The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-04


recommended in my annual message Of last year, In
order to facilitate the Of the avenues and streets
In the upper section OF Tue Guy -
Them that Ill the streets above Forty second street ana
below 125th street should DC opened one ana me
proceeding stated that the cost or doing this would -
small and that when DONE the owners OF property could
open and work them at their own convenience, without
waiting for the action Of the city.
would again bring this subject before the attention u
the Common Council, and urge upon them It's Importance
The taxable property Of the city would nave nS aoaD
this were DONE be greatly increased, anu buildings RI
pidly spring up where all u now apparent waste.
In order TO better enable owners OF property 70 regulate
commend that the Legislature be asked for the
law permitting the fair valuation OF the expense tno
for similar improvements done 10 the same streets by the
fhe subject of the proper construction Of
wHARvEs FOR THE CITY,
not only sufficient for the present. but for the prospective
commerce Of the city Ia worthy Of your serious consdcra
ton. New York depends for her prosperity and her
should, therefore, be afforded by her autho-
rifles for its accommodation aud for its protection Our
wharves such ss would disgrace any city with the
least 10 commercial greatness Some general
system should at be devised to mako these srus-
lures more substantial and c0mmod0us.
Wharves built on iron piles have been strongly recon-
mended but whatever BIO the best material | am wen
tia character than those which surround the city.
In this respect would suggest that the opinion Of SOL
enc and practical men to the best material and plan
OF their construction be taken and acted upon promptly
AS Is well known, part OF the City Hall destroyed
and damaged by fire in the month of September Last
caused is generally supposed and which the evi
dence taken by the committee OF investigation fully
taps by the remains Of smouderng fireworks left the
root Of the building, used at the celebration in commemo
ration Of the laying Of the Atlantic cable. The Street
Commissioner was directed by the Common Council 70
plans to be Prepared for the repair
Of the part destroyed which have not been carried into
effect from the fact that no appropriation was applicable
to the work
of opinion that the building should be restored to
its former condition. without the addition Of full story
for public Offices, little available room would be gained
thereby, although large additional expense would be
required The city has ample ground 10 build upon and
in the arrangement OF its offices the convenience Of tho
public should be consulted by making them easily accos
sble
There many other subjects which require your at
tentOn hut which the limits OF this communication viii
not allow me to state as fully as desire and MS their i'm
portaDcc require. Among them may be noticed the
swindDg opeI atoms OF those engaged Ia mock auctions
ticket selling, emisrant boarding houses policy and lot
terry tickets and other nefarOus business carried
tensvey here by which the poor and ignorant robbed
TO large extent.
These matters WILL however, hereafter form the subject
of special message to your hone rab body, with view
of obtaining legislative action supply the defect Of the
present laws on these subjects.
would also call your early attention to the subject Of
establishing suitable lines and grades for the and
streets the extreme upper section of the island adapted
to the natural surface of this part of the city, and also in
relation TO closing several Of the smaller parks the
upper part of the city in view Of the laying and i'm
provement Of the Central Park
Iu conclusion, feel that is due to the generous
fdence which l have always experienced from my
fellow citizens, To explain why have not been able
order economy and vgor into the administration of the
municipal government To complete the reforms the
arSer pSaers The enecvs S ere
directly responsible TO him, and without this RESPONSE
biy unity and efficiency of action cannot DO expected
1t is not enough that the Mayor should have the
nomination Of the heads OF departments the exp
ration Of the terms o: Office Of the incumbents II
he is to be held to proper responsibility for their
action he should have aao the power Of removal In
only department Of the city governmen-the Street
Department-have bad the appointment Of it's head,
hnuv
sary and point to that department in its present cond
ton with satisfaction With the exception Of the clerks
directly by the Mayor have had no opportunity y
change the PERFORMED Of the city government and cannes
however unfit may know him TO be.
These subordinate places filled properly enough BY
the heads Of the departments, but the municipal govern
ment IS TO be efficiently administered, the Mayor MUS
have not only the power Of nominating the heads Of The
executive departments but the absolute power removal
The public would then be able hold him responsible for
the conduct of affairs.
Under the provision of the charter giving to the Fl
nance Department the control of all the fiscal concerns
Of the Corporation and of PRESCRIBING the forms AZ
Keeping and rendering all city accounts Of collecting
the taxes and all the of the Corporation Except
asScssments) and OF revising, auditing settling all
accounts in which the city is concerned debtor or
creditor.
1t has been claimed that the Comptroller can nav
any bill in his discretion, without the rcquisiton or
voucher OF the head of the department in which the
claim originates. In my opinion is proper that the
Comptroller and his subordinates Alone OF all execu-
tive city officers should hold Office by tenure indepen-
dent of the Mayor in order that there may check upon
the expenditures made under the appontees
The Finance Department should not, however, pay auy
bills until they have been approved by tho department
having charge Of the expenditures The Mayor and his
appon,ccs should not be relieved of full responsibility
but Is well To have an independent department credit
and finally settle the accounts for expenditures made by
them.
The Comptroller has properly the appointing of all the
onicers and clerks in the department. and is in way
Teponsipe 10 OF uhder the supervision OF the Mayors
but in my opinion judicous system requires that the
bureau for the collection Of pubic moneys should not be
in the Finance Department All persons paying moneys
to city officers should, however be required register
such payments in tho Finance Department, which would
thus BIO enabled to detect any Appropriation Of
public moneys by collecting officers The Finance Do
parment would then exercise the functions properly an
pertaining to il, and would be check upon all the other
departments When collections are made directly by tho
Finance Department, or bills audited by 1t without the
previous action Of other departments this saluary check
of two independent departments upon each other would
In my opinion, lead to sautary nprovem nts the COL
lection and disbursement of the funds Of the city.
The Street Department at the time of my accession to
Office appeared to be In nextcable confusion and
NAMED so until the Court of Appeals decided that the ap-
pointment made by the Mayor aud Aldermen was legal
However with great reluctance and at my urgent soca
ton Mr. Edward Cooper consented to take and hold the
Office temporarily until order could be restored the
department recognized The objects have now been ac-
complished and Mr. Cooper has retired and have had
satisfaction being able state that this important de-
parment is reduced to proper sy stem and ia now
under the direction OF an engineer well qualified by educa
ton and character TO discharge his and varied
duties.
In the City Inspectors Department Ihavc been power
nate for your approval City Inspector candidate with
single eye to his qualifications Tor the post, and /
respectfully ask that you will second my efforts to secure
clean streets and improve the sanitary condition of tho
city.
So far the police is concerned, the Mayor Is merely
en- oci0 member of commission of seven TO whom the
management OF ths department. is confdcd. He has a
vote IN the Board OF Commissioners but direct control
over the police force Even the small squad of men as
signed to discharge the varied duties Of the Mayors Office
may be recalled at any moment and thus the Chief Mags
traie possess police powers only in name.
trust therefore, that the Legislature will cothe tho
Mayor with such powers as will enable him at least TO
hold the executive officers to strict accountability and
exercise more eiiectua restraint and IMPROVE
dent measures. DANIEL, f. TIEMASN
communication received from the Street Commits
soner relative to the appropriations required for his de-
partinent for the ensuing year.
The annual statement Of the Croton Aqueduct Depart
ment was also received.
Alderman SEAGKsr moved that rules and ordinances
OF the last Board be adopted by the present Board.
Carried
W pnto tov,lx t,cxN