low d prepared to meet all charges, ho matter what motives may have prompt- ed them, Tam PERFECTLY INDIFFERENT to all this howl that is being made about me in the way it 13 being made. I come down to business here every day as usual, and will continue to do so rom day to day, no matter how great the how! may be. If the people wno are making it want to prove that they are right I repeat again that all they have to do ts lo prefer their charges in Court, and then I | will mect them, The sooner they do it the better | will I like it, and the stronger they make them the better will be prepared to meet them. I am fully prepared now, and I feel assured that when the trial is ended the confidence you express in_me now Will not be shaken, Ths speech was loudly applauded by the mem- bers of th> committee, after which each member was introduced to the ‘Boss.’ The delegation then retired, THE TENTH WARDERS ON HAND, During tne day a delegation from the Tenth Ward Tweed Ciub called upon Mr, Tweed and read the following resolutions passed by the club, Mr, Walsh, the chairman, heade‘ the delegation: Whereas the citizens of the Fourth Senatorial district, and especially those of the Seventh Ward, take great pleasure in the past political career of "their Senator, William M. and ashe has been assailed by a partisan press, we take pleasure in again nominating him, and show, Lot only to his enemies tn this city, but to the whole political world, that his constituents have an abiding faith in him, ana will, ih the face of bis maligners, re-elect him to represent them at the next session of the Legisinture; therefore be it Resolved, That thia association hereby recommenda the nomination of Mr. William M. Tweed for Senator of the Fourth Senatorial district, and pledges its individual and un- wavering support, and that {t will use every honorable means to re-elect him. Resolved, That his many noble acts of charity and re- membrance of those in adversity stamp him a philanthro- pist, while his oficial acts proclaim him a statesman, and that his fidelity to his constituency entities him to the aup- port of every true democratic and patriotic citizen, In his reply Mr. Tweed referred briefly to the city situation, and stated that he was fully prepared to meet every charge made against him in the courts, THE PARK LABORERS, who number four thousand odd, were in 4 great state of excitement yesterday morning when they jearned that the Comptroller had not made any answer to the requisitions for money to pay them off for work done during the past two weeks, Con- nolly came in for a great aeal of denunciation, and the more not-headed talked freely of organizing the entire force of the workmen and marching down to his office to demand that he should not gratily his personal feclings in order to wreak @ petty revenge upon tne men at the head of tie De- parment of Parks Whom he was making war against. Better counsels prevailed, fortunately, and by noon | the men had become considerably cooled down, although there seemed to be inevery gang a deter- mination TO PAY THE COMPTROLLER A VISIT in a body after the day’s Work was over. What the re- sult of such a visit during the present state of public | feeling would have been it would be hara to tell; but it Is pretty certain that the gathering of the laborers, excited to the highest pitch at the idea of being | deprived of their hard fortuight’s earnings, would have ended in a way that would have called for the interference of the police authorities, At has always been the boast of the Department of Public Parks that a pay day had never sed since its organization without every man in its employ having been DLLY PAID FOR HIS WORK up to date. Since the new sysiem came into vogue there have been times when, owing to one circum- stance or another, the requisitions for money have been but partially answered, In these emergencies Mr. Sweeny, 1t appears, has always exerted himscif to supply every deficiency in the amount of the funds turpished by the Finance Department, and every time when but @ partial answer was made to @ requisition, rather than have THE POOR LABORERS SUFFER, he has furmshed the necessary moneys out of his own funds or has procured, on his own responsibill- | ty, aloan for the time being from financiers, trust- ing that the proper authoriiies would, in the end, make the loan good. There was im this always a certain risk, but he took his chances, regardiess of the fact that he might, in the long run, through some technical hocus pocus, be SADDLED WITH A LOSS to an extent proportionate to the amount he had ad- | vanced. Yesterday, however, the department, for tne first time, was without a cent from the Comptrol- ler to pay the men, and great was the anxiety as to the result. It was known that Mr. Green ‘enter- tained no friendly