The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-12

Here we have total Of S4S6, 99S,2 7S, on
which tax al So Si3, So was levied This is
an enormous amount, and if rightly oud ecouo
mically applied in dcfraying the expenses Of
the city government, not more than one-half
OF i would be required for that purpose at
the utmost. But We lind that large as it is,
and out Of all proportion with the ex-
penses Of the governments of Boston, Phi
ladelphia and other Cities it is still Inadequate
to ours and that new appropriations are re-
qnired to meet the increased expenditures.
In bis animal message, the Mayor, speaking of
this particular subject says that the sum re-
quired to be raised for the current expenses OF
this year, will amount to S5,9lS ,593, and this
be adds, in view Of the fact that the govern
ment, instead of improving in an equal ratio
with the outlay, has deteriorated. This he at
tributes to the undue, unnecessary aud eX-
traordinary expenditures in nearly all the de
partments, for which Che city has received no
equivalent, either in the value or the amount
of the work performed. It is also owing, in a
great degree, TO the want of responsibility in
the heads OF the different departments, who
people, for the disbursement OF the public
moneys. Now, as the people without re-
preventative are rather indefinite and in
sufficient authority in such cases there
is, for all practical purposes, no accountability
or responsibility in the matter. We kaow
from experience how difficult il is to procure
the conviction of public officer for official
malteasance; and so long as the present order
of things exists it would be absurd to expect a
change in this particular. Positions like these,
of the highest trust that q people can confer
upon their chief municipal officers have be-
come the prize Of politicians whose estimate of
the value of the Office is measured only by the
amount they can realize over their salaries
These do not, in some cases, exceed three
thousand dollars year; yet II is nothing I'M
usual to hear OF one of the heads of departments
realizing fifteen and twenty thousand dollars in
the same time, and there is hardly an officer of
any Importance connected with the govern
ment whose perquisites do not far exceed the
amount Of his annual income as fixed by law.
If the salary is insufficient would 3 not be
bctter--woulG it not be more politic-to in
crease it, and do away with all perqusi,es in
the shape of fees, which are an unjust tax upon
those engaged in the transaction of business
with the city government? This is a growing
evil, and must be abated; but it is the least of
the evils, and shrinks into insiguidcance COM
pared with those resulting from the contract sys-
tenn by which the people are cheated out Of
hundreds of thousands of dollars every wear
In the department of streets alone the expen-
ditures for the last six months of 1854 amount
ed to 1871 .297, while the value of the work per-
formed did not probably exceed one hundred
thousand In the mere matter of opening
one street, no less than six departments are
engaged, besides several outside commits
sionere, inspectors, surveyors. appraisers and
other agents, all Of whom charge the most ex-
orbitan, rates We agree with the Mayor when
he says that sometimes twenty officials belong.
ing to different departments are engaged in