The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-27


gingerly calls spontaneous settlement"
The ExTRAvAGANCE IN OUR CRY ExPENDI-
TuRE-WHERE THE BLAME REALLY LIEs.-In
our columns to-day will be found document of
some importance in connection with the ap-
preaching charter election, inasmuch as it sup
plies complete answer to the more prominent
of the arguments used to defeat the reelection
OF the Mayor. Our readers are aware that, un-
der the provisions of the new city charter, it is
directed that, two months before each charter
election, a statement shall be published by the
Comptroller of the receipts and expenditures of
the city revenues for the year ending the first
of the month in which such report is published.
As this provision has not been complied with,
we supply the information which it was intend
cd to furnish, from such other official sources as
are open to us.
The enormous increase in the amount of our
city taxation within the last two years has been
put forward as an argument to show the utter
unftness of the Mayor for his present Office.
1t is said that he is fairly chargeable with a
large proportion Of the extravaganza and cor
ruption which have contributed to swell the
burdens of our city taxpayers. There is
nothing like figures to dispose of general as
sertions of this sort; and we pray our readers
to pay particular attention to the facts devel.
oped in the document to which we refer.
The amount of our city taxation for the
present year is $sO66,566 SO, being an increase
over that of 1850 of 81 ,836,3S6 05-or more
than double. This enormous augmentation of
| expenditure is not to be accounted for by any
of the ordinary necessities occasioned by the in
crease of population during that interval, or
other legitimate causes. Comparing 1t with
| the previous ratio of increase, it is
evident that there must have existed
somewhere extravaganza of the most reck-
| less kind, or the most profigate corrup-
| ton. The facts are in themselves sufficiently
discreditable, without their being made the in
struments of further wrong. Those who are
responsible for them must not be allowed to
shelter themselves under the cover of parti-
IAN warfare against men who have had little OF
no control over them. This will explain the
reason why the city budget has not been pub
lshed, in compliance with the provisions of the
new charter. The damaging effect of its
figures would, it was rightly apprehended, sad
die the blame where it was justly due, and Sc
cure the reelection of the Mayor. The tax
estimates for 1858 will tell a damning tale
against State interference and black republican
Encouragement; and if the increase in our city
expenditure falls short of ten millions we shall
have to thank our luck for having escaped so
cheaply.
Of the eight millions expenditure for the pre-
sent year, it will be seen from our analysis that
the Corporation have had the control and ex-
| penditure of something less than two millions.
The sums appropriated to the Governors of the
| Almshouse, the State and Corporate Asylums,
the Police Commission, the Central Park Com
mission, the Croton Aqueduct Board, the
Board of Education dncluding both the
State and City School tax), and the
Commissioners of Record, &C., are expended
through State officers and by statute regulations
OF the addition to our city taxation since 1885,
| no less sum than 81 ,020544 is chargeable to
| State enactments and State offcials-ths actual
increase for which the city officials are - on-
sible since that year being only Ss24,70
The disbursements comprised in these two mil
| lions will not be considered out of the way
when we state that they embrace the expenses
of the Street Commissioners Departmental
the City Inspector-the opening, paving, re-
pairing, cleaning and lighting of streets-the
care and expense Of public buildings, police
stations and engine houses-the cost Of the Fire
| Department, public grounds. sewers, docks,
slips and markets, printing official salaries, &c.
| These facts will enable the constituency of
charges made against the Mayor of having con-
tributed to accumulate their burdens. The
most cursory investigation of them will show
| that the Mayor and Corporation have had
but little control over the disbursc-
ment of the city revenues and that
| the enormous increase which has taken place In
our expenditure within the last few years is en-
tirely attributable to State interference and
enactments, prompted by the anxiety of knot
of political intriguers at Albany to centre In
| themselves the whole official patronage of our
| city. These are the men who have raised the
cry Of corruption and of mal-administration
against the present Incumbent of the Mayoralty
in order TO remove from their path the last
remaining obstacle to The consolidation of their
usurped power. The good sense and intelli-
gence Of our citizens will, however. penetrate
through their articles and Misrepresentation,
and show them with which Candidate their real
interest is identified.
The MEETING AT THE ACADEMY ro-NIGHr-
The meeting at the Academy Of Music this even
ing will doubtless give to the Holy Alliance OBJ
posed 10 Mayor Wood touch of tho oual;,v