feeling to Mr. Sweeny, fact, coupled with the open war the Comptroiicr Was endeavoring to urge against the department, made tho soreheads at the Court House feel parti- cularly jubilant, They pad an idea tlat “the Squire’? was EUCHRED AT LAST, and that Green would enjoy a huge triumph in listen- ing to the cries of the workmen for their pay, which cries he might imagine would sound like a death- Knell in the ears of the head of the Park Depart- ment. If Mr. Green had any such hope it was des- tined speedily to be dispelled; for what the “Squire’’ had done before he was ready to do again. He came down to the office of the department oright and early, any answer from the Comptroller's omce? he under this department is done, committee to satisfy themselves on this point if they have any doubt about it. ‘Treasurer of the department, finding myself upon to sign checks for bills and accounts of which and, if possible, devise ch or imposed upon. that the various heads ot the department contidence ITwould like some “How about the general working of the depart- ment, as to the clerks, against jraud 7”? “Well, soon after entering upon the duties of ‘alled Thad no pérsonal knowledge, and as to which | was wholly dependent upon the certificates of others in the department, I determined to careiully investi- gate the method of keeping THE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS, tks and methods which would, In all provability, preclude my being misied T must here remark, however, bureaus and cierks in had at that ume my fullest m_ their integrity—a confiaeuce which, I am pleased to say, @ close intercourse of over a year has strengthened and confirmed. Without reverting to the past unnecessarily, I will but say respecting tt that 1 found old sys- tem of accounts not all that could be desired, nor as ceriain in its resuits ag it could be and should have beed made, If becaine quite obvious to me that many checks and guards were needed, all which have been added, and as to which experience has sone icee me they go far towards making the sys- em of the department accounts now 1n use perfect in detail and accurate in results, Alter having thus perfected the system, as I supposed then, and as a further assurance, L employed Mr. Robert Protheroe, a well Known expert accountant, to investigate the method upon which the accounts are Kept. Alter a fuil and careful scrutiny he has made to me a report of his conclusions,"? “What dia he report?” “Tt gives me pleasure to say that he fully approves of the system now tu use, and declares it capable of producing the results desired. In tue first place, as to the empleyment of labor of the various classes required by the department in the prosecu- tion of the works under its charge, you see this consists of THE CLERICAL FORCE, the chiefs of the several bureaus aud the clerks and the yarious persons employed therein, A daily tume book ts kept teach bureau, Wherein the num- ver of hours’ work performed by each cierk is en- tered, and upon the following morning a time cer- lificate 18 made up from it by the chief of the bureazu and sent to the Comptroller ot the department, showing the name of each clerk attending on the day specified and whether he worked the full day required by the de partment, and if not, the reason ior his absence. ‘This cert:ficate, signed by the cluef of the bureau, is filed in the Comptroller's oillce and entered in the books of the department, and from which the corks’ pay roll is made up.” ‘What about the laboring force !"? “Bach person appointed to this force must present his ticket of appointment to the bureau of the Super- antendent of Central Park, who by its authority as- signs the person named to such gang of workmen as may be designated by the engineer-in-chief, ‘Ihe authority of the foreman of the gang to accept the Man upon the works ts a ticket signed by the Super- intendent; on receiving which the person natned 13 eutered on Lhe roll of the gang in the time book of the foreman, aud at the close of each day all such uckets are returned with the time book to the pay- master, who enters upon his books the name of the employ¢ and the me shown by the foreman’s book that he has performed labor. ‘tis ticket thus re- tnrned 18 then attached to the original ticket of ap- pointment obtained from the Superintendent's ofice and constitutes the authority of the pay- master for eniering the naine of the laborer as workman upon the labor book and pay roll of the departm The foreman, m addition to the ume book entry, also sends to the Comptroller's bureau a daily return giving @ Classification of the work done by his gang, together with the number of HOURS’ WORK FORMED upon each class of work. This return passes through we hands of the engineer-in-chief, who examines, approves and checks it before sending it to the olli¢e of the Comptrolier.’