The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-31

AND C0UNcuHEN-REyEW OF THEIR LAST
YEAR's LAsoR--On the close Of the year II 10
well to take Retrospective view Of the legis-
lative lsbcrs Of oar city fathers during the
past twelve months. In January last the two
boards Of the Common Council, which have
just adjourned sine de-, began their sessions,
and FOX time gave promise Of doing great
things for our good city; but, like new
broom, they swept all their energy clean out,
after brief period Of Official exertiOn.
What have we paid during the past year for
our Common Council, and what have we re-
oeived in return for our money? We have had
twenty-five Aldermen, who have received for
ninety-six sessions, at . cost Of Lightweight
dollars per session, the aggregate sum Of eight
thousand four hundred and forty-eight dollars
In the other Board-Cf Councilmen-we have
had sixty members, who have also held ninety
tx sessions during the past year, at two hun
dred and forty dollars per seesion--being
yearly cost Of twenty three thOasand and forty
dollars making, with the sum expended for
the Aldermen, total Of thir.y-one thousand
four hundred and eighty-eight dollars--a
rather e1travagaat price for municipal legis
latjOn since the month Of January last.
The question arises whether we have receiv-
ed the worth Of our money! In fact, would IL
not have been better for us to have paid this
amount to he delivered altogether from our
city fathers, than to have given it for the work
theJ have done? The Board began very we'll,
hut, like q spawned horse, they broke up when
but short distance on the track. In the way
OF appropriations, last winter, when want and
hunger hela In their embrace Of death thou
sands Of our poor, the two Boards responded
to the csll Of the distressed around them,
and geve away from the public trea-
sp-y $4,000. OF thi,, Sill, 900 was par
ceiied out to tie Ward Relief Asso-
Citations" and $4,000 was given to
tue New York Society for Relieving the
Condition Of the Poor--but how much the poor
obtained Of this amount, and how deservingly
il was distributed, has not since appeared.
THIS was no doubs charitable act on the part
Of the Aldermen and Councilmen. and per-
haps wili be regarded as the bright spot in
their last years. history by those shortsighted
philanshropists who believe that it is better to
give the poor money than wOrk--better to
make man dependen. upon aims than the in.
dependent provider for his own wants
In the way Of ordinances ve.y little has
been done; but perhaps this is rather matter
for eongratulation than otherwise. The first
ordinance of any importance enacted was one
"for more etfeetually enforcing the excise
laws" 1t win be remembered that wheu
Mayor Wood first came into power, he
made powerful onslaught upon the Sunday
liquor dealers. This gained the applause OF
both the temperance men and those who only
occasionally indulge in creature comforts. 1t
was q popular move; and the two Boards fell in
with the course Of the Mayor and passed "a ordi-
nance in March, fixing penalty Of SO fine, or,
in default, ten days. imprisonment for selling
liquor without licepse, or selling it at all upon
Sunday. This looked like q show of official
vigor; bu! soon the glory Of attacking San
10y liquor shops got into discredit aud was
forgotten, and now this ordinance, owing to
its peculiar construction forms one Of the many
dead letters" upon our statute books
OF The other ordinances, the only renal ii &
one worth not cling was passed last March, cs-
:ablishing 70 pubic building stock" created
for loan Of $4,000, 10 bear interest not ex-
fifty thousand in 1865 ana fifty thousand IN
1866. The money thus raised (aad to be
Dough. by the public in shares at 500 per
sbare) IL TO be applied to FeimoaFsing the city
treasury the amount expended for public
buildings aud to The erection Of sueh addition
al baildirgs as may be required. 1t is rather
q curious financial operation for toe city Of
New York 10 embark in, 70 raise. mo.
neg in shis way to erect her pabiiC
Buildings, and such o paltry sula, too,
az $4,000, double which amount i
year AFR year squsndeEsa in sxor5isant sasa-
rice or unnecessary approp, iadoas. Beside
the three ordinances already aen.ioasd, the
two Poards dn-ing the year oonourred in
seventeen c.hsTs, ntne CT which are worth
mentioning, being usual or small matters, such
% TIE regular yearly approq -iaiiO1 for cotamon
schools or the cutting down OF the salary Of the
Corporation Attorney to $4,000 per gear.
In the way Of stree. improvements &1rip Z
the past yea-, she two Boards have ooacUtrsd
il ordering ninety four streets eitsor go be
repayed, graded, altered repaired, opened, or
numbered,n &c, SC. OF these rinety-four
streets, ak were ordered to be opened--Dusne
street frAr Iudson to Broadway and CHI
a.ree. fId kekman to Ferry street sre the
only important ope- ogs down towa--the ether
foaI streets being o4t IN Re ne,gt boVaooi Of