New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-04
m.yon WOODS MESSAGE.

usefully, bene6cently, gil the Office Of Mayor Of
our Cityf His talent, energy, address, are I'M
doubted vet be has failed, and will again fail, to
aatsfy the reasonable expectations OF his fellow
citizens. Whoever reads his new Message OF
Monday must feel that he not only must fail, but
expects to fail, and begins by devising and placing
on record excuses for such failure.
The sum aud substance of his datribe is just
this: The Mayor of New-YOrk is not an autocrat.
Therefore he is but a clerk, and can accomplish
nothing in the way of reducing the public burdens,
increasing the efficiency of our Municipal govern
ment, or warning upon corruption and peculation.
We cannot deem these legitimate deductions from
his premises.
For instance Three years ago, Mr.. Wood was
Mayor, with practically autocratc sway over the
Police of our City Was his Police more efficient
than that we now have Was the public tran
guilty better guarded, robbery and outrage more
thoroughly reprcssed, law more universally obeyed,
and rowdyism and riot more stemly repressed, 10
1856 than in 1889? We all know they were not.
The statistics are accessibe the facts are undeni-
able Now, if a diffusion of power has worked well
We have no doubt that, if Mr.. Wood possessed
the autocratic power he cOyets-if be were author
lied to dismiss the Controller, Police and Street
Commissioners, City Inspector, Alms-House and
Croton Water Boards, Central Park Commission
ers, &c, &c, and replace them by men OF bis own
choice he would nfuse unity and certain energy
into the Executive operations of our City Govern
t. do rfn Mt M
proyement might result: but would the change on
the whole, be beneficial Would it be acceptable
to majority of our intelligent considerate cti-
zens7 We think not; and it strikes us that Mr..
Wood, by virtually demanding that all power shall
be confded to his hands, has thrown away bis
chance of obtaining certain notifications OF the
existing distribution of REORGANIZATION proper
in Themselves and which wiser course, more
concatory policy, on his part, might have secured
His sweeping denuncatOn OF the Board Oh ou-
pervisors is one of his most unwise freaks. That
Board is so constituted that neither party has, or
well can have, majority of its members. IL Is
composed in good part of able and worthy citizens,
above the suspicion of perverting their trusts to
priyate or unworthy ends. That Board has already
saved many thousands to our taxpayers, and VIII
vet save many more Mr.. Wood bites file in as
sailipgit. TIE Board of Alms-House Governors,
and our Alins-HOuse system generally, seem to us
fairly obnoxious to Mr.. Woods censures. That
Board has been some ten years in existence, and
has manifestly failed to satisfy the expectations OF
its creators We are inclined to favor it's abolition;
but not TO constitute Fernando Wood its general
heir.
But we rccur to our original problem: What
is the reason that Fernando Wood, with his ac-
knowledged ability and energy, cannot satisfy the
inst expectations of our citizens as Mayor. We
answer
Government. primarily considered, is an assoca-
ton of the industrious, frugal thrifty, upright and
lust to protect themselves against perpetual spOa-
ton by the idle prOdgal, reckless and rascay. 1t
is mutual insurance by those who earn and
have, against those who would plumber and enjoy
without earning. Now, Mr.. Wood labOrs under
a fatal load of obligation to the desperate and
dangerous classes-to the keepers of law-defying
GROCERIES, gaming.houses and dens of infamy,
to law.breaking vendors of lottery-tickets and
policies. emigrant ticket-swindlers, &C., &c.
To these he is indebted for his election, and he does
NOT feel able, if inclined, to break with them.
Hence he does not venture to recommend to the
Councils measures Of real and practical reform, but
deals instead in vague defamation against the dis
persion of Municipal Executive power. He asks
the public to take notice that he does not appoint
the Street Commissioner, consequently cannot be
held responsible for the acts of the incumbent, Mr.
Geo. W. Smith This is but just; the public will
bear it u mind; and will further remember that
he once had an opportunity 10 appoint Street
Commissioner and that the man of his choice was
Mr.. Charles Deylin. And so Of other points made
or attempted in his Message.
Mr.. Wood tells the public that he can do nothing,
and the Councils can do very little, to mitigate the
heavy burdens now pressing upon our taxpayers.
We say they can do great deal; and if they would
only take hold and do what they can, we would
favor an increase Of their power. Let them begin
and cut down the inordinatc salaries now paid to
| the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department and
scores more of Improbable tax-ea.ers, shut up
| the dens of the meek auctOneers and emf
grant tickct.swindlers, enact ordinances calcu-
lated to break up gamblinghOuses brothels,
and law-deGinc srogshops, and prove themselves
on the side of morality, industry and thrift,
against fraud debauchery and wrong, and they
could easily obtain from our new Legislature any
reasonable enlargement Of their powers. But, until
they cyincc y disposition to use energeticaly and
bcnefceuty the power they already have, they will
doubtless clsmor in vain for its increase; and, in
any case INCH a nractical autncracY a. Mr.. Wnnd