? “Is there any further check {7 “Yes. Asa further check each day as the time books pass through the office of the Superintendent of the Central Park, to. be delivered by his messen- gers to the various foremen, a clerk in his office enters in books kept for the purpose the time or work appearing by each time book 10 have been periormed by every person who has been assigned to work by the Superintendent, it may be mentione? that each foreman has one for every alternate day, so that when the messengers deliver the me books on the afternoon of each day for tne day following, they take up and return to the Superintendent the time books they receive, and from which the entries re- ferred to are made.’? “How are the pay rolls made up"? Every two weeks the labor pay roll is made up disbursing clerk or paymasier, and brought mptrolier’s ofice, where its various autho rized rates Of pay, extensions and additions are exam‘ued by the general bookkeeper aud the time shown compared with the daily returns of the fore- nian to the oitice of the Comptroller, and this con- stitutes the audit of that office. Upon veing pre- sented thus, audited and allowed to the treasurer jor payment it has upon it, in addition to THE CERTIFICATE OF AUDIF, ‘ the certificates of tne paymaster and the chief book keeper of the department, If it is then found by the treasurer to agree with the returns from the Superintendent's ofice he signs a cneck for the amount to the order of the paymaster, which is de- livered to the Comptroller, and must be counter- two time books, as! *s signed by bim before it can be drawn or used. The one,” was the answer of Mr. Van Nort, paymaster then draws from the bank the amount in ire the pay rolls all ready Bits and currency needed for paying each man “Yes, sir.’ his wages, and for this purpose proceeds in the pay “Everything Teady but the money?” wagon of the department along the whole line of “Everything. This was enough. Out he went, A quarter of an hour elapsed and he was back, He strode into Judge Hilton's room, whispered a few words to him, and five minutes afterwards drew a check for $112,525 49, the full amount necessary to PAY OFF ALL THE LABORERS, the men should be paid if it was in us power, no matter what kind of a row was going on at the Comptroller's omev, and had himself | provided the necessary ands to meet ail the emer gencies of the case. This once seitled, the ‘pa: wagon” of the department was sent oat with the vouchers and pay rolls, and before the men had leit work for the day every one of them had received his wages in full, After Judge Hilton found out that Mr. Sweeny had resorted to the means he had to pay the men, the following order was seat to we workmen: DrranrMen't ¢ 25 Broapway, New Yor: To THR WORKMEN IN THR EMPLOY MENT OF PUMLIO PARK: It is proper for me to mform you that the Comptroller of | the city of New York having negleced to provide the money necessary for the payment of th: borers’ pay roil, the President of this Department, Mr. Pe Sweeny, has, upon bis personal responsivity. procured the money for thé purpose. GEO. M. VAN NORT, Comptrotier Department of Public Parke. Areporter of the HERALD happened to meet Mr, Sweeny m tae forenoon, just alter he had reached hus office. “What about the requisittons/ asked the re- 1871. |S HE Derane- Sep or wagon and the workmen form tn lin projected from the side of the wagon, on which rests the pay roll. presence of the works, extending from the Battery to Kings- bridge, paying the various gangs without any of the wasting of payment of Jarge numbers and at one place, two. rounds, and on arriving at each gang work ceases ‘The fact was that “the Squire” had determined that | for afew minutes onl, time which usually attenas the workmen, especially when pald in ‘An assistant, and arkkeepers accompany the paymaster on his ‘The feoriua: tands at the A desk 1s As each name is called aloud tn the THE ENTIRE GANG Lhe person called steps forward to receive his pay. ‘The foreman is there and iwentifies hita as the man who has done work in the gang under the name called, and every Workman In the gang Is @ Witness to the same fact. name of each man is called alow It is all do e openly, and as the he is publicly paid in the manuer stated. On receiving lis pay he sigiis the pay roll and stands aside. “tis all (his & guarantee against dummies 7”? “This method, of necessity, prevents any false names or dummies being placed upon che pay roll, and the assistant and the parkkeepers are wit- esses for the paymaster of the payment of every name upon the pay roi. When allare paid the rollis returned to the treasurer, examined as to signature to each receipt, and if found correct ts filed in the oftice of the Comptroller as a voucher for thecheck issued on account