The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-23

MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE OPENING OF
SrREkrs-We publish in another column CON-
munication of no little Importance to taxpayers,
relative to one Of the modes by which they are
feeced in connection with the opening of streets.
We presume the writer, Thomas N. Carr, knows
all about the matter, as he is q member of
commission of assessments and estimate for
opening Fifty ninth street, and is doubtless
familiar with the modls operandi. Mr.. Carr COM
plains that the Corporation Counsel makes too
much money out of his services in regard to
opening streets-that he has too much power
and too many duties to perform. 1t appears
that over hundred cases are now lying I'M
touched in his hands, in which property to
very large amount is involved. While we
agree with Mr.. Carr that the fees of the Office
of Corporation Counsel should be abolished,
and fixed salary substituted, with view to
remove temptation, we cannot see any gain to
be derived from creating the bureaus of Cor
poration Attorney and Public Administrator
independent departments. The trouble is that
we have too many Independent departments
in the municipal government already. They
are all Independent, and no one is
responsible. Mr.. Carr suggests another re-
form of dubious utility AT present
there are some twenty separate commissions in
existence charged with the duty Of opening
streets. There is no doubt that these commits
eions are for the most part mere humbugs, and
that they are fruitful of corruption: but we
doubt if Mr. Carr's substitute would be less
open to the same charges He proposes that
the Legislature be asked to enact a law by
which one permanent commission may be ap-
pointed for the opening of all streets, the ap-
pointment to be in the hands of the Mayor and
Common Council. According to Mr.. Carrs
figures this plan would reduce the expense to
the taxpayers something like slO5,oO0
year. There is another thing it would do also
1t would create three fat Offices Of $4,000
year for the commissioners, and put into their
hands almost unlimited power to cheat the pub
lie. We do not relish this idea of running to
Albany for legislation on every subject We
have had quite too much of Albany interference
in our city affairs. The less Of it We have in
future the better. The Developments in this
connection, relating to the manner in which the
ibN lc COulOi IuSu W duu tuC IuttIt-l- vi proper
ty owners consulted, form another interesting
chapter in that astounding history which the
investigations Of the fraud committees are re-
vealing.
The present cost Of the commissions On open
ing streets appears to be $l2S,000 a year, which
all comes out of the taxpayers pockets. Some
of these commissions have been in existence for
five years, the members drawing four dollars
day all the time, and doing nothing for their
pay, Of course. We need some radical reform of
all this jobbing and corruption; but there is
only one way of arriving at it, and that is By
giving the government Of the city into the
hands Of the Mayor-abolishing al the indie
pendent departments, and sweeping out all the
independent irresponsible gentlemen who con-
vert their official positions to their own advan-
tage, regardless of the interests Of the people
who have placed them in power. Let US have
city government on the same plan as the fede
raj government, and the bottom Of all this fraud
Juggling and abominable corruption may be
reached. Without that, it never will Mean
time We refer property owners to Mr. Csrr's
communication. They will find some food for
reflection therein.