The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-08


population and the increase OF valuation. appears
that for the last years the increase of taxation
proportion to population, is less than for any Of the
| other periods preceding. From 1925 to 1880 the
increase of taxation was 80 per cent the increase of
population 22 per cent. The mex five years increase
Of population was SO per cent, and the increase of
taxation SO per cent In the Ave years succeeding,
the increase of population Is per cent the in
crease OF taxation 40 per cent-ths was upto 1910.
The next period to ls45, the increase of population
was Is per cent, and Of taxation SO per cent For
the next five years what was it The increase Of
population was 81 per cent and the increase OF
taxation "a per cent-a less ratio OF increase COM
pared with the population than in any other period
OF five years since 1926. Now, let me ask your at
tention to the rate Of taxation and expenditure else
where. The increase OF taxation in New York has
been from two millions, in lS45, to three millions
three hundred Thousand in 1852. What is it in your
State which is so wisely and economically admins
tered When the convention met in 1916, to reform
the constitution the estimate of all the expenses Of
State, government was $3.50 000 and that was
the sum provided for. Now ! am told that
How is It with the Union? Here is table Of the
expenses of the general government exclusive Of
the public debt, from 1871 to 1850, showing
1850 forty.three millions. Let us now compare the
increase of our city tax with the increase Of the State
and county taxes in the rest of the State as they
appear in the Red Book Of l646 and 1853, excluding
Of New York, in the year ls45, s2Os6, l9s; State
and county tax for the rest Of the State lbs OS5
The tax of the city in 1852 s. $50 5ll the State
and county tax in the rest Of the State $4,000 900.
Now the increase Of the city in population in com
parson with the rest d the State was as Al to IA;
the increase of taxation in the city SO per cent
and in the State l13 yer cent. friend has made
up for me the following comparative statement OF
taxation and population, which will read =
COMPARATIVE SrArENRT TAXATION AND POPULATION
DRAWN vAIKtrISE's Manual 1852, AND THE
LEGISLATIVE MANUALS ZOE 1916 AND 1858.
Inreas:
1s45 1852 pr It.
New York CITY Tax; So ose lol s4ls2 ees* %
taxes OF the TAX. ......sl,125,oe 5 s24oo5ss lls
rest OF the Population. 2,s4s,sls 2,esoos7 Il
Federal gov Expense. .s2l a7o o49 s4s oo2 1ss 1ol
erpment Population 10, 1s4i25 % 4G7 49S is
rFormed hy adding to the amount raised b. tax
( $50 Sly The further amount (sT.2 157) which it has
since been requisite 10 raise by taxation thrown upon
1853 in order TO the OF expenditure
appropriation.
nregsrd to the federal government, the comparison
i with the year 1850 instead Of 1882 the year 1850 being
the last year given in the Manual referred to- These
penditure independent Of symens account of the
public debt.
So that if the city expenditure has increased
nnetysix per cent on tortyone per cent Increase Of
population, in the other two the increase of
expenditure has been ll3 and l0l per cent on only
fourteen and an eighteen per cen. of population. 1t
is said, however, that the estimate of city ex-
penditure for the present year. has increased to
the enormous sum Of SIS III ,s02 How is this sum
made out? First, s742 ,l57 90 to supply last years
WHICH leave IOr 34,4ZJb40, ana
OF this amount S405 600 for the almshouse over
which the Common Council have no control; and
1874 900 for education, equally beyond their control
Then comes $3 go ,645 or the expenditure OF the
present year. and this amount includes S6l5 900 for
the police. These statements are made not for the
purpose of excusing the increased expenditures Of
/ our city, but to show that some Of the differences
drawn from it to the dsparagement of the city
! government unfair. Gentlemen tell that the
/ Common Council Of New York is in bad repute. Is
it in any worse repute than the Legislature OF New
! Jersey Are harder things said OF any member Of
| the Common Council than are charged against
| high judge Of Wisconsin? But Is that reason for
/ turning all the judges OF Wisconsin out Of Office?
/ Because the Legislature Of New Jersey have fallen
into dsrepute is that good cause for DISTINGUISHING
the whole people OF New Jersey? There are plenty
of honest men in that old State yet and they will
right themselves at last. 1t q scandal, admit,
to have two aldermen sitting the bench, indicted
But how long Is it since Judge OF the Supreme
Court of Louisiana was accused of an infamous
crime and fled! How long is it since the first judge
of the county of Herkmer was indicted for forgery
while sitting on the bench? And is that any reason
why you should charge the State Of Louisiana and
the county Of HerkiIner with being unable to govern
themselves? No, gentlemen, leave to ourselves
The exposure lately made will do more to correct
abuses than any legislation you could adopt if you
were to sit here till July New York has not come
to such misgovernment that cannot live without
special acts OF legislation Though do not seek to
hide my shame at the exposures made, will lift up
my voice in defence Of the character OF my own
city. will not admit that it deserves the discredt
into which they seek to bring it here. There are still
in the Common Council men OF character and honor
We have an honest and vigilant Mayor, an honest
Corporation Counsel; and an honest and inHexible
Comptroller Weare not in a state bordering dis
solution.
But, gentlemen, assuming now that we are as bad
ly governed as our opponents say, what then? The
courts ard the people Of New York are competent
to take care of themselves. Why should we fly from
own cityand come to Albany help? We are not
incapable OF defending ourselves. We have courts
W IT
That these courts have shown want Of power or
Of will to act we have proof enough. Our Superior
Court will enjoin the Common Council beforehand
from voting, and other courts will take OF their
illegal acts afterwards. Our opponents even declare
themselves confident Of success at home. They come
here and say, 1--WE are certain we shall succeed
sure are that we shall triumph in the courts
And they add, IF the suits already begun will not
answer, we have others in reserve; we have suit
ready for the federal courts; keep you of for
years, and we have no doubt we shall succeed at
last If this be 80, what need is there of your inter-
position? For violated rights our courts afford an
ample remedy, and in matters within the discretion
Of the Common Council the people Of New York
have the remedy in their own hands. Gentlemen
where is the source of all this troubIel Truth obges
me to say it is with those men who come here now
to ask your aid but who, at the time OF elections,
and when the primary meetings assemble, stay at
home, too busy too incident too proud to attend
or vote. If you were to ask one Of them to take Of
fee as an alderman he would feel himself insulted.
How can you expect the affairs of the city to be
properly managed II men OF property standing, and
business habits will not take office themselves
help other honest and capable to get it? ven
ture to say that if you were to dissolve the Common
Council tomorrow, and order o election next
week, not one out Of two Of the men who come here
to ask for this bill would go to primary meeting
and not one Of them would take office in the new
Common Council. And if they think such an office
beneath them how do they think to get other proper
men to take III The for these gentlemen to take
is plain. The resolution Of the Common Council re-
specting the Broadway Railroad Is o mere license
a license revokabe at the will Of the Common Coun-
Gil.
There has been considerable discussion before the
courts whether the grant Of the railway be in form
contract. We have maintained that it il, in form
as well in fact, mere revocable license; it was
maintained, on the other side that it Is a contract
But will now show that whether it be in form
contract or not, the Common Council can revoke it