of tt. The pay roll of the clerks, engineers, police and other employés of the department is made up by the Comptrolier from the daily returns in his oittce of the work per- formed by each, and on payment each person signs Ue pay roll and askuawiedges receipt This roil is then filed in like manner with the Comptrctieg, Cr) voucher for the check Issued on account of it.?” “What about payments against tne department 7” “AS TO TRE PAYMENT OF BILLS against the department for contracts or other work and materials the system of requisitions now In use by the department is very simple and yet very per- fect. A head of burcau needing any materials for use Must make & written requisition therefor, speci- fying the thing wanted. for what purpose, and any other information needed respecting it. This 1s transmitted to the Comptroller. ‘The Treasurer looks over it, ana if ne approves puts his initials to it as authority to the Comptroller fo issue an order to the purchasing clerk \o rocure its delivery to the department. Such order entered in a book kept specially for the purp ~ with the name of the person furnishing the article, its quantity, quality and price. This order so issued Thust be appended to the invoice or bili when ren- dered to the department, and from which the aceu- Hl Or Invoice May be easily determin , With this authority, the oficer récet ing inspects each articte received and certifies upon the bill the fact of its receipt in good order. The bill ts then sent to the property clerk, entered by him in his books, certified and sent to the Comp- troiler’s office. The purchasing clerk then exam- ines it and certifies that THE GOODS WERE PURCHASED by him at the prices named. The bookkeeper ex- ainines the extensions and footings, enters the bill to the proper account in the books of tne depart- ment, and delivers it to the Comptroller to be ex- amined, approved and andited by him and have attached @ blank report ot the auditing committee, ‘the Commiitee examines, and if proper approves it; then acheck is made ont, pinned fast to tb, and, With all the vouchers attached, goes to the treasurers clerk, ‘This clerk @: nes the varius vouchers and certifications, sees that they are in | proper form, and if so imitials each separate it all with the check before final examination and ‘The treasurer having a general know- ledge of all the works of the department, the mate- Tiais ordered, purchased and required, {8 awe almost ata glance to determine whether the check should be signed or not. If signeu tt is then entered | in the treasurer’s book, also in tne bank check | book, and is left with the Comptrolier, ready for th creditor when he calls for it, Before delivery it has to be countersigned by the Comptroller, and the creditor must make an atiiaavit that the PRICES ARE REASONABLE AND FAIR, and that the goods have been really sold and deliv. ered as specified, fo this he adds his recelpt, and the papers are then fied away together and the Wansaction is completed. “When you have special contracts, what then ?? “When labor and materials are furnished under @ special contract the only variation trom the course stated Is that a statement of the labor ana materials 18 certified by an assistant engineer in charge of the parucular work where the labor and mate jals have been supplied, and to this is added the certitl cate of the engineer-in-chief of the department, On receiving these the whole is compared with the con- tract on file (and of which the engineer-in-chief always has a certified copy), and if correct tuen goes through the same course as before." “This system you think the investigating com. mittees would appiaud?? “This is our system in outline and I have only to say in its behalf that it speaks for itself, I Kuow of none better that can be devised or desired. The | couple of benches tt THE JOINT CON A True Statement of the City and County Debt---At Last! The Committee Apply to the Board of Super. visors for Additional Power. Highly Complimentary Allusion to the Keeping of the City’s Booke—The Debt To Be Certainly Larger at the Close of the Year—No Data in Existence as to Floating Claims and Outstanding Contracte—A Quiet and Brief Meeting, but Plenty of Busines: The Investigating Committee of sixteen etuizens and eight Aldermen met yesterday at the City Hall. There was a pretty full attendance, but the tone of the proceedings was quietand even dull, There were scarcely any spectators—not enough to fill the tare provided for the accom- modation of the public in the Supervisors’ chamber. ‘The session, also, was considerably shorter than the last, and did not stretch out much over three-quar- ters of an hour, The minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and approved, tho Clerk cailed out, as the next thing In the order of business, “Are