The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-14

desired era of reform in our city government,
length about to be initiated, with what results
has yet to be seen. The aldermen and council
men elected under the new charter, and COM
prising some thirty or forty reform members,
win enter on the duties of their Office at the
beginning Of the year. Up to that time we
must have patience and endurance. We have
stiH some two months to pass through months
Of filthy streets and general disorder in the
city-before the cay Of economy and reform
shall dawn upon us. In the mean time we
! have to thank the spirits of air for having
taken pity upon as, and given us most copi-
GUS discharge Of water from the clouds, to wash
our rocking and long uncleaned streets After
the last days rain, they now look somewhat
clean and respectable, better far than they
have ever looked after casual visit from the
Street Commissioner. However, notwithstand-
ing the high expectations formed from the ad
vent into power of the new corporation, we are
strongly Of opinion that the great cry of reform
will hardly realize what is so generally antici-
pated from it.
A great deal of praise has been literally
showered upon Mr.. Flagg, the Comptroller, on
account Of his economy and his withholding
payment of various sums due by the city. Mr..
Flagg is undoubtedly an economist, and so far
deserves credit and appreciation; but there is
point beyond which economy, to be useful and
practical, should never pass in a city of such
magnitude as this. We understand, for in
stance, that Mr.. Flagg, in carrying out his no
tons of economy, has stopped the work of
paving the Bowery. Now, while a law exists,
and contract is in force under it, for the re-
solid manner, there can be no economy nor pro-
priety in stopping movement which is so much
needed as the good pavement of New York We
have heard, too, Of many other small affairs
which Mr.. Flagg has put his veto on indirectly,
and we think such course will turn out to be
anything but real economy.
The truth Of the matter is, in connection with
this movement, that there is a great deal of
humbug and hoaxing here in relation to econo-
my. The people Of New York are prosperous
intelligent, energetic, thriving people. They
are making money faster than any other like
number of people in christendom They are not
actuated by mean motives or by narrow princi
pies in public matters We have no hesitation
in saying that nine-tenths of the people Of the
city would make no objection to the present
amount Of taxation imposed on them provided
that that levy would actually insure to them
good government, in all its ramifcations
throughout the city. If we had clean streets,
such as they have in London and Paris, where
they are thoroughly swept every morning If
we had an efficient and energetic police, such as
they also have in those great capitals of Europe
if we had all the other effects of good. honest.
and energetic municipal government-as every
well-regulated community has under despot-
ism, but which it seems are not procurable un-
der a democracy, then. we are perfectly certain,
there are very few in this city who would,object
to the present amount Of taxation, or even to-
little more. The clamor raised by the reform
ers about high taxes is foolish and mis-
placed. The objection which the people
of New York have had to past governments
is not as to the actual amount Of taxation But
it is the fact that they pay these taxes and re
ceive no return, and derive no bensls from them
in the way Of good government Look at our
streets-the state they have been in all through
the summer down to the present period-cover-
ed with filth; uncleaned for weeks and months, if
ever visited by scavenger at all; reeking with
effluvia from choked up cutters, dead horses,
cats and dogs, and every sort Of abomination,
while the sidewalks were permitted to be
blocked up and encountered by building mate
llo. a1oA,, az 10 inst
these things that the people of the city revolt.
No officials pay the slightest attention to these
matters. or endeavor to carry ont the ordi-
nances. The money is paid for them, but the
duty is not performed.
Such is the condition in which we have been
placed by the want of efficient magistrates
and servants in all the departments, OF munich
pal government. There is no objection OF any
moment to high taxation---even to the present
rates. A few old fogies, miserable misers down
in Wall street, may raise and originate cry
about it; but the great bulk of the people, who
are making money rapidly, are perfectly willing
topay taxes ,provided they get good government.
We are afraid therefore, that the new reformers
going into the corporation next January, are
too narrow minded men to understand their
duty, or to put it in practice, when they shall be
regularly installed in their places of trust and
power But we will give them little time,
and will help them as much as we con to bring
forward those practical reforms SO much needed
in New York If they do their duty we shall
be very agreeably disappointed, and if they
neglect it, they shall hear Of it, too.
SINGULAR FAcT-It is remarkable fact that
Cooley, as candidate for Comptr oller, notwith-
standing his terrible speech against the Pres-
L.. nlIu nod a onnsidprn hln mnInrlLV