New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-15
HOME AFRAI8S.

tive manipulation, bears on every page the ear
marks OF "The Ring" whose past and pros
pectve jobs are snugly hidden to the uninltlated
under the general terms of the several appropri-
ations. The assembling Of the Charter Convex
ton has caused some uneaSness among the con-
sprators; but they confidently reckon that the
Commission will talk itself to death before agree
ing upon anything which will interfere with the
well fortified plans of robbery organized years
ago by the "Forty Thieves" and extended ana
improved by their successors.
Let us look moment of the Tax Levy for
1861. aud indicate few of the more prominent
points which excite something more than sus-
picion of the purity Of the men who have charge
of spending the money. The most unquailhed
swindle now grinding out the life OF the tax
payer 10 the City Inspectors Department and
its accessories. The Hackley contract ia pretty
well nderstood-though, from certain powerful
influences, it has thus far defed law aud justice,
and probably will do go to the end OF It's term.
This contract took nearly all the legitimate work
of the City Inspectors Department ipto private
hands, and should have been followed by the
tors and clerks, whose salaries should have been
saved to the city. But the reverse is the case.
There ore more subordinates now in that depart
ment than ever before, and the salaries are four
times as much in the aggregate as they were
FIVE years ago. Mr.. Delavan has . first clerk
and second clerk, q messenger and an assist-
ant messenger for bis own private room.
There is Registrar Of Records and three clerks;
a Superintendent of Sanitary Inspection (street-
cleaniDg), with Eve clerks; ~ street inspectors
at So per day; % health wardens ut the same
price, Sundays included; q superintendent Of
scayenger docks, eight meat inspectors, four
keepers Of Corporation yards, Ia market clerks,
% assistant health wardsns; in oil l03 persons.
ut OH aggregate cost for salaries of $ll2 1863 per
year. Beside this, S25,0 900 is taken for contin-
gencies, $4,000 for cleaning markets, S39.250
for tho Board of Health, which, added to Hack
leys $279, 900, makes nearly half million OF
dollars for this ono department. The street in.
spectors and health and assistant health wardens
are 80 many useless leeches on the Treasuryi
there are twice as many clerks as the labor re-
quires, aud the contingencies ought to be loss
than 81 900 year. Not less than $500, 900
year is absolutely worse than thrown away in this
branch of public service alone, and it is high time
that the drain was stopped. We want the money
10 feed and clothe the families Of volunteers, and
squanderng it upon the partisan loafers who now
get it is an outrage demanding instant reform.
Another source of corruption and robbery ex-
lists in the e1travagant appropriations for
Contingencies. If by this term the Heads OF
Departments mean brides TO the Common
Council, election expenses, sops 10 shoulder
hitters, and free dinners to personal friends, it
may be well enough but Of course they mean
nothing of the kind. What kind of bookkeeping
and general business management is that which
leaves q man in doubt as to little items of ex.
penditure in a single years estimates to the
amount Of $l5,0001 Even the Finance Depart
ment where one would naturally look for exact
computations, comes in for Sl2, $780, the uses of
which they are unable or unwilling to state.
Mayor Wood wants $I2, 900; the Street Depart
mept, $4,000; the CrOtOn Board, where we
have faith in the existence Of a tOlerable degree
of honesty, wants only $4,000; while the City
Inspector takes $25, 600, and the Counsel to the
Corporation, $4,000. The Aldermen, too, must
have direct finger in this dish, and so they
take $4,000 for city contingencies; the Super
visOrs take $4,000, and the Police Board
$25, 900, making total of about $685.
trusted TO few men under the very loose re-
strictiOn Of " cOntingences.'
The Fire Department. not long ago satisfied
with $4,000 or $4,000, bow makes away with
100000; while in the general summary of Saa-
ries We have the following imposing exhibition