The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-05

sage by which it will be seen that these sums are
divided into two classes, to be applied to distinct
FIRST GLASS.
For general city expenditures under the
control Of the city authorities. ..1,249l50 90
For Lamps and Gas. i7i,OOO 90
$780, $50 90
SECOND CLASS
floanng dept redemption. ....... So'000
Deficiency of interest on city debt 100000
- e2s 800 90
Deficiency of tax for 1s47. ........... 10000 90
State tax. .............. 124,000 90
Total amount of taxes to be levied this year
for city, county and State purposes 80 ,450 90
The rate based upo the aggregate value of last
year. will be 81 1lOO for every $780, that Of 1s4
The portion Of the above amount which is
applicable to the support of the city 60
vernment for the the current year, it will
be perceived. Qncluding $50, 300 revenues
appropriated to city expenditure in re- 40
or which there was expe nded and paid out
between January LIST and 5th instant. H1,5S4 "
Leaving for expenditure during the
mainder of the year and to meet exist
ing contracts and liabilities 1,177 1868 %
In reading this extract, the first thing that will
strike the readers attention is the increase of tax
alton this year over that of last year. which is one
dollar and eleven cents on every 800; he will be
next struck by the deficiency the tax of 1917,
being sum of $50 900. 1t may appear 10 the casual
observer, from the manner in which this item is
stated in the message, that the taxes last year fell
short this sum, and were not collected That Is not
SO. The entire of the sum granted was collected,
but the Common Council expended $50, 900
more than the Legislature authorised to be levied,
which will have to be added to the city debt, and
bear interest," and lastly, he will find that $777,
534 81 have been paid out and expended in four
months-being nearly one half the entire sum al
lowed for the support of the city government for
the current year-leaving Il sum of $l,lT,S65,
which, the Mayor tells us, will be totally inadequate
to cover the expenditures and liabilities to accrue
during the remainder of the year ). the effect Of
which Will be deficiency of some 100000 or
Sl5O0OO in the taxes of this well the last year
to be also added to the city debt
The question now is, who is to blame Is the
corporation to blame for the enormous debt and
expenditure of the city government, which, as the
message says, is blight upon the industry and
enterprise of the citizens We apprehend not.
We believe it will be found, on slight considera-
ton of the subject, that the people themselves are
as culpable as the corporation. 1t is true, that in
representative bodies corrupt individual is occa-
in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred. the
great body of representatives is sound, wherever
the constituency is honest and Independent. But,
on the other hand, when the mass of the repre-
sentatves is corrupt, it will always be found that
the constituency-the largest body-is the corrupt
ing influence. We will not go the whole length of
saying that the constituency of this city should be
placed in the last category; but we do say. and it
cannot be disputed, that it is, TO say the least
particeps crimnis and ought to be held responsible
for great part of the sins of its representatives.
Mr. Havemeyer, in his message, adverting to
the over-taxation Of the citizens, has slightly
touched the causes which have led to ii but he
might have gone much further, and said that the
representation of this city is in the hands of a few
individuals comparatively speaking-a class of
men whose only stock in trade is politlcs-most Of
them without craft or profession, except the very
questionable craft of professed politicians who
divide their time between the bar of some tavern
where they plot to turn one set of politicians out
of Office and to put other in their places-and
going through the wards, influencing the electors
to support a favorite candidate, who will be sure
TO pa,ronise jobs, multiply offices, and appoint
themselves to the latest and most lucrative one in
|
boards of the Common Council. Such, also, is the
! influence that returns the representatives from
+ this city to the legislative halls of the State;
and to the same influence may be traced the
mismanagement and extravaganza OF the Aims
House Department, strongly commented on in
the Mayors message. These remarks are not
meant to involve the present Alms-Housc Commits
sioner in any censure whatever; the fault is not
hist is in the system. Each Common Council,
for series Of years past seems to have made it a
point to enlarge the patronage of that department,
by creating new places and increasing the expen-
diture in all the details of the establishment with
out reason or necessity.
In addition, it may also be remark ed, that the
majority of the electors are those who do not pay
direct taxes, and are not sufficiently alive TO their
own interest. AS the tax collector never troubles
them they never trouble themselves about the
taxes; they never dream that the rent of their
apartments is raised twenty per cent at least, in con-
sequence of city taxes that the price of the cloth
ing and food consumed by themselves and families,
is raised in the same ratio. Notfecing the imnc-
dae pressure of taxation, they take no interest in
the selection of candidates; they either do not vote
at all, or allow themselves to be whipped INTO the
tally-room of either faction to vote for its nominee
regardless of his honesty or fitness for office.
There is another element in our social system,
which tends indirectly to encourage extravaganza in
the city government A large portion of the consti-
tuency in the different wards of the city, is looking
to Office, either Immediately or prospcctivcy; in
dulging in the hope Of official patronage sooner or
alter; and perhaps, 10 many instances, realizing it.