The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-04


These annual expenditures though large are vel small
when compared with the results and the number Of chill
dren taught Besides in them included the cost Of
the purchase Of sites the erection Of spacious
schoohouses amounting in 1858 10 $500 600 for that
year Estimating the population Of this city at 100000
school purposes less than 81 50 Der annum or for
family Of six persons tax Of seventeen cents per week
or, estimating the average number Of children taught at
100000, and the average expenditure ct 81 200 00 the
annual expense Of teaching each pupil Is but SI9.
These gratifying facts, however, do not dssipate the
grave e1f0 any ~ 70 dseusss 50
amenabity to the Corporation The Board Of Education,
like the Aims House and Police, draws money from the
Treasury in gross without rendering in return vouchers
or detailed account Of its expenditure. transacts its
own business In its own way without being liable to any
other authority, there be abuses under such sys
tenn the people have been fortunate In elecng it's
educational officers than they generally In the choice
Of other public servants.
@ sSsaa srs very aS and BE-
In the city, Of the construction repair and cleaning Of the
Sewers OF paving repavng and repairing streets of dig
arising from the sale Of Croton water These duties COM
prehend great public interests and affect tho health and
comfort OF TO an ncacuab extent and yet the
mayor clothed with no power TO supervise, much less
The Croton Board constituted by Q President, Com
missioner and an Engineer, compose managing triuu-
tive Though those officers in the first Instance derive
their authority by appointment from the Mayor and Board
without any provision for removal however great the
necessity they are totally independent of the creative
power The large sums expended by this Board and the
sutordnates appointed by II matters which the
Mayor has no control. 1t Is conducted comparatively
upon the same close corporation principles the Aims
Many Of its present duties having been conferred upon
by the charter Of 1857, it is impossible to give fair
OF the amount Of the appropriations for dur
ing the past ten years. il possible to say with what
economy II Is now being administered
HB STREET DEPARTMENT.
This is probably the most important department OF the
Corporation being entrusted with wider eld Of opera
ton than any other has cognzance Of opening alter
ing regulating, grading, tagging, curbng, gutering and
repairing and lighting wharves and PIERS and fi
ing up and cleaning out slips and basins; the
and Improvement Of public lands and places the
filling up Of sunken lots the construction repairing
lighting and care Of the buildings, Offices rooms and
buildings and Offices and Of the Corporation; the
court rooms for which supplies furnished By the Cor
houses Of the Fire Department. and the public markets
with fuel stationery, printing, and all other things
sary therefore the construction altering and repairing Of
IRE engines and all other machines and apparatus for
the use Of the Fire Department; the removing incuu
brances from streets roads, places wharves piers and
slips the doing and furnishing Of all other necessary
WORK. repairs and supplies not provided for n other de-
psrtments; and the collecting Of all assessments
These duties are performed by bureaus Of which there
are eight The Street Commissioner the head Of the de-
partmen Like the officers Of the Croton Board he derives
his appointment IN the FIRST instance from the Mayor and
removed for cause which removal requires the sanction
Of majority Of al the members elected 70 the Board OF
Aldermen The superntendents of the several bureaus
however, can b appointed and removed by the Street
Commissioner 1t pleasure, without accountability 10 the
Mayor, Aldermen Common Council Il il thus seen
how Little absolute control the Mayor has this branch
Of the public service. Without the power In his own
right 70 appoint or remove any person connected with it,
Of course he cannot command its administration and
should NOT be held responsible.
CITY DrrDCIoR's DEPARTMENT.
This department. has coguisance Of all matters affecting
the public health cleaning the public streets; the super
intending, inspecting and management Of the public
and Of the location and control Of the public pounds II
bas four bureaus The CITY Inspector and
Of the bureaus under him are appointed and removed in
been stated with reference that department applies
to this The Mayor, being without power, should
MOI DC ned ~, q me pGoc :. humans
lay the responsibility At his door Until be has the power
10 appoint and remove the subordinates upon whom
.nv ThcS TO the nee
well for the public and myself 70 have an understanding
upon this subject at the commencement Of my admnisra
The Board OF Supervisors under the construction which
the gentlemen who compose that body place upon their
bnip both executive and'egsave powers 70 an extra
ordiu wy degree Ths an original feature N municipal
COVER, ,nent heretofore entirely unknown Inc ussncs-
CURED pr New York, viz: ono fos The county and one
icr he tty Under TIN pretext new ocai organise,
:s.y .s s'sy r
enormous addona burden, ssudes creating inexpicable
ooninssoo N ths public accounts, and large additions 70
ss.pp S0 y asds sessrass dspsrtnsnt Of hs ocs
for ths Hoen ID md In few years IN entire building
Ws1 10 deubt Be required for ~ exclusive U.S..
bv 1cssds a. q Nnmissieos ne ssndsacy 70 absorption
~ rc~.r srr be exclusivcness with which b exer
essd The psr an b.anoss y the equal