any of the committees ReADY TO REPORT? Mr. Boorn, looking like the very iacarnation o¥ solid dignity, then rose and made the following ex- planation of the prevent situation of affairs:— The committees which were appointed at the last meeting have all given proper attention to their duties, The committees on armories and the Court House and printing and advertising, and so forth, have been here in dally attendance, but, in conse- quence of not being able to have command of the books and papers necessary to thelr work, Uley have been DELAYED FROM DAY TO DAY in going into details, The committees have, how. ever, found an entire readiness, both on the part of the Comptroller and the heads in his depurtinent, to giveup all the books and papers they wished, but the lavors in that department during the past few committees are welcome to an investigation.” “What do you think about FUE OUTORY AGAINST THE CIty AUTHORITIES 7” ‘Well, as far as Mr. Sweeny ts concerned, I think itis very unjust, Ihave been here over a year, and during that time I never heard him give an order or make @ request that was not for the benefit of the people. He has never, to my Knowledge, said or done anything that couli not bear public scrutiny. ‘To-day he nas advanced the money to pay the work Mien, and he has often done so before when funds were delayed In coming forward. If the people only knew nin as I know nim—how Intense is hus desire to make our parks one of the chiefest attractions of the city; how hard he works for the public good in | every Improvement—they would have notiing but laudation for him. Time will show those who now Inveigh against him how baseless are their out cnies.’ Thus fully informed as to the workings of the de- partment, and what the investigating cominittee, if they should see fit to examine the Park Department anairs, wil tind, the reporter weut his ways in peace, THE FEELING IN BUSINESS CIRCLES. In Wall or South street it is very rarely or ever that the brokers, shippers, bankers or tallow chand lers venture to bother themselyes about the small thieving politicians of the city, but yesterday after- noon, When it became known that ‘an ex-Council- man’ and an ex-cngineer of the fire de. partment had been arrested of a charge of open and premeditated burglary, the solid men of the business marts threw off theli stolidity and de- Clared themselves openly. A group was stationed at 52 South street, two of whom were shipping merchants in the street, while a third, who 1s well known in Hanover streev and Bx- change place as a broker, made up the complement of the party, They were quite excited about the news in the evening papers in regard to the arrest of the alleged burglars, One of tuese same gentlemen, early during the afternoon, had met ex-Sheriff James O’Brien in Nassau street, and going up to him said, as he patted his shoulder and clasped his hand: jod biess you, Sheriff—God bless youin your noble work, We are all proud ol you. God bless you, sir.” At this moment one of these old sterling democrats, Who has never held place or position, could not restrain Ms feelings whea he saw the salutation and shouted out as O’Brien passed by, “Well, he is getting the reward of his treason. The men who are shaking his hauds to-day will cut his throat to-morrow. I suppose they al) know as weil as we do that he ts the biggest repeater in New York. He has made @ stuay Cf the business and has brought it up to a fine art.” ‘This gentleman was down in South street in the group afterward, which we have already mentioned, and his sentiments were freely given Oa the situa- tio! First SmPPiInG Merctrant—I understand that all the brokers are flurried to-day avoui the arrest of Haggerty and Baich, LEADING BROKER—I never saw more excitement, even on biack Friday. ‘Ilus business proves how weak and how desperate the Ring have become. Why, when men like Tweed descend to open bur lary through their chosen instruments we case as Nothing but plain satling tu it, SECOND SuipPinc MexcHant—The aMdavits of Murphy and Mary Conway (who seems to be a good, honest girl) would hang achuren tull of people if they were connecied with a murder as ciearly as these men have been connected with this outrageous swindling ana burglary. LEADING BROKER—I don’t see what is to ve done now but have Haggerty and Baich indicted by the Grand Jury and tried by Judge Bedfora, who is an upright and fearless public magistrate, FIRST SWPPING MERCHANT—Don't you think, gentlemen, that the indictment of Haggerty and Balch will be necessarily followed by the indictment and trial of the bigger thieves? SECOND SHIPPING MERCHANT—Everything 1s pos- sible and all things are probable. | It 18 necessary to take these men out of Dowling’s hands and jiv Uiem mato the custody of Jndge Ledwith, who is not bound to the King. Dowling