New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-22


sdditionsl sum of $6S7,Oo0. The opening OF
streets, 8 valuable aud permanent beneds, has
called for $3.50, O)0 which is chiefly 10 be re-
paid BY assessments upon the property benefited.
or borrow ing. the report says the large sun OF
81. s2s, -i7 has been borrowed at per GEN.; aud
notwithstanding the offer Of this hisa rate OF
interest, the City Treasury has borrowed from
the sinking fund ard the banks 81 onetime, 70 the
amount of halfa million Of dollars. during the IL
months embraced in this report
Among the tricks played of in ls50-5l to spend
money. without appcr,ntiyincre the expenses,
wasthe borrowing, by authority ofthe Legislature,
81 coo. O0C to erect piers and public buildings;
of which $500, 600 was expended before 1888.
The whole sum il to be paid by the heirs Of the
spendthrifts who borrowed it, while the CISy gets
less than half the value. The Controller very
properly fayors the disposal of this pier property
since in private hands it would become much
more valuable both to the people and the CITY
The street-cleaning, or rather street-robbery,
business, is of course a chief feature in the re-
port. For the last half of 1853, the cost of what
first half Of 1854 SPA $50 %; total, S23iois.
But in addition TO this, there is S7is6O spent BY
the Board Of Health last spring. This must fall
upon the tax.levy of 1855 for payment since IL
was not provided for, and neither Arcularlus
nor Glazier have or will be likely to have any
funds 10 meet the bill. The total expenses tor
street-clesning for twelve months has been
lllla ~
excepted. Glazer expended S-3,3oo in twelve
weeks: Arcularius disposed of Sl5l,362 in eight
months. The entire receipts for manure for the
wear were S20,4Il; Of this the City Inspector
got 81, SOS back at an expense OF SI5,o0o' whiie
Glazier reports only 81, 655 out of SS3,3OO spent
-Glszier saved two per cent. aud Downing
saved six and half; while Arcuarius paid in
over nine per cent. The Controller reiers to
Mr.. Genns cleaning of Broadway, and pays
that enterprispg citizen well-deseryed CON-
pliment.
In the business of lighting the City, there has
been in former years about as much swlndilng as
in street expenses, and to preserve this very
greasy department for future plunder-hoping
that Reform would soon die Out-certain poll
ticiaDs of the robbing order, members Of previous
Common Councils, provided as far as possible for
rapidly increasing outlay, single item of which
was the burning of the lamps all night, whereby
from $4,000 to $4,000 extra expense was
thrown upon the present year. The expenses,
however, were-last half of SO, Sl50,000; first
half of l554, Sl33, OO0-tOtal, S253,0OO. Hero
is gain in the last six months Of Sl7 900; to
which add $50, 600 for all-night lamps from the
middle of March, and we have a saving Of
S37 COO, or about $4,000 year. The reader
will find the particulars of this saving in the
report. Nearly $4,000 per year has been saved
by a judiciOus application Of the Contract system
to this City lighting business Among the old
leaks Of the Treasury. through this Department,
We may mention regulating public lamps,
S12, 672;" but what was meant by this regu-
lating. except to make bill sgainst the City, we
are quite unable to say. For the past six months
the contract for regulating and painting"
stands at g, 800.
TIE Controller also shows up fine system Of
plumber in the matter Of stationery, under which
head the most lavish aud sometimes ridiculous
expenses have been incurred, evidently for tho
pecupary benefit Of the parties who pulled the
wires. He recommends a plan which will not
only prevent the payment of most reckless over
charges in price, but elso prevent the dsgraceful
waste or theft of the articles purchased.
The csrriage-hire Of members of the Common
Council is also overhauled. 1t is shown that for
The last half of 1853. thirteen Aldermen took S72
each; in 1854. ten took S23 so each-a retrench-
ment Of considerable moment. Twelve Aldermen
and twenty-s.x Councilmeu have made no charge
for carriages. These comprise about all the Re-
formers and some few Wings. The whole bust
ness ought to be broken up. If 81 per session is
not enough to afford a sxpence for stage ride
home, Con the railroads all the members have
free tickets, let the member foot it. 1t is
10 more than their constituents do daily;
and no man who cares fig for the peoples
interest would have the impudence to hire
carriage at an uBawfully exorbtant price as
some Of the old Aldermen habitually did, and
charge the expense to the City, when York shl-
ling would carry them to and fro easier, quicker
and quite as conveniently aud respectfully. The
taking Of 81 from the treasury for carriage to
take two Aldermen to the Blind Asylu or else
where up town, when they can ride direct to the
place for ten cents or on their free tickets. given
tee0H'e they are Aldermen is not whit better,
morally considered, than highway robbery. Let
public disgrace follow the unprincipled peculasor
who would do il.
We need not commend the Controllers Report
to the people. Every one who feels en- interest
in the welfare of the City will read it, and, we
trust, gather from it profitable hints for future