The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-10

The OLD CRY GOVERNMENT AND THE NEW
THB MAYORS MEssAGE.-The old Common Coun.
eli have gene the way of all flesh. but unfortunate
ly the evil that they have dcne is not inferred with
their bones. the Taxpayers will soon find to their
cost. The estimates for the coming year exceed
three millions and half Of dollars, which is an in
over last year of 1877 GOO; and whether
this enormous sum will be enough is extremely
problematical
The defunct Corporation have been driven from
office by the people, for their corruption, extravh
gapce, and increase of taxation. The present men,
bers have been put in their places the condition
and the faith that they will practise retrenchment
ard Ieferm and administer the public purse as if it
were their own. We are watching their move
ments. The eye Of the whole community isupon
them, and doubt for inc they will 60 on
well enough, as every new broom sweeps clean.
But the day may soon come when the pro-
gress of public Generalization will again make
itself be felt, and the city government will suggest
the idea Of the man in the gospel, out of whom the
unclean spirit had gone, and who finding his house
empty, swept and garnished, took unto him seven
other devils who dwelled there; and the last state
ofthat man was worse than the first Should that
day arrive, we shall not be slow to aid in turning
out the new Common Council, as we have assisted
to turn out the old.
They arc proceeding vigorously. They have al
ready initiated and paid back the wings 10 ga custom
which is more honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance." They have made clean sweep with
regard to oficers-turning cut the men Of the OPP
posite party and putting in their own, by strictly
party vote. To counterbalance this they have
passed resolutions, almost unanimously, declaring
the two sessions Of the old board, held after the
3lst December, and all the contracts made or pro.
vided for during those sessions lille gal, and direct
ing the Comptroller to pay no moneys under them.
They have also passed mportant resolutions in re-.
ference to the Street Commissioner, and the Com
missioner Of Streets and Lamps, requiring them
to give account Of their stewardshp and finally,
they have adopted resolution calling upon the
Comptroller to report the comparative amounts Of
salaries for the years ISl9 80, and 81, with the
view of bringing to light the increase made in the
amount of salaries during the past year. All this
looks well for the present, the part of the new
regime. But in their indiscrmina.e zeal they
ought not to confound the evil with the good, and
destroy both together. They do not spare either
men or things. Good officers have been decapitated;
and the extension Of the Russ pavement, which the
public voice demands, is arrested by the same
votes that stop the progress of the rebuilding Of
Washington market and confirm the Mayors ap.
pointment of Mr.. Matsell, the Chief of Police.
No doubt they will attempt many reforms; but
there is one thing that we would recommend
to their special attention. 1t is a tn rough and
searching investigation into the NAL ADMINISTRATION
of the funds Of the city for the last two years, by
their predecessors in Office They have facilities
for getting at the truth, from which others are ex
cluded. Let them do their duty by procuring So Ii
evidence will be sufficient to found an indictment
upon against those who have been guilty Of mall
feasance. Let them do this, and they viii give
some pledge to the public Of the honesty of their
own intentions, aud their readiness to challenge
scrutiny into their conduct at some future day.
There is opportunity, at tais moment ia the
case of Washington market. In despite Of the veto
of the Mayor, the late Common Council ali med
the resolution again (Which thus becomes law
TO rebuild Washington m arket, at the frig sgul ex-
lense of 1919 Goo, which, according past expert
,nce, will turn out before the work is com oe.e to
be 100000. This half million of money is to be
expended in raising three story building upon Tia
present site Of the Market according to the plans
Mr.. "A. Petersen and the contract is TO be given TO
taken to obtain injunction agains. going forward
with this work two groundsirst, that due notice
vas not given in the newspapers for proposals FOR
the contract; and, secondly, because certain F..
hers of the old Corporation have lseres. in this
gigantic job. Let the present Corporation embrace
the opportunity to expose the fraud upon The city
treasury, and they will lay up much political api-
al for the day Of trial, when they, too will be sab
ecte6 to the fiery ordeal The ne board have
pass, resolution prohibiting the Commissioner Of
Repairs and Supplies from gning any contract for
the rebuilding Of the market. So far, so good But
this is not enough. The Mayors Mesa g
is docume ut tia does not throw N lch iigh. upon
the transactions Of the past year, does il point
to any reforms for the future. Bat i: contains one
piece of in orma;ien in connection with tbs slbjec
ofnaikets, that deserves the serious attention Of
the Common Council, and OF the coz nunity. Es
says:-
l have long been impressed with the necessity foe
change IN tire system Of management Of tho pgo
lie markets, and the experience OF the past has
Strengthened the conviction before entertained
The iesl estate owned by The city and oc:upied for
pusrr rbsh i rety a "hs the
revenue derived therefron, including rent OF csars.
s. co paid clerk hire ani clsepsr the am
paid for repairs during the year, the amount If rent
would be- greatly reduced, 1t not entirely swallowed
The arountr received spd expended during ere past
year IL il believed. have rot materially i9prd from
these Of III. previous year As the markets present
manage hey actual tax upon the tfea,ary,
st,0d a. t.ipE as they should be- ana as they IN
ctLer cities source Of revenue. II the Present
i to renain in operation ana the same state OF
ductyen.ss con.irued the proprety uf dspcsin Of
q the markets 10y safe and permitting the estecsbm
OF places for the sale Of eats &C. via
in ny juc gm ent, scarcely admit OF doubt
Ficm this statement, it is evi tent that there "a
something rotten in the state Of Denmark aud
the sooner the new Corporation look to IL he better
The Mayor also directs attention 10 the question OF
gas, and that is upon which decisive mea,ures
are called for by the people. Hosl is IL th4S tho
New York q as Company are permitted 10 violate
their contract, in neglecting 10 Light South and
Wet streets, to the continue loss Of life and pre-
peIty, in consequence Of the darkness Of the
wharycs! They are bound, Nv thes agreement, TO
light al streets with gas fast aa the mains are
Lard therein. Iae mains were laid long since in West