New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-01

Among other projects before the Legislature, and
which are expected to be enacted into laws amid
the hurry scurry of the last days Of the session. are
two which ought to be known to those patient
sheep, the Taxpayers of this city. The system OF
corruption in our municipal affairs had It's rise
about the year 1884. 1t began where it still con-
tinues most TO flourish, in the Street Department.
Soon after 1884, in order to give the jobbers fuller
swirg, the Common Council repealed the ordi.
uancCs under which, up to the time Of such repeal,
owners of property were allowed to do their own
work. at their own expense, by their own private
servants and without the aid of the servants OF the
public In l-i0 in order to put some restraint on
the operations of these latter, the Legislature
passed sn act declaring that house or lot should
he assessed, for any improvement, more than
half it's value, as valued by the Ward Assessors
and by the act of las. Winter tie extent TO which
any one assessment could be carried was further
reduced TO one third
An effort is now made to get rid Of these restric-
tions entirely. In such there will be no limit
at which the iobbers need stop; and owners of
vacant lots particularly will be entirely at their
mercy. All that the unfortunate owner is worth,
the coat On his back and the bread out Of his chill
drens mouths, will 90 to ssJfy the Sreet of Street
Commiss sorers and their conlederates. 1t is no
matter how far the charge exceeds the value Of the
property; all that the owner has in the world may
lie seized and sold to pay it. One OF the proposed
acts purpOrts to be sanitary measure, and au-
thorizcs the Common Council to fill up what they
may choose 10 consider smken lots, without refer
ence to the cost. The other has wider scope and
more objects in view.
The Municipal sc. OF last Winter absied great
swinGle by abolishing the Offices Of " the Assessors
" in the Street Department" after the year loj9,
when the terms of the present incumbents Will
expire. These worthless now receive two per cen.
on the total amount Of each assessment. Ofc0urse
the moIe they can make job cost the more
they receive for their shsre Of Il. The law OF last
wear abolished tbs Office and transferred its duties
10 the Tax Commissioners, ts De performed by
deputies to be named by them, At the same salaries
(S2, ,OCO year esch) as their other deputies. But
with that tender regard usually manifested for cor
nption the law was made imperative until 1859,
and until that time the old system continued in
favor of the present incumbents; the same persons
referred TO in the recent report Of the Fraud Com
mittee Of the Aldermen as having cOlluded with
Mr.. Charles Deylin and others in their opera
tions." The law now reported in the first place
removes the restriction as 10 .Ae amount OF the
assessment. and then repeals he provision Of the
Jaw of last year as 10 the pay OF these Assessors
ard restores the old rate Of two per cent on the
smount of each assessment. ln other words, it
will enable the three Tax Commissioners. az soon
a. the Cour. Of Appeals allows Desln and lis gaue
to get in full blast TO make, they choose, $50 900
to 800, COO, sai pr rhsPs Sl5olo)o year for ths