The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-12


lions i.currns sxpsass and the depsrsmssss sxseuss
PURPOSES long WIN taxes oonsus 70 norsass and
lhuus to stszsis q a the end q shs yssr -,
Means should be taken TO stop this altogether; the
Ma OF department. should not " allowed 70 sxcesd
ms ponds should DO made responsible to the city for
liability thus incurred.
Dsbursing officers must be confined within the spirit
MS well al the letter Of the charter which provides that
no money shall DO drawn from the city treasury, except
the SAINT shall have been previously appropriated to the
purpose Tor which II 10 drawn.
An honest version Of this provision makes applca
bic to the creation Of 10 be quidated
Of subsequent appropriations, as II Ia to that directly
SUSPENDED SALES FOR TAXES AND AssEssMryrs
You should also take 10 collect about
hundred and fifty thou,and dollars from the suspended
sales for taxes and assessments which be obtained
upon the necessary legislative action empowering the
Comptroller 70 proceed The sum Is sufficiently large to
demand your immediate attention.
CONTRACTS.
The present mode Of making contracts Is defective
Notwithstanaing the improvement Of late years
acting more publicity, In opening bids, and guarding
against avorsm In granting contracts yet II IL sup.
pesed much wrong still exists. There Is doubt that
frauds are still perperated In this branch OF the public
service Bids frequently put in in the name OF Hc,
tious persons, ranging from high to low estimate
spectators htandng ready TO take advantage of any
embarrassment TO the department owing 10 the non
appearance Of the false BIDDER and to get the contract
AZ me highest possible limits Again u Is the practice
and performing contract but TO lie bought OF by
more ,sponsibe party who has been under bid vari
Gus other ways the details OF which are known only TO
the initiated in vogue, by which to defraud the trea
sury II the head OF department acts in collision
with these outsiders II Is next to impossible TO prevent
frauds under the present system.
One OF the best safeguards may be found In gen.
era publicity In Offering to receive proposals The OK.
pense OF advertising OF no importance ~ compared
with the benefit 10 10 derived from 1t.
Inc OBJECT OF Offering public proposals TO make con-
tracts, IL TO invite competition and prevent tho high
mo Ia al flA
advertisements are published In obscure papers, un.
known to, and unread by, the mass Of the people.
contracts-the expense Of general advertising will be
more than made up by the increased bidding and conse
9nent reduced prices.
also recommend the taxation Of city railroad
II appears to me that these companies should pay at
least one hundred dollars license upon each besides
keeping the streets and avenues agh which their
tracks are laid in complete repair and always clean
The city government receives equivalent for the
privileges these roads possess which are now very vau
able So far rail travel In this city affect them,
the present roads may be said to have monopoly.
recent state law their grants and In effect pre-
cludes opposition annoyance they occupy, TO the
ciusion Of all other citizens the centre Of best bust
Exclusive privileges are always to be deprecated but
when granted the city should In return receive
pie pecunary equivalent revenue Of forty thousand
saving OF the very heavy cost OF repairing and cleaning
the thoroughfares.
The omnibuses should also keep in repair and clean
the streets through which they pass, pay into the
treasury a sufficient sum for that purpose.
These vehicles DO more injury to the payements than
all the rest Of the travel together and the city In
turn receives pecunary aid from them for that pur
pose whatever. The existing lines Of omnIbuses
well secured In their priv lege having by the law Of
1854 made II difficult to procure licenses for compel
ing lines, that they enjoy almost monopoly. How
far the out town railroad lines, entering the CITY, are
subject to municipal regulations am not at this time
enabled to advise; my opinion however, Is that there Is
nothing In their charters emitting them TO exception
from any tax which you may deem fair equivalent for
Hupon consultation with the Counsel OF the Corpora
tion there be no legal obstacle make the same recon
mepdaton TO tax, and the cleaning and repairs
Of tho and streets through which they pass
made with reference to the city railroads.
gsfGRANTs.
IT is we'll known that for many years extortions and
expressions OF the most inhuman character have been
There appears TO be series Of organized classes Of
persons, all connected, and acting from common
pulse OF plumber who take and Keep possession OF their
victims ss long sixpence Is left 10 rob them OF.
These vampires form Gordon, ss~etshng from sandy
Hook TO the lakes, and to the far vest.
They act In concert with well formed understand
ing, and spend large TO protect themselves from
detection and punishment. Common humanity, we'll
the honor prosperity OF this city state calls
for more stringent laws and regulations governing our
whole emgrant system regret that this, already too
lengthy commun cation, prevents more extended com
ments upon this branch Of the subject consistent with
others demanding attention.
Much irconvsnience TO the shipping interest caused
by the present mode Of landing emigran passengers
Is now conducted Il IL serious evil not only 20 the
passengers, but also 10 the vessels from which they
land and to other vessels with which they materially
interfere. This Is also evil calling action At
your hands conducted II Is productive Of great
hardship 70 the emigrant and injury 10 others
Now thip arrives from sea with her decks crowded
with hundreds OF men, women and children and haus
outside and alongside another vessel AT her BERTH dis
charging or taking In cargo, which BE- composed Of
hDe goods in valuable packages.
As the emigrant ship the wharf she Is
boarded by army Of runners, cartmen, and others
having business with and too often design upon, her
passengers and the passengers dragged over the
vessel dischargng, 70 the shore her cargo which may
ured the psel sosa broken or stolen hut m anu
largo 10 laid upon all work for the time being Thus
serious injury inflicted This evil has grown TO BE- in
tolerabe The remedy Is very simple One or two piers
should be aside away from the pressure Of
and excu,yey devoted to the landing Of emigran, pas
sengers. They should be inciosed and only persons
properly clothed with authority and Of good character
BE- permitted within the neosure The police could be
sruoned th TO protect and direct the emigrant and
the boarding houses and fowarding Offices would OF
course locate in the vicinity the EN- grant would be
benefited a. well as the present injury to other ship
tenton, and hope, will be acted upon.
II has long been the practice Of many governments
the continent Of Europe toset rid Of eonvcts and
BY sending them TO this country and most generally 70
is port The increase Of crime here be traced 70
this rather than TO defect in the criminal laws
their administration. An examination Of the criminal
and pauper records sboss copcIusively, that Ia but
small proportion OF these unfortunates who natives
Of this country One OF the very heaviest burdens
erng the dfect cost but when estimating the evil In
fuences upon sdciety, and th. communicating effect up
on su WHO come Withln the range Oh ther oeprsseh
minds, II becomes matter exceedingly serious and de-
manding immediate and complete eradication ! know
no subject Of more Importance certainly have the
power TO protect this city against the landing OF yo
addition 10 population the health, well the
life and property Of the people for whom you legate
requires some action at your handf am confident the
general government will listen to any representations
from you, relating TO II, and nterpose It's national
thory In our behalf. On the I'd instant made this
grievance the subject Of official communication 70
the President Of the United States copy OF which 10
nexed, marked A.
The constantly increasing expenses Of the Almshou,e
department. and the want Of control of the Corporation
them, should not escape your notice satisfied
that whatever may be thought 70 the exercise Of
proper economy upon the part Of the Governors Of tbs
Anshouse there be coubt that for the
present large outlay eqt rei Ii the manensnce Of per-
who should be charge upon the fund under the
exclusive control OF the Emigant Commissioners IL IL
evident that the object In creating this board was TO
have fun control the whole anbleet. and 70 bear