New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-15

"a to fee may he esen examination OF the
emoun's collected all asses' me ut liss, 40 the
small pfopcrt If a~tsmeuts returOed to the Buresu
OF Aears ano III the fact thai the accounts Of the a,e
Collector Of Asses nens. VITO resigte ed bis Office
the lltl ul'. were settled the Slh inst by requis
ton upon the Controller for the amount of all his
calus against q e CITY.
TIE amount collcc'ed last year, from April - 20
December 81, wss $Zi2 CPS 26, assessment. add in
tele,t. Tie average fee Of Collector and Deputies
were siSl 81 each per month Tni: year, to June 80
he amount collected i $j'7 jS % aud
interest TIE average fees Of Ciec,Or AID DE Jute-
wee s6lG II each per month; the largest amount 81
ftes for any mouth was !or May last, va $3.50
each.
twill be remembered tia, from these fees the Off
ctrs Of tie Bureau ObGge to pay al EXPENSES for
carriage hre 10 serving not ce- salaries o. book
keeper a-ss ait ard esenger and 10 add ION there
20 each Of the Deputies employs assistant 20 AID
prepert notices and receipts and keep his in ivdua
cash books and condenseis ppeted-tn-kng total OF
ten perODs constantly employed. Their expenses are
Increased by the addtnIa ,rk bot not fully 10 pr,-
portion. Still, should their fees continue to increase
ey have done 1t will be for your honorable bodies
TO decide what change, if any, mag be necessary.
The assessment for CebtrsI PAX opening aud Bow
cry ex'enron, OWING TO their magnitude, have not yet
been IttuiLed to tie Bureau Of Arrears. ain dsap-
pointed that this 80, and IL IL not entirely snt-fsc
tory to me; but much Of the old work that Was found
il tbs Bureau unfuished has been closed aod trust
tina, very soon all viii be. Every assessment con.
timed since AprI 49, 1853, has been pro npty deliv
cred to the Clerk Of Arrears the expiration of the
year allotted for cole ctioD.
The investigation ,f certain questions which arose
during The last Winter rendered necessary al examua-
ton Of the various il which Judgments had been
Ob aimed again the city upon suit connected with the
bus,uess OF tins Department. \ brief synopsis, com
piled from the records Of the Courts, and statement OF
facts based upon the records of this Office, has been
prepared, ard If herewith submitted to your honorable
bodies for the that IL contains information OF an
important character, affecting the appropriations ana
busiLess of this Department.
In rep tie " state OF the Department IN
this particular nave purposey RETAINED from making
any " suggestions in relation to the improvement
thereof"
Wne great improvements have undoubtedly been
made in The Of keeping toe accounts aud con-
quoting the public business lntrusted to the Street
Couus iou.T the affair Of this department are not
in an entirely satisfactory condition. aud never can be
under EXISTING laws aud the Present manner of making
appropriations II IL Necessary for The head Of THIS
Depar,men to know in advance Whist work Is required
to be- done and what amount Of money is apPropfIa ed
for the purpose II Is reasonable too tnat the amount
appropriated should be expended entirely under the
oiiectloh Of the Department having charge OF the
work. Neither Of these three essential conditions Is
complied with. Wore than all, for three or foor
months al the beginning Of every year, expenditures
ore incurred for This Guy Government IN advance OF
the passage Of the Tax Levy by the Legislature, in
direct violation Of the PLAIN mandatory requirements
of The Chatter.
shall not authorize expenditures under cosnizsnce
of this Department, after appropriations applicable to
t.. purpose have been exhausted unn alter further
appropriations have been made. Under existing CIR
cuutances, il is Necessary TO consider present appoo-
rriaors az being all that be made available before
tie st of April 1860; ana though they are N many
cases iDaGequa'e for the present. year. make them last
Until April by commencing now to deny every applca-
ton for expenditure that can pots Jy be dispensed
With. IL this as 10 other matters, respectfully ask
tie cid of the Common Council. hope that you vii,
at least, give IL hearing before passing Resolutions
ordering any moie new work rot Included In tine tax
levy.
would respectfully recommend that the Co nmon
Council pass reeUut on directing that an Inventory
he tai 10y the ocero in charge OF the urn-
iure law books AMI other personal property belonging
e. the city III tie courts, p lice stalDn-houses, engiue
houses all other public offices of tue corp ration,
AID certified copy of SAID inventory oe trans
nit ed by the officers making them to the Street Com
missioner, whose Office hey shall be flied aud copied
INTO book to be kept for that purpose.
There many Intelligent aud competent officers
in the department, and to them great credit
is due for the improved condition OF ths varied anu
extensive business but in order to place 1t III an en-
tuely satisfactory condition, 1t Is not only necessary
that appropriations DO nia1e as suggested above but
II Necessary to confer more executive authority upon
the al of the Department. Very respectfully.
q. W. SMITH
StrretC Commissioner.