The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-28

that in 1857 they eight millions. II he hal
amned facts and consulted numerical figures nstea Of
rhetorical ones he would not have falsely represented the
taxes o. 1858 to have been only 100000 II be had
consulted chapters 500 and 232 of the Laws Of 1853 he
| would have avoided the imputations of ignorance or
malice and found the tax levy was over 100000 This
margin which experience proves must be al ways allowed
| to his legal a. we'll as municipal opinions.
In the report of Comptroller Fagg for 1883 page 26 no
states the tax levy Tor 1858 to be IS 067 25 and my
more rabid enemies will not dispute his testimony But
for the purpose o generating myself from this accusa
tion sha agan invoke the testimony Of A. G. Fagg IN
his semiannua report made in September last to the
Board Council men On page ii of that document he
but lanies the statement with this candid acknow
ledgement"A considerable portion Of this increase IS
made from assessments which the Common Coun
Gil and the Finance Department have no control, but
which are made by special act of the legislature as
| follows
Almshouse increase. $45S 500 90
Common schools (state) do.............. 100000 90
| (Gty) do................. do 4962lo 81
Commissioners OF Record do. 100000 90
Proportion of interest on revenue bond - 100000 Os
Total 1853 l43 3
Deductng this sum Of ST e5S 34s and the Central PARK
interest which could have been controlled by the
Common Council and the balance is s1S7,Sl3 80, the
expenditure of which be principally traced TO the
Legislature at Albany 1856 and 1857 For the 50 00o
600 increase between 1858 and 1857 therefore deny that
am respon be but presumng the McKeon theory to be
correct 100000 only could be charged to the Mayor
| Alderman and Commonaty.
Now, let us apply the same scales to Mr.. Temann, the
nominee of this logcian and determine his comparative
| short comings.
In 1853 the expenses of the Almshouse was $685. 900
and in 1855 the expenses reached so25 14o per
cent in years My alleged liability only 20 per
cent showing that by this test Mr.. Temann pub
| lie officer by 100 per cent.
But argument is wasted in such position The
penses OF every city county and state in the Union, and
the United States government itself, have steadily in
creased but must IT, therefore, be inferred that zach
cessve President Governor, Mayor and Common Council
more infamous than their predecessor | having
thus proved the gross Misrepresentation made by the
United Sales District Attorney and proved the false basis
upon which he argued, will enlghteL ed public press
that published his statements present my werY
In relation to salaries, Mr. Mckeon Is equally unortu
nate. He insists that in 1858 the item Of salaries only
$2l2 600, when appears from the document last
toned (page 33) that II S235 600 IN 1858, and only
s4l2 GOO in ls57-which cering his general state
ments, must be viewed as extraordinarily accurate
though he undertated and to suit his OCCASION
| TO the extent Of 500 800.
| MAyoRs POWER OVER KxprSprruRFss
But is IL right To make the Mayor responsible for the
taxes, Of the amount of the expenditure Of the city
government, however great they may be- DO you know
the constitution OF the government Of this city II
distributed into departments each department governed
BY an independent head either elected by tho people
created by the Legislature, appointed by the Cover
nor named by the Mayor the solitary instance
Of the Croton Board, placed directly independent of
the Mayor, whatever offences they may commit. The
Mayor has check influence control the
az, Of these different Boards The charters Of ls49
53 and 81 all alike in this respect whilst they dri
butte the government this wise they all limit tho duties
Of the Mayor by designating Instead OF that unity and
consolidation of executive authority, necessary not
only for proper enforcement of the aws and the
y Of economy in expenditures, these charters dissent
nate power among the several executive departments,
the tend, ncy and effect OF which is not only to
deteriorate the efficiency Of the government but
take away the necessary and sautary accountability
The Finance Department has entire control the col
lection and disbursements OF the public money-keepng
OF all public accounts and the general monetary affairs OF
the Corporation The Mayor las no veto or direction over
IT, Its head is elected by the people 70 whom alone he
Acknowledges allegiance The same independence
lists in tho law Department, in the City Inspectors
Department, the Street Depart ncnt the Croton Do.
