People v. Prendergast

The relators apply for a peremptory writ of mandamus requiring the respondent to certify contracts made by them with the city of New York for remodeling and improving the Kings county court house. Section 149 of the charter provides that no contract made by any of the department heads shall *10be of any force unless the comptroller shall indorse upon it his certificate that there remains unexpended a balance of an appropriation made for the purpose sufficient to cover the amount of the contract. And that section further provides that “ It shall be the duty of the comptroller to make such…