The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-15
MESSAGE OF
JAMES HARPER, ESQ.,,
THE YOR,
At the Opening Of the New Common Council.

THE MAYOR,
At the Opening Of the New Common Council.
Mayors OrpIcE. May lath, 1871.
To the Honorable, the Common Council Of the CITY
of New York:
By the 18th Section of the Charter II is made the
| duty of the Mayor ito communicate to the Com
mon Council, at least once year, and oftener II
he shall deem it expedent, general statement oil
the situation and condition Of the city, IN relation
to its government, finances, and improvements"
and ito recommend to the adoption OF the Com
mon Council all such measures connected with the
police, security, health, cleanliness, and ornament
Of the city, and the improvement OF its government
and finances, as he shall deem expedient :,
II cannot be expected, gentlemen, that either
branch of the duty thus assigned to the chief mags-
trate of the city shall be performed, or undertaken,
except in very neral way, by one just entering
upon the office for the first time, and who has never
taken any part whatever in the ADMINISTRATION OF the
city government, in either its legislative or execu.
tive department. For the general statement OF
the situation and condition of the city" he must OF
course be dependant on the heads OF the several
departments at the time OF his election; and tor
guidance in recommending measures TO the Com
mon Council, he has only such knowledge OF the
citys wants may be acquired by the observation
of any citizen uncOnneced with office orpublic EN-.
p.oyment. Bearing these things in mind, shall
undertake to offer only some very general observa-
tons on the course Of official duty that lies before
us.
And, first, 1t is proper TO advert, briefly, to the
peculiar circumstances under which we have been
called to undertake the civic administration. 1t Is
undeniabe, that Tor many years past, not only The
choice, but the official conduct OF the city govern
ment has been connected with, and made depend
ant on The determination OF political questions pro-
perry belonging TO the whole state, and even the
whole Union and the consequence has been, that
the peculiar interests OF the citizens as such, have
too often been lost sight of in the exclusive regard
a., ttAtp init 10 mn
Mons us a portion OF the whole American people
This, in itself and specifically an evil, has become
in the OF tlme one OF great magnitude In
ducng disregard OF qualifications, other than po'it
CAL in the selection of legislators and officers TO.
the city, and too often disregard by them OF the du-
ties which they were specially chosen to perform,
in their superior devotion 10 other duties or inter
ests having very little to do with the convenience
Of the citizens or the good government OF the city
Hence aros, complaints, augmentns IN loudness,
and frequency year after year. that the good gov
eminent of the city was not adequately provided
for; that wholesome laws were not enforced that
expenses, and, consequently taxation, were cnor-
| monsly increased without any corresponding adj
| vantage to the taxpayers; that official du-
ties were neglected; that measures were I'M
dertaken and persevered IN Tor mere poliii-
cal objects; and. in IL. word, that the admins
tration of the cty's affairs had become rather
evil than benefit. The dissatisfaction hence
| arising became at length so general and so deep
rooted that il led, almost unavodably, 10 the for
nation of third political party among the citizens,
perhaps should rather say, political organlza-
ton distinct from party, which specifically set forth
as its object the removal of the causes inducing
that dissatisfaction without reference TO any ether
political movement or purpose whatever, and pro-
posed the establishment of city government! ua-
connected with purposes and considerations rela-
ting to the government of the State of the Union
That the principle thus avowed by the new organl-
zatOn met with the APPRECIATION OF the citizens
generally, is shown by the fact, that soon It's
purpose was maiured and presented IN a form ad-
uniting OF popular sanction, II received th- sane
ion in the most h ATTIC manner; the late election
showing the largest vote ever known In the city,
and the candidates presented by the new organza-
ton receiving almost rs many suflragts as both the
old parties united
1t Is not without purpose, gentlemen, that
have recalled these facts to your consideration. Ii
is fitting for us to remember the great mark OF con-
iidcnce bestowed upon us by 20 large u number of
our fellow clizens; and to remember, also, that
we have pledged ourselves to deserve it by the
faithful devotion of all our powers to the attain
ment of tine good ends for which our fellow cil-
gems have put us in the offices We hold We have
a mighty work before us; expectations OF good
from ministry are raised high all, or most OF
us, are without experience in legislation and the
performance Of official duty; if fail utterly to
accomplish what is expected of us--if we subject
ourselves to the reproach of having promised large
ly, but done nothing in ful6ment of our promises
then gentlemen. disgrace and will be our
meet portion. But the people are not unjust II We
succeed even partially, and make it manifest that
want of complete success has been owing, not TO
deficiency OF Zeal and integrity, but to the magni-
tnde OF the work and our own lnexPerence, our
fellow citizens will not withhold from us the due
reward OF their approval and their respect,
With these preliminary remarks, gentlemen, !
proceed to tn, tulflment, AS may be able, OF the
dv assigned to me by the 18th ser,,n- OF the
Charter. asFa III
"a me financial condition of the unv-its rev.
enues, property, expenditure, and debit have at
present but very imperfect information, and am not
prepared to lay before you an Ineligible statement.
| shall proceed to make myself more accurately
and infinitely informed upon the subject soon as
possible, and lose no time IN placing before you
such suggestions as may present themselves to my
mind tending to the reduction of debt and expendl-
ture. Ia the meantime, however, would mention
| to you, sources OF very great expenditure, in
which economy may probably. be introduced with
eminent advantage, the provision Tor The support OF
the poor, and that for cleaning the streets The
Almshouse department has occupied, OF late years,
| II very important and conspicuous place IN the
nua list Of disbursements and it seems to me that
plans mig be devised both Ia reduce the number
Of ,npers dervns their support from the fax.pay-
ing citizens, and to make them contribute more
larscyoy their aboro the cost of their own main
tcnsnce. II these could be effected, the moral and
pccuniary advantages resulting ihcrefrom would
| be very great, A recent English traveller in
| this country has gone back, and reported tc his
countrymen, that when he visited the New orl.
Aimshouse, it had two thousand and five hundred
| inmates, OF whom five hundred were able bodied
men that there was no separation OF the sexes,
no enforcement OF EiOouT, no restrlc!op upon re-
admission Ms often drunkenness or azincss might
| make il desirable temporary refuge! This IN
formation, false though it may be, widely cir
culated in the English newspapers. To the thou
sands and tens of thousands of mIserably poor in
| England, such picture of an American almshouse
must convey almost the idea of paradise, in con-
trast with the and stringent regulations OF
their own poor law unions and we canno, wonder
il thousands induced by these reports TO desire
removal from the wrc,chedness of their own coun.
try to one where wilful pauperisn meets such en-.
| c0uragemcnt--a removal for which we know that
their local authorities are willing enough to make
provision. In this country, where, as general
rule, the meet reward of industry Is sure, there
should be no wilinl pauperlsm; and if "ablebodicd
men, are found by hundreds IN our amshouses, at
least there should be ample and strict pro-
vision for making their bodily ability use
ceive subsistence. 1t is proper to bear in mind,
however, the nee ssiy Of giving such direction
to paupcr labor that it shall not injuriously