New-York daily tribune., 1856-09-04

22j Coo sI874c6' si52O67
The increase of interest on revenue bonds is owing
mainly to the increase C expenditures, and this In
crease say Sl4j 600, is charged third to the Com
mon Council aud two thirds TO the causes which have
produced the increase in the tax levy of 81 S73 9i 81
The necessary TO pay the State tax OF s6Os 900
has been borrowed since the lst of January IN antc
patton OF the sum levied for 1876, and not dollar
of which has yet been received. Tns adds lTgely TO
the amount Of interest paid on revenue bonds.
The fscal yesr Of the State commences on the first
of October and ends the 30th of September of the
following year. The fiscal year of this city the cal
endar year, from January l to December 81, of The
same yeer The ac. leyyiDg tax for State purposes
of one mil and fourth took effect at the commence
mert of the State fiscal year, October 1880, about
40 DAYS after the confirmation Of our tax levy for 1855,
and after the books had been month in the hands
of the Receiver OF Taxes. And The city has thus been
called on to pay more than s6OO,OO into the State
Treasury, some sx Or eight months before dollar OF
the amount could be collected from the FAX payers by
the law. applicable TO the collection of taxes in TINS
county.
The preceding statement shows TINT large portion
Of the of taxes is atnbuta6 TO causes over
which the Common Council has very little control.
And even the increase of the pay of po,e ard tho ad
oition to the cost of lighting the lamp districts "a Under
resolutions passed by the Common Council OF 1892
The Municipal Gov eminent, however, has been re-
miss in not curtailing It's expenses The cOmpsrson
btween 1923 s5G does ro' reach the grea. evil.
The expenses of lsl2 ana $685. for the ordinary cup
port of the government, one-fourth If not
Common Councils of lsj345, Oug't to have adopted
a system which would have lessened the expenses.
As they faiec in this important du.y 1t Ies's with the
present Common COuI eli in the last fe months Of their
tenn, To deem the legislative department from the
imputaton of having So long neglected this important
duty. CLEANING THE STREETS.
Wien by the Charter of 1853, 1t WIS made impera
tive the Department of Streets and Lamps, ~ make
anar gemenis 'or cleaning the streets by competition
and by colri ict sealed bids, the head of the de-
partm Mt end the Superintendent Of the Bureau for
Cleaning Streets, expressed strong cOnvict0l that
the streets could not be cleaned by contract, and al
the Inspectors and the Cartmen, and those who civ
cred them tickets tokens for warrant on the
Treasury all OF the same opinion that the streets
could be cleaned by contract At last, however,
the city divided into four large districts and
tracts made with subs antial contractors, with
adequate security. This was in 1853. The next year
there vas q new Commissioner Of Streets aud Lamps
who also impressed with the belief that the
streets couo not be cleaned by contract. The Com
non Council however, divided the city into nineteen
Districts in ORDER to insure more competition and in
lsJ4 arrangements were made for cleaning the streets
by contract. The aggregate amount of these con-
tracts SlG2 800, a.d the appropriation for clean
ing streets for 1855, was $40, 900.
The present incumbent, Mr. Ebng, entered upon
bis duties in January, 1852 when these contracts
goIg on, and after the appropriation of $4,000 had
been msde.
Soon after the commencement Of his term of Off ce,
proposition made to him by Smith, Seckles & Co.
the object OF which was to introduce an improved
machines, and enlsrg, ment OF the carts for carrying
off the dirt and last though not least, the of
much larger portion of musce, where it necessary
to sweep the streets by hand labor.
Mr. Eblipg placed a number of documents in the
hands OF the Col roer for examination. As the object
Of this movement piCfessedy, was 10 clean the streets
more promptly aud perfectly, at less cost thsn even
under The contracts made by Mr.. Gszier no objection
was made OF the part of the Finance Departmnt, 10
having the experiment tried, as soon as il could b..
done consistently with the rights Of those who then hsd
contracts. The credit, however, of Introducing the
new system due exclusively To Mr.. Ebing and the
Mayor; and the Controller cooperaed to bring about
Gle dnne-s in the Streets at cost not TO exceed the
smC which the city al that time OIL gated TO
pay. TIE frs. arrangement with Smith, Seckles a
Co which came 70 my knowledge was made in writ
ing. by witch they engaged ~ the Wards bid OFF
10y Patrick Coye, for about three months at the rate
stipulated IN bis contract. This they performed in
manner acceptable to The Mayor satifac,ory gea-
erslly 10 the Inhabitants of the Wards.
In July, 1855, the contracts made in 1854 temi-
mated snc Mr.. Ebling Issued proposals for new con-
tracts for year. Tie bids were opened on the
18th OF July l- toT cesning the street. of the city
for one year CONNIE cing Oh the nth OF the same
month. Tie aggregate amount Of the bids for clean
ing The sreets Of tie city for year not Including
the Tenth NoTc, the contract for which did not end a.
the same time With the other Wards. was sl4i, ,00O
The cohrect price for cleaning the Tenth Ward was
e.,ei9. his makes The total cost Cf cleaning the
whole city equs to 1852 $40.
ttT Gays after the bids were opened, on The lotl
Of July. Mr.. Eblng reported them 10 the Board OF
CouLclHen Ell, and called their attention TO the per7ohs
who were Il lowest bi6ders with adequate secnnty
and wto, by the express terms of the l2n SECTION o
the Charter Of l53 entitled to these cohlrac'.
20 Tar as The action Of the Controller cOud nav ay
rueuce OF this question wac used in favor OF COM
plying with the arter may be seen by a' et,er 10
&r. Ebrg Gated June 80, ls55, and another dated
Jply 2l o the year The hIst uigSY tae oon,
ms. oner t. sue p for contracts ana the second
etter hin TO give ofhe streets TO those
tc whom he had awarded the contracts ss the lowest
bidders with adequate security; I'll. advice was
citrpct,o,d ard he went forward with the of the
mcn,y ard credit Of the city, and apparently with an
exp,caton Of finding pro'fcton 10 the mastery in
scir,rv, Of the Common gCounci. In the mean Il ne
and believe after the second letter was written,
the Comm on Council, Instead Of acting promptly on
tbe.e cortr,cts which promised seving to the city
OF one hsfths expense of cleaning the streets maj
Wty Of LAT Bcssi ae.syed action oa them Tor many