The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-17

for Southern use. might, perhaps, prove as pro- |
ftable as expanding it in preparations for war
fare against their neghbors, who could not be
kicked into fight with them.
We regret TO say that steamboat explosion, ac-
companed by deplorable loss of life, recently &C.
cured on the Mississippi The melancholy de-
tails will be found under our Geographic head.
Cry TAxATIoN-NEcEssIrY OF REFORM BY
the returns made under the new census, and pub
ished by us on Thursday last, we find that the
popul aton of the city has doubled within the Pc
Rod of sixteen years. There are only three cities
in the world of greater population, as we number
about five hundred and eighteen thousand souls.
BY an addition of the population of Brooklyn and
Williamsburgh-o hundred and thirty thousand
we should have only thrae cities in the world
larger than our own, namely, London, Paris and
Pekn.
With this large population, we are interested TO
know how our statistics of expenditures, receipts,
and taxes compare with those of cities of equal
size in Europe, particularly as the public made
to feel, much more severely than becomes the peo-
pie of free republican city, the amount OF levies
made on them for the support of their local. NUM-
| cipal government As nearly as can be ascertain
ed the taxation of the city amounts to shaving of,
on the cliys account, of dollar and an eighth
of every han bred dollars ofproperty. This ex.raor
binary clipping furnishes, when rolled into mass,
batch of four millions OF dollars more, which
are paid out by the city fathers with a luxurious
avishness and looseness of expenditure that ought
TO be made apparent in great public rather than
private results. Many persons seriously
alarmed, of course, at the rspidity with which the
expenses of the city government increase, while
public benefits do not arise proportionaby with the
expenditure. II is becoming common for citizens
TO make attempts TO escape from the thus inn
posed upon them; and consequently we fad many
an exile in the neighboring cities of Brook Ign and
Wllliamsburgh, and taking their nights rest on the
shores of Jersey. Such as do not desert the city,
of course are anxious 10 know how 10 meet the
difficulties which all perceive, and many sugges-
tions are made with view TO check the evil, and
TO reduce the amount Of taxation imposed upon
| them.
| Among other suggestions, il has been proposed,
by the next spring elections, TO organize taxpay-
ing league, holding themselves independent of all
parry questions, and directing all their energies to
the object of municipal reform II is believed that
| such an organization would enter the field with
powerful array, and their triumph Id lead 10 a
revision of the city charter. Many persons dis
posed to put the city under the township system,
which is found 10 operate avorably for the people
at large Each ward, by such an arrangement,
would be erected into body corporate, with equal,
or superior powers to other townships in the State
Should such plan come into operation, the legis-
lation of the ward would be b!9 Iht directly and
plainly under the inspection of the electors, and
| closer scrutiny of the acts of public men would be
| the consequence. This would be, unquestouaby,
very beneficial 10 all classes, except those hungry
| politicians and dIummers of the Corporation, who
| are so active in election times. 1t is commended
that our city elections would thus be purified, and
that the ballot box would be better index than ii
now is, of the wishes of tax.paYing citizens AS
matters are conducted, and as the City Hall is
now great warehouse for contracts and iobbing
of the most miscellaneous description, by which
individuals grow wealthy at the expense of the
people at large, it will not be surprising if some
bold experiment, such as this league suggests,
should be attempted.
As over four millions OF dollars will be required
/ to carry on the city government next year, and as
iIsSISesv VI idst year, we
shall not be asonished at finding more than usual
activity and investigation with respect TO the pub
| lie expenditure. Indeed, it has already been pro-
posed by many taxpayers TO form assemblies, and
by stated meetings in each ward, TO do the work
necessary to secure substantial reform, and to
insure an economical administration of the city ex-
penditure. Bv keeping aloof from party politics,
there would be no ppers, or ripc-layers, TO be
paid-and great good might accrue from public
surveillance of the acts of the Common Council.
That something will be done, and that, too, with
effect, seems than probable, because the evils
concetping which men complain, are increasing so
fearfully as to make it absolutely necessary that
some action should promise better things for the
future.