The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-22


interests of the Union now evinced by Pennsyl-
yania afford an excellent opportunity OF carry
ing out this very necessary change. Nor is it
less obvious that Pennsylvania, which absolute
ly refuses to allow her neighbors even to cross
her borders without paying toll, should not be
allowed to levy tax upon all Of us Tor her pri-
vate benefit. Here have we been this many
year paying six or seven millions OF dollars to
protect the iron works Of that State. Ii is time
this was stopped. If the iron works cannot sup
port themselves to-day they should be aban-
doIed; at all events, il we cannot be permitted
to travel from Buffalo to Cleveland without
paying toll at Erie we object to a continuance
Of the protective system. We expect the dele
cations from the North, East and West, to take
up these matters at once, and lcgislate. with
promptitude and vigor; nor can we doubt that
the South will see the necessity Of espousing
their cause with frankness and spirit.
TIE New Common Council-Tcrribio Con-
dition OF the CITY.
We have now been nearly month under the
reign of the new reform Common Council
and the actual condition of the city has been
growing daily worse and worse. What with
squabbling for Offices, and making reform
speeches for Buncombe, the material every day
interests of the city have altoge Sher received
the goby. Every body is engaged in strug
Cling for little popularity, or clutching at Il
portion OF the spols, while the city is left to
take care of itself The estimates of expendi-
ture for the present year already amount TO
over four millions Of dollars and on Monday
evening several Aldermen objected TO the pas
sage of the Comptroller's budget on the ground
that it was not large enough, and must be in
creased in some important items. Alderman
Herrick among others, ingenuously confessed
that if the Board would grant them few days
more he would undertake to swell the bill at
least fifty thousand dollars on the single appro-
priation for gas. The budget, as thus increased
was adopted last evening; but we doubt not
that the pious and patriotic example Of Mr.
Herrck will be emulated by other members in
the course Of its discussion, SO that by the
time the appropriation bill passes it will pro-
badly reach five millions.
Now, the first end and aim of the Common
Council is to see that this snug little sum of
five millions is properly applied; and to secure
SO desirable an object every body Of course
tries to get as much as possible of it into his
own hands. To one who "knows the ropes"
the meetings of the new Council thus far have
presented only a series of struggles on all
hands to get control Of the largest possible
amount Of this famous five millions. Meanwhile
nobody cares about the city-nobody thinks Of
the interests Of the public in any one par
ticular. The humbugged inhabitants are
doomed literally to wallow through mud and
filth for the want of scavengers-to run the
risk of breaking their necks down cellar traps
and building caves-to be liable to be insulted
and beaten in omnibusses and cars--to be
knocked down and robbed in the public tho
rough'ares- altogether, to be worse pro-
tected and worse cared for than the travellers
through the pas es of the Rocky Mountains
at the same time that they are paying three
times as much in direct taxation as would SUI
fee to procure good and efficient city govern
ment.
Yes. we confidently assert that for two
millions year competent and responsible
parties can be found who will undertake t.
provide our city with complete and efficient
administration Of its aflairs-to keep the streets
clean and the pavemcnts in repsir-to see that
the lamps are lighted and the public markets
rendered accessible and tolerable-to police the
whole city day and night with good and faith
full men, who won't run away at the first tap of
club on the sidewalk-and to see that all the
other interests of the city are faithfully and
promptly administered. In fact. two millions
is ample for all this; and of course the other
three millions, even if affairs were properly adj
minstered under the present regime. would be,
as they are, common public plumber for the
paid and sworn servants of the people.
This seems an enormous sum to be squan.
dered by the public officers of single city,
even of the size and Importance Of New York
But an examination into the way in which the
business of the city is conducted will at once
quench all establishment
For example: for the single item of the con;
missioners' charges and counsellor's fees in
opening new streets and avenues, &C., the city
has paid Tor years past at the rate of from
$40 600 to 100000 q year for services that
ought to have been performed for one-fiftieth
part ofthat sum- The process Of that swindlc
is this:-On the opening Of street or avenue
the Counsel for the Corporation applies to the
Supreme Court for three commissioners for that
particular job. These commissioners receive
four dollars day for appraisiug and assessing
the value of the land which is to be occupied
by the proposed Improvement They hire
room, set Of clerks, buy large quantity o.
stationery. (Which proves anything but station
ary) employ q surveyor, hire carriages mes
sengers, and the Lord knows what and set
themselves quietly down for nice fat job-the
corporation counsel being, OF course, retained at
swinging fee Of 5000 to $1,000 for each affair.
The arrangements being thus completed our
commissioners meet every morning at the
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