The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-28


Cable celebration -. 5000 Fire and pelCe tele-
Mount MOTIFS square: le,ooo graph........... 2l00
Hose and hook and -
ladder companies. So, 600 Total. $53 900
Founding Hospital. $4,000
Tompkins square,. 5000
Total. s356,OOO
Making an additional increase in the levy of
$3O3,O00 Again, on the 10th, the following
amendments were made -
TOmpklns square. - 200
Printing for departments 10 900
Cleaning and lighting City Hall .e5 600
Gas for engine houses 5000
Being further increase of $1435OO.
And, finally, at the last meeting of the Alder
men, on Thursday, the tax levy was again
brought up and amended, as follows
Iowber claim. ;. ;. ..s2s5 900 Counsel fees Jos.
Inspectors Of Ma Walker case.... 81, 500
County contins'ces 1000 Reduction in print. '''''
Increase TO clerks ing............. 10000
Total. ........ .s24s,1oO
Here is an additional increase of $l96, 600
making in all an aggregate increase over the
Comptroller's estimates of sl,23s,2sO 81, and
over the tax levy of last year an increase of
$45, 754 10. Were we not right when we said
that the new Common Council would swell the
tax levy by million or so before they were
done with it? The Aldermen are now engaged
in an attempt to take up the Russ pavement in
Broadway-which cost nearly million to lay
down few years ago-and cut it up into Bel
gian pavement This job will cost the city half
million more, if carried out as it probably will
be for at their last session only one vote was
wanting to pass the resolution, and that, no
doubt, can be procured by one of the many ways
known to the Board for accomplishing such
things.
But this is not the end of it. From the Board
of Aldermen, which has now disposed of the tax
levy, it goes back to the new Board of Council
men, and was to have made a part of their pro-
ceedings on Monday evening. The Board, how
ever, on that occasion, as on many others, dissi-
pated the term of session in the discussion of
comparatively trifing affairs, such as the rent-
ting of the Comptroller's Office with new desks,
and so forth, upon which subject several members
evinced an unusual sensitiveness lest the public
money should be spent without due regard to
economy, while they overlooked entirely the
tax levy for the present year, upon the adop-
ton of which the whole machinery of the
municipal government hinges. Until that ques-
ton is finally settled by the Common Council
the affairs Of the city must remain, as they now
are, at dead lock; yet for some reason or other,
both Boards of the Common Council seem to have
resolved that no definite action shall be taken
upon it. The opinion prevails that the tax levy
has been so amended by the Board of Aldermen
that there is no probability of its receiving the
concurrence Of the Board of Councilmen, in
which event the operations of the Street Depart
ment and indeed all the functions of the city 90
vernment, must be paralyzed.
In this condition of things the only relief we
can hope for is in the change by the Legislature
Of the beginning Of the fiscal year from January
to July, 30 as to enable the appropriations to be
made in advance. At present there is no money
at the disposal Of the heads of some of the most
important departments, and they are necessarily
compelled to suspend operations until the Com
mon Council pleases to make appropriations. We
trust, therefore, that our Albany legislators will
see the wisdom of attending to this at an early
day, and thus prevent the recurrence of such q
disgraccfu state Of affairs as this CITY now pre-
sents.