The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-04

good advice.
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS IN THE COMMON
CouNcIIr--THE OFFICE OF CHEF OF POLICE De-
cLARED VAcANT-ExPENsEs OF OUR CRY Gov
EMINENT, &c-The proceedings last evening in
the Common Council, and particularly in the
Board of Aldermen, were unusually interest
ing, as will be seen from the reports which we
publish this morning. The report of the Po-
lice Investigating Committee came up for
action, and, after somewhat lengthy discus
sion, the Board declared the office of Chief
of Police vacant, by vote of twelve to eight.
This, we believe, is final so far as the Common
Council is concerned it only remains now
for the Mayor to nominate another person to
fill the vacancy, the nomination to be after
wards ratified by the Board Of Aldermen alone.
We publish, also, this morning the communi-
cation of the Comptroller, which was received
last evening in the Board of Councilmen, and
which, it will be seen, contains detailed esti-
mate of the receipts and expenditures of the
city government for the year commencing on
the first of January next. From this it ap-
pears that the amount to be raised by tax for
which is an increase Of $632,032 over those of
the present year. OF this sum ss28,50O will
be required for the Police Department; 81 1925
1854 for the support Of the public schools;
$690,S91 for the Department Of Streets and
Lamps; 1888, 400 81 for the Department Of
Repairs and Supplies; and, as near as we can
ascertain from the unsatisfactory manner in
AL H. n,ks~ 81 ohN,,A
$1,5O0,000 for the Street Commissioners De-
partment.
In fact, in regard to the whole communica.
ton the same remark may be applied with
equal justice and truth, for while it
gives all the details Of the receipts
and expenditures, it is only with the
greatest difficulty that the reader is enabled to
arrive at clear understanding Of the whole
subject. In so important a matter it should be
the first consideration with the Comptroller to
render it clear and Ineligible to every citizen,
and this is duty which we think reformer
like Mr.. Flagg would feel particularly in
cumbent upon him. Except in a few instances,
he contents himself by merely stating the diff
ferent amounts with comparison Of the ex-
penses with former years, making no sugges-
tions as to the way in which the present
enormous expenses could be reduced. He
certainly speaks Of the necessity of making
the markets, and other property belong
ing to the city, more remunerative than
they are at present; but he makes little or
no allusion to other matters of as much inter-
est to the taxpaying portion of the community
We have no means of Judging from his report
how the business Of the various departments
Of the city government is conducted, or
whether the duties of each have been properly
performed. We are simply informed that SO
much will be required to meet the expenses of
next year, and that they exceed those Of former
years by certain amount; but beyond the
statement of these facts, the report is utterly
valueless. However, we commend it to the
careful perusal of our readers.
Another subject was brought up, Of some i'm
portance to our citizens and one which we
trust will meet with early consideration and
action. This is the Russ pavement in Broad
way. Mayor Wood, in communication to the
Board of Councilmen, calls particular atten-
ton to 1t as dangerous and destructive to
property. The only remedy we know that
will answer the complaints, is to have 1t
properly and deeply grooved. To accomplish
this with such stone as that in Broadway,
which is almost adamant itself in hardness
will require very large sum Of money.