The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-08

Mcrtgomerie and additicnal powers, spscinolny -
former grant. In the rsa article q the new inssrs-
ns u dreamed that the city Of "New York DO and
from henceforh forever he estter shall DO and remain
free city OF itself" BY this designation Of free city
Of itself " believe that tbs man,opal independents a
the city was guaranteed and that the grant thus made
bindg in equity good faith whatever government
has sIcceeced 70 the sovereign power OF the Eugish
tn cne, or shall to the latest period. This charter
famed provision for amendment and enlargement In
Of defect but III abridgement or aanulment
rtcoen; ia the quaint legal phi aseOOgy OF that perOd
Il declared that in ali and everything thereia
consined f' me 70 time, and at all times hereafter be
and shall be firm valid, good, sufficient and eiectaal In
law" Its provisions 10 be expoundd beDgply and
in favor of the Corporation and In doubtful matters for
thor benefit.
So ampe q grant Of political and corporate powers
might naturally have awakened jealousy the part Of
the rest Of the province but IN the year 1T32 the Colo
NAL Legislature gave M ratification 10 this charter Of
Gov. MontgomeTe. thus constituted, claim for this
city the cetinctios Of municipal corporaton, ssf ex
istng and sustained BY its inherent and proper vi
COR The people Of the STATE in the constitutions OF I7T3
1922 and 1b46 have recognized tho validity OF these
Gent charters and th. general provision their
annunent ID Incorporated In three Of these deliberate
expressions OF the sovereign Will The very acts OF the
Legislature which infringe these charters expressly
them from repeal 1t must however, be conceded
that the cation Of any Board OF Commissioners in
dependent Of the corporate authorities OF the city
ia annulment Of the charters " the extent Of the
public functions and privileges conferred on the new
body thus mpr perly iegislated into political exist
eDce Take these charters and read them with tho pro-
tectrg CiaI OF the Constitution OF the state ami there
can DO no doubt that they exist In legal force, unim
paired and undiminshed Through them the city Pos
sesses perfect right TO establish and carry com
pete municipal government without let hindranCs
What the effect Of legislative interference has been IN
seen in the vast increase OF expenditure the multipCa
tion Of ofcss the strange complication OF the admins
tration OF public affairs and consequent inefciency Is
there remecys Time and the Of events may,
aided by the Justice of cause bring IT sooner than
could have been anticipated We should not omit to ap
peal to The people of the State for redress for mani
foo grievances, presumng that their representatives
have erred not altogether wilfuly in these violations Of
our chartered rights.
II is not alone the naenable right OF self government
that has been thus wrested from but taxes have
Leen largely increased while the protection TO life and
qrod TO pay the less retarn is received the way NJ
COCO government brief reference to the simple ques
tion taxation and its will justify this assertion.
The present lax system Of municipal control all trace
able b. the action Of the Legislature too well known
pregnant fact But the additional burdens imposed
arc not realized by all classes, propose briefly " refer
70 them in detail.
The aggressive action OF the State upon the NUM-
cpa rights Of the Corporation the seizure OF the
ton duties which formerly devoted D. the supp t
the city poor by which the State has taken from us
the sum OF SO 848 ,024 up TO LIST January 1850.
The next step in the direction taking from
the Corporation the control Of the Anshouse Depart
ment and giving II to Beard of Ten Governors, who
were first appointed by the Legislature term OF
years and arranged that neither the people the
Corporation have any jurisdiction its proceedings
expenditures This body, now called by another name
but possessing all the odous features the Tn Cover
nors, expends nearly one million alnusy without &C
coIntabiiity.
mother aggressive measure was the seizure Of the
Police Depa, lment divesting the city OF any control
Of this important branch Of its government. The
only connection the Corporation has with tho matter
is the one accorded by the highwaym 70 his VICTIM
"to stand ami deliver''-that is to pay over such
The expenses Of this department last year
81 500 co., against $500 600 when tho police
the Mayor and municipal control The current year it
viii be 81 500 600 and the additional 400 meu 10
manded by the Commissioners shall b. allowed tho
enormous sum OF two millions will be required this
account alone making twelve hundred thousand
since the state has taken the police Its charge
Another and that touches the records
Of oy is the appointment by the State of commits
son equally irresponsible 10 the people the Corpora
toa. They are known the Commissioner Of Records
and have power To make contracts that bind the city
They have already used this power TO the
extent Of about 5000 900.
TIE soners OF the Central Park another body
appointed BY The State. They also entirely beyond
the control Vi the Corporation and with whom the city
government has no other communication than TO raise
The Harbov Commissioners were another DO " Of indie
pendent which the State from its parts
10 prescribe the limits OF wharves and how far tho
Corporation shOuld be allowed to extend Thorn.
The rot Con mssioners also created by the Legisla-
ture have ample that, exercised would
and whaves Ry their action The city Of New YORK in
its corporate capacity could be entirely of from
harbor The Commissioners have the power to condemn
any System Of wharfage we might adopt and thus
pei reconstruction OF all PIERS and in such mode
they should prescribe.
The taxes required by the State very unfairly ap
rortoned upon this city through the agency OF q
sson Hho the property of the other counties
Of tho state at very low amount and put very high
valuation here. Dy this city compelled TO
contribute this year 81 ,l08 636 ~ tho State.
Tho contributions OF this CITY T. tho State this nc
count have been follows
1s6s.........$47l,6 SIS ls5s.......... 81 410, T0s
lSb6........... 1874 943 1859 ........... 1873 GOT
1887 ......:.;. s9st45 1850 ..:....... 2,loS, e,s
The city not only bears Its own school expenses but,
in addition large paid to the State to b. used
in other counties 2he to be raised this year for
this purpose will be 81 ,792 697
The Corporation entirely Invested Of all power
tn schools Of the city, although compelled ny
tax to raise whatever the Board Of Education may de-
mand These sums have been as follows for the years
icafcd:-
1873 1856 900 1858. ........ 81 ,226 O13
Ist0 .......l ,O23 1854 1862 ............ 12s6 900
1901 ............ 4 100 40 1880. ...... 1278,781
Nor should the organization OF tbs county divided
,m the city government thus creating separate local
legislatures, and vastly increasing the number Of officers
and the amount OF be forgotten In the list Of
grievances. Either the or the other OF thess rival
sets Of magistrates should be abolished. Tho burden Of
thus double governmcnt-the jealousy and the
tbGs engcnderedarc sufficient TO sock deliver