partmcnt and IN short, throughout the whole organl
zaon Of the city government The Mayor w, therefore,
not responsible for expenditures extravaganza OF the
Common Council repeat that under the provisions ~
the charters Of ls5g 1855 and 1851 adequate power -
conferred upon the Mayor To regulate ASCERTAIN
the expenditure The departments are close boroaghs-
petty princpaties, or sealed books-eash distinct from
the other, and no check can be imposed upon them
The Legislature that passes and the Governor that
the annual bill for the expenses Of the city govern
mcnt equally responsible, and, perhaps, 80,
from the fact that they have withheld from the Mayor
authority by which such evils could have been examined
corrected exposed. ID alleged that the great
bulk OF the work undertaken Is unnecessary hut that s
s extravagant not properly and faithfully per.
formed. Until the passage Of the charter OF ls4q the
heads of departments were in degree under the
control of the Common Council but since that time has
Mayor of the city Of New York republican demo
crat been able to regulate the montruus and rrcspons
BILE municipal government created and conducted hy
publican whig legislature What did Mayors Woodhuli
kngxland MesteFvet accomplish towards that objecy
In 1S5i-5 and SO, the whig republican party con
rolcd both the Legislature and the Common Council and
shall presently prove, the expenses Of the city gov
ernment stu steadily increased In those years alone
the Aims House Department the common schools State
and city police state mill tax and expenses of the Com
mssioners Ct Record, increased fi ps2sol, tn which,
being added $40 81 salaries and expenses imposed by
special acs Of the legislature affords grand total Of
a. b36 In each o those years the Common Council
ccedcd the appropriations in the aggregate ~ si 335 202
which subsequently legalized by the Legislature
That portion of the press and the public which insists
making me responsible for tho expenditures II the city
at the time urges the election o of
the Governors Of the Almsh0usc who, with nine
ciates ndputaby possess full and complete authority
over the management aad outays OF the Amshousc De
| parimcnt
etus sec how FAR the rule uniusty applied 10 me will fair
liz appy 10 him IN 1888 years saCc the apnro-
prstion for the Amshouse sSsboo1 and in 1851,
appears ny the Camprocr report " be sss3 500 in
Of 10 per cent and in the Intervening years tho
average about 30 pr cont BuThc remark
uhlc fact apparent from their estimates for ls53 h
th least the whole amount proposed 10 he col
cctcd for the iuhrm and suffering poor for 1855 k appro
prated TO salaries other words dollar OF every
nve Is expended on officials
10 these expenses should be added the debt incurred in
| the Of the workhouse, which has micrably
failed a source ~ means of correction.
MT lst ne sce Who 70 really responsible for tho narous
TAXATION and which the departm 1us and who are the
under whose direction the money ls expended
The tax levy of the present year may be taken fair
Illustration oi preceding years
Whole amount OF the Tar levy for 0s6 $40
PRINCIPAL COMPONENT
Ash"usc ss45sD
oommcn school (State) 3s3 sos
ste mn tax. 5s5 500
ntefest on CITY 625T6o
loce salaries s2S500
I, tMduon M
Total. .s5o7soso
balance expended by the several departments over
| which the Mayer has not the least control
l. here that out of expenditure OF over seven
millions than millions made M or items wth
which neither the Mayor the Common Council have the
| least control
INCREASED rxryvprrers
Who is responsible for the gradual and continual in
crease of taxation in New York; The following t,bles
carefully collected from tho Comp,rocrs feprts slow
that this s principally In the mshousc public
education Commissioners of Record and our contribution
| 10 the support Of the State government
AssBousE DEPARTMENT.
Amount facredes
raised Lv tar oSr the
4 mr.