The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-07
Tho Other Side or tho Question.
ALDERMAN DLEMAN's DEFENCE OF THE CORP

ALDERMAN DLSMAN's DEFENCE OF THE coRPo-
RATION.
As a citizen Of New York, having common in
terest in it, municipal welfare, and having labored
long and patiently to reform and economic the city
government, in circumstances most favorable ior Cd
serving the causes OF Increased taxation and IRE
sponsible expenditure, i ask to he heard Tor few
moments, while expose the true grounds of those
social and political evils for which the meeting at
Metropolitan Hall proposed remedy.
am the more desilous OF being heard, because the
topics OF which l shall speak have been little noticed
by tie daily press during the last six months.
Tie extravaganza of our city government dates
back to the tine when we began to establish sepa-
rate departments each having the power to make
contracts extend money and audt its own accounts;
while in OF them there resides also the power to
make their own estimates Tor expenses, without a
power beng reserved in the Common Council or
cIsc where to limit, or even to question them.
In two Of these anomalous and wholly unaccount-
able departments, the expenses have risen, III four
years. from seven hundred thousand dollars to
more than enc million two hundred thousand dollars;
and this year these two departments expend nearly
oEe-ibird Of the total amount OF the city taxes.
These are the aims house and the school depart
melts. And the members of tie Common Council
ale lalle to severe penalties ii they fail to vote
whatever these departments may demand.
six GtLer departments are obliged To have
their funds appropriated by vote of tie Com
mon Council; and yet, things can be, and often
are so managed by these departments, that
however the members of the Common Council
NAV lie convinced Of the extravaganza or impro-
priety Of tie expenditure, they are constrained
to vote fresh supplies, rather than stop the admins
tration OF the government. The expenditure in
these six departments has increased within four
years from 1922 GOO to 81 ,497 ,00O and this year
they expend more than three millions OF the whole
city tax. These six departments make contracts,
extend money and audit their own accounts, with
Out any check upon them by the Common Council.
Those whom it concerned obtained from the
State Legislature law, throwing upon the city
treasury a large part of tie cost OF opening and
VII free
to time, by petitions numerously signed induced
Common Councils Of past years to order the opening
and widening Of streets, until this item alone, in
the estimates Tor this year, has risen 10 the enor
nous sum Of $500 600. These petitions have been
signed by some men who are now most clamorous
against the Common Council on account 0! the taxes
to pay the expenses for which they petitioned.
There is at this moment a numerously signed petit
ton pressing upon the Common Council, asking for
the opening and widening Of the Bowery, from
point Walker street TO the Battery which would
probably cost the city treasury $500 900. This petit
ton Is headed by gentleman who owns large real
estate in the Bowery, and the presiding officer
Of tie meeting at Metropolitan Hall.
When the nine items have specified are taken
out Of the tax of 1863 there remains Compare
lively small sum, over which the vote Of the Com
mon Council has direct control Imake no apology
for the Common Council. II any Of its members
have been unfaithful, let the axe fall.
The charges Of fraud have turned almost entirely
upon matters connected with property belonging to
the sinking fund. The sinking fund OF England is
now acknowledged to have been fallacy in princi-
pie as ii was certainly temptation to unaithfulness
Ia every administration that had the charge Of il: 1t
has been VIGOROUSLY fund to steal from in our own
State and there is apology for its Continuance in
the policy OF city. Let the property be sold and
applied to the debt. Let the city have no income
bit the taxes and we shall bear little more Of rauds.
Nv here there is no wood, tie iregOeth OUT l be-
liese there has been no charge Of fraud brought
home to any vote OF the present Common Council
The high rate Of taxation is one great mplaint
Of the present tse. The Comptroller finds that city
expenditure has increased about six times as fast
valuation; and population about twice fast as valu
alton. Now, does any man believe that the popula-
ton Of this city grows twice as fast as lite wealth
The idea Is too absurd 10 be entertained No. The
true and well known csuse OF this high rate Of taxa
ton is TO be found in the fact that part only OF the
wealth Of this city pays the whole tax. The proof of
this fact is at hand. will give single specimen.
A gentleman, who went TO Albany to beg the Legis-
latlre to become the Commissioner OF streets,
boasted before the committee that his sales amounted
TO go 900 0C0 year II he made ten per cent his
fsee, bis business income would be 81 900 900. And
yet this gentleman works on commercial capital Of
only sl50000, II he has fairly reported his personal
properly 10 the assessors But there are other mer
chants, of great capital and great incomes whose
names are not in the tax book at all. The real es
tate Of this city is limited quantity, the personal
estate is an unlimited quantity and yet the latter
holds an Insignificant place in the tax book. Those
who have given the matter their careful attention
believe that the class OF personal property owners Of
this city enjoy the Incomes OF 500 OO0 on which
they pay not one cent of taxes.
The city authorities have tried in vain to obtain
just and equal legislation on this subject nj Albany
A often as Senator Pierce has attempted such legis
Istion means have been devised In this city t. pre-
vert bis success. But the public mind is now fairly
awake TO the enormous social injustice and oppres-
zion OF the present system. 1t will not be made to
slumbef again. Whatever else may come Of the pre-
sent movement, one thing IL sure-the oppressed
payers Of tags real estate have resolved to en-
dure the oppression no longer. The business incomes
Of this city must and shall pay their Just portion Of
them; no idle question about their dormitory shall