The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-24
THE TAX PAYERS PRONUNCIAMIENTO.

pO~c0-hed Hot shot Thrown Into the
Camp OF the knights Of tho Trensury-Ras-
calities Of the Contract System-Our Politi-
cal Police-What the Tax Payers Should
Do--Their Pfasforn,-A Vigilance Commit
tee Looming In the Futarc-Let the City
Hall Trcnsblc, &c., Sc.
short time since we readers that the
nucleus OF tax payers party bad been formed in this
city, the members which actively employed in
rolling wealthy citizens without distinction OF party
with rcsruing municipal! government from
The hands Of the rascay politicians who have plumber
cd disgraced For obvious the projectors
OF the party not wish 70 be known for some
time TO come their movements will be kept secret
The organization, we assured, is already very
powerful and includes nearly all prominent property
holders. teai'~,I0 sf Qn.taac
Al the last meeting committee appointed to report
upon the abuses connected with city government and
60 suggest reinedy Annexed Is the document drawn
up by the committee, which speaks for itseif:- iao
Your COMMITTEES respectfully report that in taking hold
OF the subject Of the oppressive taxation OF citizens
deem il necessary thai should investigate the
causes IN order that athom the sources Of the
and destroy the disease By looking at the condition in
which placed best learn and trace out the
origin from which springs those and aggravated
which down and Cypress the people OF this
city. Until within the last twenty years well known
that "Ofceholdns had no, become desirable calling or
systemszed pursuit Anterior 10 the period alluded
the people directed aud controlled the public business
Of municipality Al this time all know that things
are reversed and The people have become kind OF pup
pets who made TO whenever the machinery Of
the oficehoiders is whistled into motion. That such
things and that tho owls flowing from them are the
natural effects or bad system, evident. Ii oficchod
ing be more rennnerative calling than other occupa-
,h on pam Una, WI be pursued with
ton IN any well compensated vocation Many Of citizens
are doubtless acquainted with some Of the oldest and
weaest OF our ofceholders and each OF must have
some knowledge Of the they make OF 10 enable
them 70 hold ON 70 the feed which they as their
share OF the "fodder drawn from the city treasury
We should not find fault with these men were their
practices IN conformity with the proper and honest
charge Of their official duties. Were this the case the
public should be eager TO continue them in Office but as
VI md IN them the chief organizers nstigators
OF the fraudulent schemes with which we have been
fortunately cursed Indeed sensible Of these
men Of the proh OF Office holding that they have edu
Gated their for the sole purpose Of going respectfully
through tho mystery and art Of becoming stationary
paupers upon tho resources Of the body polite
Again and that, unlike other branches OF business
oco labor or Office subject the yjcissi
tndes OF trade but whenever necessary number of this
Class see 1T TO impose burdens upon the people, they
proceed increase each salaries and accordingly
advance them suit their IDEAS OF The sums suitable
70 maintain the proper dignity OF this order Of
knights Of the Treasury
In addition TO the foregoing statement OF one of tho
causes OF Increase in taxation, have another
eysten-a system which is more insdious and dan.
our public expenses than othcr that can be
named This is our contract system, or other words
the manner by which contrive put out our public
work In adverng TO this mode of disposng Of the yar
city OF jobs that necessarily called be executed
ar any less
honest than other men, but that experience
demonstrates that where sufficient temptation or induce
nent offered this, like other professions will furnish its
due quota OF unprincpled operators.
10 years that past at a time when our city govern
eni honored from the fact OF being composed Of
honest ana capable men, the estimate which
the work would be properly carried through and perform
cd, were honestly presented and honestly examined
and the contract awarded person who would agree
20 specifications in accordance with tho nrinc
pies Of justice and good faith Al recent date the
influence q another class II politicians BEGAN 10 b. fit !,
me m
that they could exercise sufficient power 10 secure the
election Of candidates who were without business quad
Cations property character then af this l
favorable moment that our contractors made i
JOINT stock concern Of our city politics, and |
OF the municipal government under which We live |
Our cttizens have been often surprised the extreme
activity Of certain body Of contractors elections
They do not reflect that the CONTRACTOR election
that H. they succeed In eecng the candidates they put
in nomination Al exemplihcation that these
active A. they are INSCRIPTIONS be recolcctcd
that MOI long two persons running for oce
candidates considered detestaby obnoxious
OF tho contractors account OF the hostility Of his part
10 adoped citizens, yet the greater part Of these
from their party and voted for him, under
supposon that the other too honest for thci
purposes Look at the large class Of contractors who TO
years have executed no other but city work Have
these waved rich proportion the city has
burdcncd with taxes and increased Indebtedness, ou
city Al The present time stands In the pundercd pos
zion that did tho city Of Paris when Louis XIV cam
% throne Of France II is related Of this monarch
that upon questioning Colbert, his new Minister in |
regard 10 What should be done 10 purge the state
Of the corrupt dongs Of its contractors, tho Minis
Ter replica that his Majesty should begin BY
hanging three Of them example FOR the rest
provided they did voluntarily disgorge the moneys
that they bad fouly extracted from the cOrs Of the
resort TO 20 strangng process; and while are not
disposed 70 carry out such r<d remedies, we should
douetedy take the most energetic means 70 choke on
these and prevent them from INDUCING any future
prospects Of anticipated robberes.
Among other incentives that have instgaed growing
thirst for once, committee know Of that
we'll calculated n foster the EVIL o. corrupi practices 10
allow any public oaccr the opportunity Of gathering
ron the income o. Official position annual amount ~
from my, and eighty thousand dollars The
question may be wen asked u citizens any good
be given Why public cryani should be per
mis,cd 20 acquire such sudden wealth by being elected
through the meet deSpicabe process Of political
'Dsriei Attorney = sshcriG," tCouniy Clerk aHcgs
ter" or any other position within the gt Of the people
a. this ocal' For the Possession Of Offices q this kind
Il not manifest that ell and every species ~ means
rcortrd and made of Here alone the candidates
who seek the above Eve desirable places well Afford 70
sand d0Ars very different would be the people
dvct the u the power Of thus sppropristng 70
themselves The money which should into the county
treasury, with N. exception Of reasonable salary 70
each pcrryn Who called upon 70 discharge the func
ihe income from their prooeeds two hundred thousand
dollars would be annually secured 70 the city 70 hquiate
nc crpe snon .nsss mso n.se been IN
IRON the prizes thus held c-t 70 political adventures
have arisen The motives er s exercise Of the dshoncy
exanrse ke the freeonr befcre me cccrs the other
departments Of munleipsi government, they very
n.iuraliy 70 the oonauspn tha,, ~ the people
tacty soqusced being thus lecched for the benefit Of
few ie~ding politicians there could DC no harm N cx
cordney proceeded 70 bring themselves within the Ia,
tnde u enjoying the full bcncft u equal participation IN
abe silent inseiiou o. whAi may =. sermed nge.
thc dishonest doings II public men 70 the
workings q republican institutions Ths certainly
or government could We backed no with the proof
onarches free from the frauds perpctrsted BY the