is a good police magis trate and does his best, but Tweed, T understand, was up to Police Headquarters to-day to try aud shield Haggerty and balch. Haggerty owes everyttiug to Tweed, and itis a foregone conclusion that he will not betray his master if he has any gu he will be taken care of in the law Court thing now depends on the judictary an Jury, The scoundreis can ‘no more hope to escape if the judges will only do their duty. LEADING BROKER—If something is not done, and quickly, the busiuess imterests of the city will be ruined, As it stands now, the men who own real estate in this city are compietely at the mercy of tnis organized band of robbers. ‘Every day in ‘the week {have men coming into my oflice, who tell me that they are willing to subseribe thousands of col lars to forward any movement that will crush these scoundrels, Realestate to-day in this city ts no se- curity whatever, A man Is assessed thousands of dollars for opening streets three miles distant from his house. First SHIPPING MERCHANT—Yes, that is true, and When a merchant is assessed heavily he has no re- dress. Should he call at the “ali to make inquiries in regard to the way that his property is burdened unjustly the low-browed ruffiaus merely Jaugh at him, It is afact which [ can substantiate, One gentleman of my acquaintanee, who was assessed $5,600 for the opening of a street which is two miles and a half from his house, called at the office of the Commissioners of Taxes to get the unjust assessment reduced, Three or four fancy clerks, with diamond studs tn thelr shilt bosoms and the remnants of tie brevious night’s debauch in their faces, listened stolidly to his tale, and gave him no satisfaction. As he passed ont of the office one of the clerks cried after him, ‘Call in again, young fellow, when you haven’t so much time to stay,” willie a second rufian remarked of my venerable friend to one of his accomplices, “That old fellow is @ regular snide.?? LEADING BROKER—Well, thank God, at last the dawn is breaking. We xbali have justice yet, no matter how dearly we have to buy it, The honest men in New York outnumber the thieves by an im- mense majority, Hundreds of miilions of property are staked upon the tssue of this tremendous fight aad every honest Man must approve of the stanc which Judge Ledwith, @ public magistrate, bas taken In ibis contest, Schuyler’s Account With the City, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— In the ust of vouchers published in your and other city papers this morning as having been sur- days have been very arduous, and it has been dim. cult, therefore, for the documents to be found and Produced as fast as might be wished. It was not till Monday that they got the books and papers necessary for them to enter fully and completely upon thelr work, and the comiittees at once ab- tained @ number of very ¢flctent accountants to make the examination aud copy such accounts as might be deemed desirable. it ts expected that BY TO-MORROW these accounts will be mainly taken off, though, ag the books have to be used by the department aud the experts, progress ts aecessarily slow. The committee will proceed to work the moment they get these data. The Committee on the City and County Debt have been more fortunate. In that department there was not any pressure, and the ecminittee were able to have direct access to the accounts and to ail the papers. The committee began their labors immediately upon the adjourn. ment of this Joint Committee, and its chairman and some other members devoted their entire time to the work all the days of the week until Fri day evening ani made & most thorough e: ammation of that aepartment. They tintshed thelr report, with the exception of such pari of it aa one or two members of the committee coull very well carry on. Mr. Phelps, the chairman of the committee, was obliged to leave for Newport on ac- count of the illness of his wife, bat the work had since efficiently goue on, ‘This committee have now, therefore, in part, PERFORMED THEIR DUTY. Taving ascertained what the city debt really is, incy have considered it proper to Make their report to the Joint Committee at the eariiest possiple moment, ‘as the public mind is deeply interested in that ques tion, That committee are now prepared to make @ parttal report of what they have discovered as far as they have gone. THE REVORT ON THR CITY AND COUNTY DEBT. Mr. ROYAL PHEL?s then rose and rear the follow- } ing report on benalf of the sub-committee on the city and county debt: — To THR CHAIRMAN oF THE Jotst Commcerre oF tHe BOAMDS OF SUPERVISORS AND ALDERMEN AND OF THE Co: ER OF CITIZENS FOR EXAMINING THK PUBLIC committee appointed by the investivate the accounts of the the sinkiug fund, beg leave to re- port:— That they have thoroughly examined the debt xecounts. of the