On May 3, 1900, he was appointed by Comptroller William J. Morgan one of the first five New York State Transfer Tax Appraisers for New York County under the new transfer tax law. He was First Deputy Comptroller under Otto Kelsey, and became Acting Comptroller upon Kelsey's resignation in May 1906. After months of delay, he finally was appointed New York State Comptroller by Governor Frank W. Higgins on November 8, 1906, to serve for the remainder of Kelsey's unexpired term.
Sources
[1] The choice for tax appraisers, in NYT on April 30, 1900
[2] His appointment as tax appraiser, in NYT on May 4, 1900
[3] Kelsey's appointment as Supt. of Insurance, and resignation as Comptroller, in NYT on May 3, 1906
[4] His appointment as Comptroller, in NYT on November 9, 1906
