The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-06

s7so,ooo 90


which they are built Bellevue Hospital and
grounds, and certain lots on Wards Island,
Estimated together At ......... 100000 90
Sundry lots and cores IN several parts Of the
Lots ut Brooklyn 5000 90
Aqueduct Department ............. 1875, 900 90
Property in use OF the police. ....... i7o,soo 90
Engine and other houses used by the Fire
Property in the use Of The Board Of Edaca
uon i,o9S, ooo w
Central Park and several other parks belong
ing TO the city, together eighteen in mum
Common lands 34s, 460 90
Ferries belonging 70 the city, nineteen in
number with the lots apperainng thereto 1917 90
rivers Observation-Disclosures. 1905 900 90
COMMITTED quit rents and grants 400 $50 10
will &c seen that ne iaciea alone * tbs property
since 1850 is than equal 10 the permanent actual
debt Of the city.
s1RxEr DEPARTMENT
find the Street Department be in q condition
trey unprecedented There two claimants 10 the i'm
portant Office Of Street Commissioner, Of them in
actual possession and the other claiming that his title
perfect needs only possession " enable him TO dis
charge all the duties OF the Office Each has appointed
officers under him, and the city treasury is
called upon TO pay double set Of officials Each claimant
hasnvoked the of the courts to determine his title
and has put his competitor under Injunction restraining
hm from dscharging the duties OF the Once until the
state of affairs, which only be relieved from embar
rassDent by the decision u the courts, or the more
prompt action of the Legislature, declaring the Office
vacant and defining the manner in which snail be filed
the safety Of the public treasury will require to refuse
my signature to all warrants for the payment Of their
salaries or for the ment OF any work which either may
undertake.
Some inconvenience may hence result from delay in
the execution Of public works and shall rejoice If
the mode be adopted whereby the department may be
relieved from its present par and be enabled 10 dis
charge with vgox Its numerous ana important duties.
ny All To
DISMISSED
An act passed at the last session OF the Legislature
appointing commission TO superintend the erection Of
City Hall in this city, aad authorizing the Common
Council TO raise by law not exceeding two mions
OF dollars oy the issue OF STOCK 70 De called ne New
pose to be expended under the direction of five commits
sioBers named in the act
An act also passed for the regulation and gov
erpment OF the Central Park, naming eleven commis
soners, under whose exclusive control and manage
ment the park was placed. Both works should be
pushed towards completion rapidly possible; the
City Hall TO give the accommodation Low absolutely
required for the public Offices of the city the park
for the health and recreation Of the people; but woui
recommend that instead Of the work being done under
the control Of the present officers that app
them the Mayor, with the consent OF the Board OF Alder
Both works strictly municipal, and the Coms-
who execute them should owe their appointment
the city authorities TO the people who alone bear the
expense In my opinion the number Of the Commissioners
is too great especially for the Central Park
sion of three for the City Hall and FIVE for the Central
Park would ensure greater expedition and economy.
EXECUTIVE couSciL-rK MAYOR AND COUNCIL ro BIZ
HEADS DEPARTMENTS.
II being evident to that harmony action the
several heads Of departments should exist aud also that
the Mayor, in TO fulfil satisfactorily his duties,
should know the under consideration and the
several matters in charge OF each department am de-
cdedly OF opinion that the several heads OF departments
the city should regularly meet In council with
the the purpose Of relation the
business ad interests OF the city, and Of each OF
the departments Of It's government 10 prevent the
fct of the departments with each oiner aud ensure
economy the public expenditure. For instance, the
Street mis- has cognizance OF opening altering
regulating grading Tagging curbng, quite ring and light
ing streets roads places and and OF other
enumerated IN the charter the Groom Aqueduct Depart
ment has by the same instrument the charge OF the
sruction Of and OF the paving repavipg and
pairing streets and digging and constructing wells asd
other work mentioned IN the charter.
Now the Orc ton Aqueduct Department may have ap-
pcaon Tor the paving of street This cannot be done
until IL is regulated and graded, which work 10 be
DONE according TO the charter under the direction and
charge Of the Street Commissioner. BY consultation
gether the meetings before entoned the necessary
Information would be obtained and unity OF acton
cured The Mayor would also at these meetings have the
opportunity consulting the heads OF departments
matters before the Common Council and which
may be submitted to him officially The want Of such
cons situations has doubt frequently prevented tho
Mayor om exercising that supervision over he depart
menis which the charter requires Of him.
apparent however that proper harnony Of action
cannot exist between the executive OF the Gig and the
heads OF departments long any of them derive their
Common Council am quite clear that all the results OF
good government cannot be realized until the executive
made responsible for his administration and clothed with
the necessary powers TO make II efficient therefore
recommend thai application be made to the Legislature
give the appointment Of all the heads Of departments TO
the Mayor ana Common Council a the expiration Of the
terms Of Office OF the present incunbents.
METROPOLITAN POLICE ACT CONDEMNED.
Several recent acts OF state legislation respect 10 this
city have been the subject Of great and IN respects
just anmadverson Their execution couded agents
selected by those who taxed for thc salaries and
mmed stcy affected by the operations OF these laws
The exercise Of such by the state Legislature
speot the police, embodied IN the act 10 establish Ne
uorotan Police district, having been held by the Court
OF Appeals TO be consistent with the constitution of the
state, becomes the duty OF every good citizen receive
that decision the law. But grave objections such
legislation still exist In undimnshed force II cannot be
denied that instances OF abuse and corruption In THE city
authorities may exist rendering necessary for citi
zens to appeal to the law making power Of the State for
redress. Reforms may be demanded which would be
ysbly sought through uDaithfu agents In such
IRENE case for citizens 10 invoke the ntepostion OF
the State for their protection would be among the
sacred OF rights. But must not rashly abandon the
duty and the right OF local self government We must
member fhat operates In this city on the peace and
safety OF community embracing three quarters OF mil
lion Of people, and affects most Intimately the Interests aud
oomfsr of every individual citizen The system must
be abandoned, but be made work well. Every good
citizen must contribute his share OF the attention time and
eott necessary 10 govern IT, and instead Of dsrustng
and deserving the system We must act upon Il and
hroughh
The inerposl,on Of State authority To change without
the Of immediate representatives the al.
minstf system of the city only be Justified by
c,a evidence that IT is called for by The voice OF our
people. II involves the danger Of rash and upwisc egs-
stion and exposed 10 the temptation OF aboshng
aing public Offices TO uodate partisan necessities
But the most important admonion which the subject
suggests s TO M, who ntrus,ed with the duties OF the
city administration five would maintain the right OF 10
cal self government must be by exercising the powers
connded with efficiency, with wisdom and with In
tgrity for the bencnt q common constituents. All
human societies will try to provide themselves with gov.
eminent enough 10 preserve their existence When one
set Of forms fail theywi take another, though be
worse. Foreign usurpaton generally succeeds through
domestic msgovcrnment which makes the people inds
posed TO resist There VIII be no successful appeals
from the city authorities so long they give TO the
pie good government
1Imay be Advisable 10 preserve that feature OF the Me-
truponn Police which extends protection 10 such por
tons Of the adjacent counties ne may FAIRLY be considered
the suburbs of New York But there provisions In
the law In regard 10 which well founded objections are
entertained Among these b The creation OF Board Of
Commissioners no, deriving their appointment from the
local authorities OF the city, and yet controlling most
important branch Of municipal administration. ! also
think decidedly Objectionable tina, the state government
besides creating the Board and appointing IL officers,