New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-11
A Whlg City.

THIS ddye Wing Mayor and Common Counch
are indicted into Office and assume the control OF
the extensive and multifarous public interests OF
our great City. 1t is vast responnoility-one
not to be lightly assumed nor ndolenty discharged
1t has become a current saying that the possession
of our City Government is curse TO the party IN
nover We cannot help thinking that this can be
40 only because the rule Of that party IS felt to
be a curse to the People. We know there are
gr;evous defects in our City Charter such as il is
and have earnestly hoped and labored for their
amendment Yet with the Charter As it is, we
cannot doubt that wise, upright, frugal and yig-
liant City Government can make itself felt as pub
lie blessing and prove source Of strength rather
than weakness TO the party which elected IT. Did
the late Charter Election secure as such Govern
meptq Let the result answer We hope, yet not
without fear II our Aldermen elect think iirst Of
making capital for themselves and securing com
Portable places for their friends-if they undertake
10 nav off the alleged debts Of the Wing party TO
TIN. or that seryiceable politician press by means
ostbe nstronsge which has fallen into their hands
# thew undertake 70 act for the Party rather than
the People-they will make miserable Job oil 1t
'Wbosoever would save his life shall lose IT, Will
prove true here rs elsewhere.-Let us commend
70 the majority Of the new Council an encouraging
example.
The City Of TROY has never within our recollec-
ton been any thing else but Whig-ususlly all
but unanimously so in her Councils, and by popu
lar majority Of 800 TO GOO in some 1000 TO 5000
votes How has this majority been acquired Ut
was but 90 in 1879 and so steadily maintained
The Animal Financial Report Of her Chamberlain,
sor the wear ending March II last affords the an
swer
Troy has been compelled 10 incur heavy expenses
and debts, frs, to supply herself bountiiuly with
pure Water, and next TO preserve or win liberal
norton of the trade and travel Of the West
bv means OF Railroad TO Schenectady Her
Water Works cost her $4,000; her Railroad
about e7oO 900 her entire Debt was not long since
$500 900, drawing annual interest OF over
ejoOOO--a great burden TO rest on population OF
Isss lin 1e40l than 10000, whose entire Property
WAS valued at Five and Hall Millions Yet, in
the face Of this, Troy has established and main
tained Sinking + fund, paid her Interest regularly
reduced her entire Debt to s7ll7oO and is cutting
dawn the principal at the rate Of about $4,000
vasr The actual payment of Principal during the
Lac
has been paid by borrowing Yet at the present
rate Of payment, since the amount payable for In
terest win be steadily decreasing every year the
entire Principal will be paid oil within the ensuing
twenty wears. without nm increase OF taxation IN
asea the rate per cent may be steadily and great
n, diminished as the Valuation OF Property In
c,a,ses AS that has more than doubled within
the last twenty years the per centage oil taxstion
mood he but half as high twenty years hence as
now. although the City should be paying as large
an animal sum on account OF her Debt more than
twice as much for Principal as at present
How have these results been attained IN Troy
As thew only can be anywhere-By low salaries
ond r;sid economy The Mayor is paid salary OF
5000 per annum and his contingent expenses Tor
POSTAGE. sc. are So more The High Constable
.slsrv is also $500; the City Clerks salary and
re,orts cost s429 the Chamberlain lwho per
forms the duties of Controller IN addition to
those of Chamberlain or Sub Treasurerl has s5sl
The cost Of Lighting the City is sl,573i OF Night
Watch 50. 7O5 of the Fire Department 81 95l and
the entire cost Of the City Government for the last
wear. including Watch, Poor Schools, Streets
Lighting. sn7 for Interest on City Debt proper and
s26l2 for Navigation that is, for dredging on
the bed OF the Hudson, as to keep open the naVi
CATION to Albany-was s222 $50 OF little less thal
a dollar head for the present population Their
Is an actual reduction OF expense as compares
with that of last year, on nearly all the leadnl
items, except that OF supporting the Poor, whic
the high prices OF Provisions and Fuel have some
what increased
Ought not these facts TO be considered by th
new rulers to whose charge our City has Just beef
con6dedi Everything depends on their condo
scendine TO make small savings where they can
IL these are overlooked it win be found nearly in
possible to make greater. Only let it be settled
the outset that saving OF even hundred dollar
is not to be despised nor postponed to the reward
inc of any partisan or iavorite, and all win wor
well