New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-26
LOCAL POLITICS..
FIFTEENTH WARD opDYKE CLUB.
SPEECH OF JAMES A. BRIGGS.

TER briggs President A number OF Nlce-Pres-
dents, a Secretary, an Executive Committee, ana a
Treasurer were appointed. Addresses were mace
lby j. w. GREEN S. w. RoosEyELT, Mr.. MORGAN,
and n Mr.. THOMPSON who raid he had "always
been Democrat; that he was in the employ OF one
of the large clothing housee in the city, and after
pretty thorough canvass Of tie men, out OF some 100,
he had not found one who would no. vote for Dir.
opdyke."
! Mr.. ROOSEVELT, who had always been Demo
crat said "he desired change in the city govern
ment as he wished 20 feel that when he went abroad
be could say az St. Paul did, that he was from no
mean city; but now, when he went to Boston or
Philadelphia he felt that, if judged by the city gov
eminent he was from the meanes' city IN the world
Mr.. JAMES A. BmGGs, being called for, said:
FrtIow.CIr1zrSs: We have an important du'y
70 perform at the Charter Election on Tuesday OF
next week-the endeavOT 10 reform our Munlcipal
ailairs City matters demand the attention on every
man who is interested in the prosperity 81 TINS gre'
| " Commercial Emporium OF the New World, Whlch,
in few wears, must become the great Commercial
Metropolis Of the world. Here trade, commerce,
gold manufactures are 10 CENTER and tms cly y 70
be- 10 day not far distant, the heat OF all the busl-
ness operations Of the globe, and us municira char
acer is of the highett Importance. La earlier Gays
New York was proud Of ts city oihcials: lhey Were
mer Of high personal character, and honored ana
esteemed in all the walks of life. To be Mayor OF
New-York was an object worthy Of the iighest am
bitior; thus De Witt Clinton was as much hopored
as Chief Magistrate OF his city US ne was a. the
Chief Magistrate Of this state. Let US, in oar eiofts
10 reform the City Government, Of the next Charter
election Use ell honorable meats e elfet sgch men
10 Office az, vii r9soe fon3ething q tse taaI.
hs e4 end nq setI 1 Years y % We Ps n ea
reduce tue taxes in the cir,. They hsye in
creased tenfold faster than 30 ratio oil POPULATION
In 1850, the taxes in .nis city g. 200 9sJ, aud
in 1861 they are the cnounorg amount Of 5l 621 ,0n.
We hear very 1neh SAID about lax.tayers'
DopinBtions, while The fact is, every man. woIab,
and child in the city is Taxpayer: Taxes ale paid
by labor. The taxes Of the Capitalist are paid by
labor. A. b. owne block OF houses; in 1889, he
rented them for 8 ,OSJ Zach. They valued at
$4,000 each, apo tie ,axes were So each. Now
the taxes ON tho same houses $500 each, and
the rent is 81, 2Go iEstess Of $1,000. Does the
owner pay the increased taxes No; the pariics
who rent bis bouses bavs TO pay the increase taxes
and he continues to gel bis per cent his invest
nent. Not only does the man VINO rents house
have TO ray taxes to the capitalist, bat the mar who
boards has to help foot the oDerous texbllls just
"a taxes go up, fhe price OF board goes Npi and
where, r., 1850 you paid $40 or 80 per week, now
yor mus. nav s,3 or S25 But, fellow citizens. Inc
burden OF taxation falls most bexyly upon the real
. laborisg popp'aiOn OF this city. hs grieyous
burdens are weighing them down 10 the earth.
L, is filling sae hundreds Of Z" funeral vaults above
a man en- live with bis family az q man
with family ought 10 Eye-with human
Dives, where human beings are merely stabbed
III where they do not live with any retrement-wth
any safety. with any comfort. Take Off five millions
of cessary taxation from thi. city, and you take
, oil at seast four millions Of taxes from the and
wOmer who their daily bread by their daily
o labor There are they who need form themselves
into TAXPAYER Aesol ietIOns, ana cry out from
ever street, and lane, and alley and from ricse,y
{ gaTVts, and dark baeC1sen's, and "oeiars Where
waierr rats SWIM" against heavy taxes lolr
cap taist pay bis taxes without trouble but the
man who has but litre property, or whose daily
wages almost all go to pay hi. rent, these they
who should cry outmorning, noon, aud night-lor
a thorough reform and Tor retrenchDon nj IN City
Government. We are told, when anything is SAID
o. taxes that the city pays more than is proportion
Of State sehooltaxes. For every dollar Of school
taxes paid by this city into the eommouscboOl fund
Of the State, it receives equivalent. The I'M
provcments made by the State in the canals and
railroads, have added millions TO the vaue OF reai
/, and pei sonal property OF Newiork; and not only
tins but these lines of transportation, reaching out
. 10 The rich and productive helds OF the West,
have reduced the prices OF freight upon corn
ana wheat and pork and beet, and butter end
cheese and other articles Of consumption, tpa the
expenses OF living at least one-haf leS tim
they would be but for Our railroads and canals.
Many Of the counties in this State far away FROM
the canals, have received direct benefit from the
canals and have paid canal taxes from year TO year.
while this county aud city nay count The benefits
by tens Of millions Of dollars; aud well may this
city afford TO pay liberal generous Stote school taxes
for the support OF the peoples colleges" aud for
the benefit OF the children OF the rich ard POOR sks
in every school district Of tho State Our tax laws
need amendment All property, real and personal,
should I've taxed, and 10 deduction should be made
OF prOpoTty f0r debts. Debts should be deducted
only from money or credits; and all moneys and
credits over and above debts should be taxed. All
household furniture plate, diamonds, watches, Jew
elr, pianos should be taxed In this city only some
1000 persons pay taxes On personal property. Thou
sands Of parties who have abundance OF riches -
pay TO taxes. This should not be 30. All
WHO are protected by our laws, watched
over by our excellent police, or who do business
in the city, should be taxed on their property.
Let us to the work of city Reform. In our canGi-
date for Mayor we have man well worthy Of the
high and responsible position. Nr. George Opdyae
is W. i known 10 the citizens OF New-Yo;k as oGe Of
its ioost eminent merchants. Mr.. Opdyke il the
clteci OF bis own fortune. When q young man
starting in life OH bis own hook, he commenced busi- (
ness in Cleveland, Ohio, by taking job on the Ohio
Canal, in making the canal basin in that city. His
partner in tbis canal enterprise, young man, war
taken ,ck, aud Sir Dpdyke was left not only 10 su
peintend the digginGs and embankments, but Ia 4
tend store" This was his laudable beginning Just
as he was vergng into manhood. From that day 10
this Mr.. Opdyke has "padded his own canoe aud
by his enterprise, Industry, economy and energy he
hn9 arisen to the proud distinction OF one OF the first
merchants III this g~at city, whose merchants now
- ia The past, are among the "honOrable 81 the 7
earth" Mr. 0pdyke has not only been thorough 7
and egcoesfl business mnn, but be has been and rs
a hboricys student. He is a man Of mind, If
thought OF large Intellectual acquremeni, aud bas
,slcD, and capacity equal to any public employ
nent. In nc Chamber Of Commerce" IN this
city, composed of men Of large experience %
men Of more TFactica ability, OF more vigorous
mon eenee Of more financial knowledge, and vailed
INTEL eence upop al questions Of tiaGe, oId com. !
Eerce, and manufactures, than any other class Of
men in our country Nr. Opdyke holds an honoTed