mants would be entitled at the end of each month.. This
involves the necessity of signing the fictitious names on the payroll or
voucher, when the check is received, and endorsing the same name on the
check before the bank will cash it. . . . So long as he is willing to do
their bidding, and to embark in every description of rascality at their
dictation, he can go along very smoothly; but if he should become
troublesome at any time, or if he should show any conscientious scruples
when called upon to execute the will of his masters, they would turn him
adrift without an hour's warning, and crush him, with the evidence of his
guilt in their possession, if he had the hardihood to whisper a word
about the nefarious transactions he had witnessed."

We have not the space to enumerate the various methods of plundering the
city adopted by the Ring. What we have given will enable the reader to
obtain a clear insight into their system. During the years 1869 and
1870, the following sums were paid by the Comptroller:

$
Keyser & Co. 1,561,619.42
Ingersoll & Co. 3,006,391.72
C. D. Bollar & Co. 951,911.84
J. A. Smith 809,298.96
A. G. Miller 626,896.74
Geo. S. Miller 1,568,447.62
A. J. Garvey and others 3,112,590.34
G. L. Schuyler 463,039.27
J. McBride Davidson 404,347.72
E. Jones & Co. 341,882.18
Chas. H. Jacobs 164,923.17
Archibald Hall, jr. 349,062.85
J. W. Smith 53,852.83
New York Printing Co. 2,042,798.99
Total 15,457,063.65

These are the figures given by the "Joint Committee of Supervisors and
Aldermen appointed to investigate the public accounts of the City and
County of New York." {86} In their report, presented about the 9th of
October, 1871, they say: "Your Committee find that immense sums have been
paid for services which have not been performed, for materials which have
not been furnished, and to employes who are unknown in the offices from
which they draw their salaries. Also, that parties having just claims
upon the city, failing to obtain payment therefor, have assigned their
claims to persons officially or otherwise connected with different
departments, who have in many inst