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


which appeared in the evening edition of the
HERALD, and which is republished this morning.
In many respects this document is an important
one, suggestive, as it is, Of improvements in our
municipal system which experience has proved
to be imperative His Honor recommends seve-
raj changes in the organization of our local
government for which we have repeatedly con-
tended-such as investing the chief magistrate
with larger powers, thereby increasing his respon
sibility, giving him more control over subordi-
nate departments, and rendering the heads of
departments responsible to some power which
can hold them in check. 1t is quite evident that
as long as the Mayor has not the appointment
and removal of those officers who are by law
and the necessary relation of their departments,
placed under his supervision, be cannot exercise
a control over them in conformity with the po-
sition he is expected to occupy and with what
| is demanded of him by the public who elected
him. This incongruity in our municipal system
we have always condemned, and have argued for
closer assimilation to our federal system, in
which power and responsibility are combined
The Mayor enters somewhat in detail
ments. He disapproves of the system
adopted by the City Inspector with regard
to cleaning the streets on his own responsibility,
without advertising for contracts, as the charter
| provides. He also condemns the mode in which
the markets are conducted by the City Inspector,
and suggests that all those public markets which
are not source Of revenue to the city should be
abolished, illustrating the point by the fact that
in other cities the markets are remunerative,
while in New York they are an expense, under
the present management. He hopes that the
West Washington Market litigation may be ami
cably adjusted between the city and the State
With reference to the Lowber judgment, under
which nearly two millions worth of public
property has been recently sold by the Sheriff
under execution, he declares it illegal, and
recommends that the Common Council shall
apply to the Legislature to add the amount of it
to the tax levy for 1859. He is of opinion that
the City Hall ought to be restored to its original
condition-as it stood before the fre-but that
the contemplated additional story shall not be
constructed. With reference to lotteries mock
auctions, bogus ticket sales, emigrant boarding
houses, and other nefarious business operations
the Mayor promises to make special commu-
nication at another time.
The management of the Street Department.
under its present chief, Captain Smith, receives
the highest commentator. So also does the Gro
ton Aqueduct Board; and in connection with this
department he takes the opportunity to state that
the new reservoir in Central Park, as it is
now Being constructed, is perfectly safe, and adj
equate to retain the immense mass ofwater which
it is designed to receive, notwithstanding the
fears whichhave been expressed as to the stabili-
ty of its outer embankment and rubble wall
The Message lays much stress upon the fact
that the powers of the Common Council in the
disbursement Of large sums of the public moneys
have been misunderstood, and refers to the ex-
penses of the Police force, the Amshouse Board.
and other commissions and public bodies.
whose expenditures have been placed beyond
their control by State laws, as well as interest on
bonds and redemption of stocks, showing that
although the Common Council are obliged, in
the discharge of their duties, to vote appropria-
tons for various purposes, they exercise no con-
troll whatever over the disbursement of such
sums-a point upon which we have always dis
eliminated in our structures upon the conduct
of the Common Council
In abiding to the Common School system the
Mayor says that the expenses of the School
Board have been increasing every year since
1850 in degree disproportonate to the in
creased wants of the community, and contends
that under less complex system than the pre-
sent the children of the city could receive as
good an education at considerable reduction
OF the expenses. He suggests that the numerous
local boards in each ward should be abolished,
and the whole control and government of the |
schools should be placed in the hands of single
board of intelligent, educated men; and from |
the experience we have had in the organization |
of these local boards, the character of the men |
who compose them, and the mode by which they |
are elected, there is no doubt that Mr.. Temann |
is right.
The Mayor intimates that be has approved of |
the purchase of the land extending from 1O6th
street to 10th street, and the addition of the
same to the Central Park; but we regret to see
that he has vetoed the resolution of the Common
Council to widen Seventh avenue northward
from 10th street, on the ground that it would
make the Park theroughGre for vehicles from
Westchester county and the northern part of the
island, instead of the ordinary streets and ave-
nues. This, it seems TO us, is weak argument |
against the proposition, because a simple regu-
laton Of the Central Park Commissioners conId
obviate the difficulty by prohibiting any vehicles
except private carriages and wagons from enter
ing the Park grounds, and thus prevent the
transit Of carts, public convcyanccs or market
wagons-a rule which the managers Of the Park
would undoubtedly adopt
Mr.. Tiemann avails himself Of the opportunity
in this Message, as in his former one, to con-