The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-05

lease TO the present company for the Fulton,
South, and Hamilton avenue ferries, be renewed
for the term Of ten years, which report was also
adopted by both boards. Although the action of
the Common Council upon this subject did not
arouse such storm Of Indignation as that respect
ing the gas contract, in consequence OF The latter
greatly preponderating in importance over the
former, yet il was far from giving general
satisfaction On account of the frequent instances
of corruption in procuring contracts. the pub
lie have lost all faith and confidence i'll CON.
panies generally, and regard all their contracts
with disuust II is the general wish tina. the
present contract system be abolished, and all city
privileges sold by auction to the highest bidder,
with the deposit of ample security for the engage
msnt the part Of the purchaser. Until this
course is pursued, corruption, in the present STATE
of things, will naturally prevail.
The next important subject was the report Of
the Comptroller the expenditures Of the city GO
vernment for the last yesr-a document which
gave the public no small degree of surprise and as
constituent. The taxes of 1850 amounted to nearly
three millions and half, while the estimate of
the Comptroller for the Taxation of 1851, reaches
nearly four millions, giving an increase of more
than half million of dollars over 1850. II is true
that, with the rapid growth of the city anu the
rising value of property in general, taxation must
likewise niece sssriy increase; but we are incapa-
bic of discovering a reasonable proportion of in
crease between the two; for it is evident that the
taxation, at the rate of half million for each sue
oeeding year over the previous one, outstrips, by
far, every allowance that can be made for the
growth of the city and the rise of property. The
raIidty, therefore, with which the expenses of
- nl,y he
ascribed TO the recklessness and extravaganza of
the city authorities. This lsvishness of expendi-
tufe, and the enormous increase of taxation every
year, have given our population much cause of
alarm, and we doubt not, will tend materially to
retard the growth and prosperity of the city.
The rest of the business transac ted by the Com
non Council during the month of December, is OF
little or importance, and consists chiefly in the
adoption OF sundry reports from the committees on
the various Departments, in the reference Of con.
siderable number OF petitions and in the adoption
Of several trihpg resolutions. From the various
reports colcurrtd in by the board, il is clear and
manifest that very liltle has been done for the
general improvement OF the city and the pro
molten Of her interests. We want our street,
to be Kept cleaner, better paved, and better lighted
than they generally are. We wan, to have those
nusarees removed, in the shape of slaughter
houses, bone boiling establishments, cairies, pig
geries, aud manure heaps, which are SO frequently
to be met with ia The upper part of the city. We
wish the city fathers TO direct more of their atten-
ticn TO the wretched condition OF some OF our
wharves and piers. There is still vast field open
for reform and Improvement, and We would advise
the new Common Council to be more active and
less talhatiye.