New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-19
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

aIsILKEss: i return you ny thanks for The prompt
ssnsideIsuoD Of th. recommendation male by me in
tAe commute alton Of the 9Th ult. The alsoniy and
snasimty with which the reforms suggested with
reference 70 a new City Charter were carried into
practical effect By the adoption Of proper pT@ee',
ere evidences of your kno sIedge ofthe su2jec' se
- 81 your appreciation VI the g-Hersi srhuneh' W 'o
en-, bnt eIoeet ,h.t the Legislsture will give 20
year proposition such respesfal c'ts'dtfs"on as .e
hpoItsbce, and the source rom "nic1 ~ o''eA"o0e'
q tle II TO receive. h;lhh
;n.d he aoproys of nearly every member Of The t~)
BeArds of TIE Common Council, aud bGs ben sane
sped by the Mayor should receive The concurrence OF
e Lea laure with bt'le bessnon. IL safe fer inst
Hsay = assume tbst the instituted muncpL III boz
hisc OF tbe people to be affected by the organic Law,
ssn BE- and hence should be ntussd with lie consroc-
b0D. II tbese are either Lorant or miDdiui Vi tne
true interests Of thUse toey represent, aud u ~hOn
hey are responiibe IL is 10 supp that legs
h&oIs who Cannot clam superior intJrmaton or the
possession of superior intelligence, and who scsno~i'
edge accountability 10 US Tor their official a;s are
bsnsY qusl lied, or more competent, 10 determine
matter Of this character. Therefore, we have rght
= conclude that the charter submitted by will be
sdopteo not only on the ground VI our Fn better ac
auainfaDce with the practical waits Of thu CITY, and Of
Me defects in the present oh aters bat spon the simple
American Republican msxiIs, that our community has
he tight to seect its form OF municipal govern
neDt long as it IA not re?ugosnt to the constitution
With these views so obvious correct, | an 70 ced
y conclude that tue several schemes relsve TO this
city Already PREF scented " the legislature, aud Others IN
ps ion equally obnoxious, cannot receive the
hoorsement Of that BODY 1t wal be indeed not only
m uLItbdy Omiss0L not To pass tne form Uf charte
We have presented but positive in'racOn OF our 10
btYest tights, TO force upon US anOtnet which In its
provisions is sbhorent 10 our pride, adverse 70 oar
we'll being and good ,verdment. and an lnsHt to cur
can intelligence.
PUBLIC FINANCES.
regret tbst DO Improvement bas been manifested,
sitf er In the msnagent of this lm portrait department
of The City Government in The general sp-ct of
Etc.l sffairs. The same reckless expenditure and
lo se Of keeping sDd arranging accounts con-
tinue. Each department, with probably but one or
two exceptions, c,noucs this part OF its duties In
manner peculiarly its owD without apparently, suti
cent inclination power, M any quarter, to adopt
general and uniform system of reform. L can bat
mink however, thst much power rests 10 the Finance
DEPARTMENT over this whole sInjecty but 1t be
MI artistry exercised. There should ne no rule aJ-
pht to one department and MT 10 the rest. Laws
and regsstoDs for the roi and management of
public business Ill ended TO be operative equally
np, N all AID not to DO the instruments Of OPP
preston IN some cases, and Of indulgence in
otteJs. II is true that where the hesd of
department, or of bureau, his, by gross negect,
sppaIeBt corruption 10 the discharge of his duties,
uced Its affairs rs TO create tuspcion the rules of
the Finance Department should be applied with strin.
gtncy aid crcumspeCiiOn but there can be no req
son Why Ills course should not BIZ applied TO all whether
expenditure OF every dollar should be closely scruti
bz.d hid IN all cases satisfactory vouchers and the
UNREASONABLE authority OF Law required, beige pay
mtnt 10 made. IL will not do to ray thai because a
particular department has the reputation OF being hon.
esty aid correctly aged, it is to be permitted to
incur liabilities or 10 expend money, without the same
check, and the application OF the same rule watch 10
applied to the worst managed. To act oth@ wise is
mpoc, uIfair, and produces ds'stisfactos and want
OF harmony which lii penssble ~ The proper man.
agtmeDt OF the pubic business OF a great city Ike
Eew-YUIk.
Another practice iu vogue in the Finance Depart
Dtnt which is NOT only violation OF law, but exceed
mgy derm mai To the interests of the Corporation
oil TO the rights of individuals Is that vi dragging
rom The sever al soprop laoDs sums not cOnpreaend-
ed within these originally specified or in otner words,
Of devOtiDg 10 one object moneys appr priated for
anOber This is not UNCOMMON and leads to many dis
appointments. Tour, the Police Department almost
Invariably 6Dds its appropriation for sIios exhausted,
and the policemen d, pnved OF their pay loog before
the expr Of the year for which 1t has been appro
pisi.u. TnIs ~Ould impossible wneu it recO
lee ed that jul psy for every man at 'he stated airy,
b place TO the account OF salaries for his Department,
aD0 DEDUCTION is made, ID the eStmate, fr vac.n
ces Suspensions from pay, loss OF time by sickness
Gas ~ which no pay is allowed; Ind yet the sp
prOp laton exhs usIed long before the expiration oi
The year although large amounts, from these caues
are net required az are not drawn for, OF course
portion OF the appropriated amount must have been
draw upon 10 meet Uher objects II may be. lar less
deserving urgeOt thaa the polio an pay In 1870
do lara placed in the levy, Tor salaries OF the
Police Depstment, but without any authority or
peces ity II ere psd from it twenty thousand
lohaIs for other Objects III connected with the
puJpot fer which the appropriation was originally
msde.
IL s With reluctance that reference s made to theae
parent error 10 the OF ,hs but
IN pur, uance Of toe high and repons bic duties which
DE-, Owe upon Is Mayor, 90 not feel at liberty to
omit censure in any where It properly bel ,nss
do not charge iuttUded wrong upon tie aged gentle
man Who conducts fiscal Affairs; but do cay inst
the details of the of hs office loosely and
neglgently conducted and that there Is no depa men.
in winch reform b. introduced with more pron and
20, antsge to the public The order, system and posi-
tive pliAnce with stringent rules and fixed prnc-
pies which she uld guide multIfaOus and comph.
cared outee waDtug and 10 its plsoe We nave un-
c.rsintydepeDoence upon the caprice or will of sew,
OF al individuals, and a Confused, unsatisfactory and
he geDeous laxty, detrimental 10 the public inter
ests il repusve and dsagreesole 10 persons whose
business carries them 10 that department. The inter
MI sfsiIs of an office which keeps the accounts and
conducts the expenditure of 81 lNge an amount as this
does, should be conducted with as much decoram ana
ssder AZ largest banking insttston IN the county,
PERMANENT CITY DEBT.
Rsdsemabie from the Stnktsg rund Jan. ], lSo"
Rste-lsble.