The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-13
Tolls al they ,oonli Difference los

Thus within the last six years the enormous
sum Of four millions three hundred and thirty
six thousand four hundred and seventynin
dollars has been actually taken from the Golfer
OF the State and put into the pockets of the for
warders and their allies. Whatever was the
condition of the canals, there was no necessity
for the reduction; for they were sure of having
the Western traffic. they had no rival tina
could compete with them and the rate OF toll
was not oppressive or injurious to trade. Under
the circumstances, the reductions would have
been insanity, had they not been fraud II
was obvious to every man that the canals
required to be enlarged and completed. Every
body knew that money was required for this
purpose. An honest statesman, foreseeing the
necessity of undertaking these works, would not
only have let the tolls at the original rates, but
if opportunity had offered would have increased
them wherever the interests of commerce
could have borne an increase of burthens. In
stead of this our Legislature has continued year
after year to cut them down, and in the last six
years alone has thus thrown away q sum nearly
equal to one half the cost of the proposed works.
A sum Of nearly four millions Of dollars has
been taken out Of the public chest, and distri-
buted in the form of reductions among the
forwarders on the canals and their political
friends at Albany. Shall we reward the men
who served US thus with another five millions :?
If we attempt to complete the canals by any
other mode than the original one, if we begin
to patch our constitution, to raise loans, and
scatter money among the bloodsuckers at Al
bany, the wisest cannot tell where we shall end
and the youngest can see that we shall merely
be placing premium upon corruption and
dishonesty. We have lost four millions aud a
half since 1888, by allowing these men to man
age our affairs as they pleased. The money is
gone and cannot be recovered. We must make
the best of it, as lesson of experience. But,
in heavens name, let US not follow up this
startling consequence OF our own carelessness,
by throwing other five millions away, aud
plunging the State into debt If our haste to
see the canals finished would warrant us in in
curing liabilities ourselves, let us not be-
queath to our children the fearful curse of
direct taxation.
in charging and finishing them, let us re-estab-
fish the old rate of tolls. We are sure of the
traffic; our competitors cannot divert any SEN
sible portion of it from u.s. Trade is prosoe-
rous; prices are remunerative; produce is abun-
dant. Let us revert to the old system OF tolls
Even without any increase of business the in
crease OF tolls would exceed one million and
half per year, and in about six years would
enable US to spend S1O,5O0 900 on the canals
AT the usual rate Of increase this sum could be
laid by in about four years and half; and if
couple of millions OF so were wanted to CON-
plete the work before this time they could safely
be borrowed. But il we value our State pros
perity. or the honesty of our public men, let us
vote one and all against the present Infamous
ten million scheme.
CRY REFoRM-We see that stir is being
made in certain quarters to oppose the propo-
sition now before the Legislature to make the
Chief Of Police elective. There can he little
doubt that so absurd proposal will meet the
fate it deserves Should it succeed the next
thing will be proposal to elect our policemen;
and not content with this we dare cay enter
prising politicians will be found to advocate
the introduction of the elective system into pri-
vate houses, and have our cooks and servants
elected by the people.
But remonstrance against this folly is like
bandaging scratched finger when the vitals of
the body polite are attacked by virulent dis
ease. We want thorough and radical reform
in our city government, not partial pettifog-
ging affair. And it is high time that people
should think of ii before some great calamity
arouse them from their apathy. Last years
attempt to reform the Corporation turns ont
mere delusion We see no symptoms of any
practical Improvement in our city government
So far as we have been enabled to Judge. they
are just treading in the footsteps of their
predecessors. Time will set them down at
their real value meanwhile on the only
question of practical Importance to the public
their conduct has been precisely that imputed
to the worst Of their predecessors. When the
streets were so overloaded with mud and slime
that crossing was almost impossible. Arcularius
defed the Corporation, the contractors deiied
him. and between all three, the public was al.
lowed to bemire itself as it wished.
No real reform can be expected until we be-
gin to demolish about nine of the dozen govern
mcnts under which we live Under our present
charter, we elect annually some twelve men to
govern us each in a different way. These men
are elected by grog-shop influence and grog-shop
politicians and az soon as they are installed ia
Office they care no more for the public veal than
the Emperor Of China. They are all independ-
emit of each other, and fight and quarrel during
their whole term of Office with beautiful unani-
nifty. This is the real secret of our misgovern.
ment If we mean to alter it, we must begin
by restricting our elective Offices to those Of
mayor, aldermen and councilmen. Let us
elect them and give them the power of appoint
ing all the other civic officers. Let those latter