city in the books kep! by the general city bookkeeper, the county. bookkeeper and the s.ock and bond cierk. They have alay compared the totals trom there books with the dividend or interest book made use of by the Cham! the interest ou al! the c They have also examin bonda held by the Commin they are satisfied that the riain for payin ana county Indebtedncas. PAY"6 e by one, ail the stocks and ers of the Sinking Fund, and ‘ollowing statement made ‘from the books, which they have no reason te suppose not to be rect, curate account of the stocks and onds of the city in existence up to yesterday afternoon, to i FINST—TUNDED OR PRRMAN City—-Payanle from Sink'g Fuad $21,587 niy—Payable from tuxati 4 City—Payable from tuxatio County-Payable ‘from’ taxation pti Cored - 4,639,800 60 County—spe a of Laws of 157 + 6,313,000 00 —————8116,09,858 61 Less amount of securities hetd ‘ a100 of the 19,027,093 01 Balance... The Commisst the Sinkin: $1,022,608 79 of bonis and mortgages t | property sold, which yc Which, as fast'as paid, be und, All of which is respectfully ‘ KOVAL PHELPS, Chairman, ROBERT LENOX KENNEDY, submitted. New York, September 1 Mr. Boor tieminquired from Mr. Phetps if the books aud papers examined py the comiuittee were KELT IN GOOD CONDITION. Mr. PHELPS replied, stating that he believed he expressed the Opinion ol all the committee that the )OkS were not only well kept, but remarkably weil kept. The nooks of the City Bookkeeper, Mr. Bostwick, Were mode.s of neatness and correctness in every respect. The County Bookkeeper’s books were equally well kept, He could not say so much for the books ot the Clerk of the Bond Account, Mr. Dyckman, whose books were scaicely Kept as well asa merchant would like to see. Lor instance, in opening a book, Mr. Dyckman had LEFT A BLANK PAGE, which afforaed opportunities for a’ wrong act, if it should ever be found necessary. Still he was con- vinced that these books were correctly kept, aud Le would risk his iife on their accuracy. Mr, KENNEDY sald he entirely concurred inthe remarks of Mr. Phelps. Mr. CUTTING inquired Whether the bonds held on behall of th SINKING FUND were So kept that they could be used for any other purpose than liquidating the Habilities of te city. Mr. Poerrs replied that the majority of sucn bonds were stamped with the ordinary stamp, indicating what they were, All of them, how- ever, Were not so stamped, but while the com- mittee were on the point of taking | action in this matter their attention was called to the fact that these bonds, not stamped, were all registered bonds and ail registered in the name of the Com- missioner of the Sinking Fund, There was, there- fore, much less necesstty for their being stamped than if they had been simply coupon bonds. But the committee, nevertheless, recommended that all bonds of every kind should be stamped “This is the property of the Commissioner of the Sinking Fund,” and the clerk promised that it should be one. by Me, Boorn asked for information in regard to the debt as at former periods, 80 as to ascertain its COMPARATIVE INCREASE YEAR BY YEAR. Mr. Osuoan then read the following:— ATATEMENT OF THE DEBT OF THR CTY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, TAKEN FROM THK REPORTS AND BEATE reptitiousty obtained from the Comptroller's office by the late County Auditor Watson I find that 1 figure as having recelved at various times the enormous sum of $463,037; and being unwilling to rest even foraday under the suspicion of having con spired to defraud the city I make haste to deny utterly all kKuowledge of the vouchers referred to, and to state the exact facts in regard to the pay- ments made to or for me by the Corporation. On referring to my books I dnd that the first of sucn payments © was made in January, 1868, from which date up the “sad June, 1870 @ — period — of MENTS OF THE COMPTROLLER: — Dacription of Dethe Jan. 1, 1869. Funded city cebt 129,943 Funded county deb Tomporary cliy debt.. City revenue bonds....... Couaty revenue bonds, & ran. 1. 1870, $35,499,058 60 Ws, ie 42 8, 768)57 1,848,100 00 564,500 00 nearly two anda half years—I have received from them the sum of $48,510 44, no more and no less, and for which Iam prepared cheerfully to show to any parties authorized to make the iuyestigauon, 1 gave full vaiue in timber and lumber for the repairs ‘Of docks and for other equally legitimate purposes. By giving this communtcation the publicity of your columns you will much opie yours, reapect- dn fully, SOMUYLE! 1 Mw YorK, Sept. 21, 1871, 52,206,400 80 6,040,002 Satta at Pista sto ba FOREGO BY 45,088,741 69 7 IATL, Set. M4, 1871. dnded cup Sebi Aho i Sane Bh "RO 981) 7,316,350 00 0,951,800 00 9116,700,858 OL Iams 8 January 1, 1859 January U, 1870. 1, Is ember 14, 1 Mr. .OsenRN remarked . 2 97,289,535 09 ia explagation:—The pre