New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-06
I elected or appointed IL. Mayor !. not deter.


The message exhibits 8 just suspicion with regard
10 the large expenditures BY the Commissioners OF
Records, ON which further communication viii be
made to the Board Of Supervisors. The increase
Of salaries 10 next noticed, rising from S2Oo,OOO
in 1850 to S537 OCO this year. The Mayor recon-
mends careful revision Of al salaries based upon
the consideration Of responsibility. being satisfied
that many Offices may be abolished, and in Others
the compensation reduced without detriment to the
public service. A. to the Sinking Fund revenues
now Accomplishing much faster than necessary to
meet the required charges, he proposes that the
inccue should be turned into the treasury, and
Judges that such an amendment can be made as will
secure important reduction in the annual taxation
Concerning the arrangements Of the Finance De-
partment, the Mayor has some good suggestions.
More room should be gwen for the accommodation
OF the Controller, and better system Of auditing
and keeping accounts, ard especially Of the issue
and redemption Of stocks, is proposed. He also
recommends that the Cooperation Counsel take i'm
mediate measures 10 enforce, a. far as possible the
collection OF all arrears OF taYes-amounting now
TO about $3.50, 600. and reaching back to 1s44
The Chamberlain or Treasurer office, he thinks
should be regulated upon the principle OF the Uni.
ted States Treasury. with ample checks against
the drafts Of the Controller.
OF the Alms.Hohse Department the Mayor
speaks in terms Of praise, testying from his own
experience as one Of the Governors. The Croton
Aqueduct Department also receives, as 1t well de-
serves, q high commepdation. Amid al the ex.
trsyagsnce and corruption which have Of late years
dsgrsced the city, the Croton Aqueduct Board has
passed with clean hands and iudiciou' and well
regulated expenditures, and With tie confidence
and esteem of the public generally. The receipts
for water rents have risen from $46O,OoO in 1850
TO $3.50, in 1857. The new reservoir, which
has water surface Of &c acres and depth Of 80
feet holding OOO, 900 900 gallons, is now in pro-.
gre.-, and will probably be completed in about two
years. We shall then have water enough con-
stantly on hand to supply the city for two months.
With regard TO the sewerage Of the city, the
Mayor recommends that where there sewers in
the street all drains and cesspools should be con.
nected with them, and the sewers themselves eX.
tended into the river 80 that the contents may be
swept away by the tides, and not, "a now, BE- al.
lowed to fill up the slips. As to street cleaning,
the Mayor ia of opinion that it ought to be done by
contract, and that the contractors should be held
to a strict accountability. He recommends that
the disputed land lying between Washington Mar.
ket and the North River should be secured by
Legislative action, and = market built upon it, 80
that the site Of the present one may be sold If
deemed desirable. In the Street Department, he
recommends stricter accountability from Col
lectors of Assessments, and revision of the new
ordinances with view to abolish several clerkshps.
The Fire Department receives fattering notice,
with q suggestion that the experiment Of steam
fre-engDes should be prosecuted, and that the
Common Council inquire into the propriety of
making the Insurance Companies contribute 10 the
support of the Department to an extent beyond
the tax now levied on their capital stock. He pro-
poses that all streets between Forty-second and
One.hundred- and-twenty fifth, not now open, be
declared open by one proceeding, so that the
owners Of property may open and work them at
their own cost instead Of waiting the slow move
ments Of the authorities.
The City Railroads should be compelled to lay
their roads as far ne the avenues in which they run
regulated-.hus promoting the erection OF build
inss in the upper part of the city, and enhancing
the value Of property there. The eucroschments
upon the Harbor and the operation of the Commits
sioners are noticed with the proposition that the
exterior line now proposed should be made perma-
nent BY Congress; and more substantial style OF
piers ia recommended. The total amount Of real
estate owned by the city is set down at S42, 900
having increased since 1850 TO an amount equal
to the permanent city debt
To the Street Department, the Mayor says he
shall pay no money until tho title to the office is
settled, either by the Courts or the more prompt
action Of the Legislature. This will suspend some
of the public works now going on, but it will
probably expedite the decision. He recommends
that the Central Park and the New City Hall DO
pushed forward as rapidly as possible, but that the
Legislature return 70 the Mayor and Board Of Al
der1nen the appointment Of the Commissioners, and
that the number Of Commissioners should also be
reduced The idea of an Executive Council s re-
yiyed in the Message. Ii should consist Of the
Heads of Departments, to meet at regular intervals
with the Mayor and consult in relation to the bust
ness Of the City, with . view Of economizing the
expenditures, and preventing the interference Of
one department with another.
The Police law 10 especially referred to, and the
existing Police well spoken of, but the Mayor thinks
that the entire control should be returned to the
city, the Mayor being considered the head Of the
force, and the force itself placed under something
like army discipline. In conclusion, the Mayor says
that the just expectation Of the public cannot be
realized without great changes in the organic law