New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-10

nero barber for political dO-nothiDg', and it
organization is corrupt from tep to bottom.
The Croton Aquedcet Department receive
1888, s55-of which $4,000 is for repairs an(
improvements, an increase of ,'ue half; Deigial
pavement, 100000, decrease, $iH,Ooo; ION
tiugencies $4,000, increase, $4,000; Salaries
SIS, 1886, increase, $685.; Sewers repairing
and cleaning, $4,000, decrease, $2O,,VO;
Streets, repairing and repairs, $4,000 de-
crease, SAC, goo; Water Pipes and laying $780,
OOO, decrease, $ls, 600. Commissioners of Char
tiles and Corrections, $6z9 rs, decrease, $751;
coo. Law Department, SOS, lO5, of which con-
tingencies take $l5 600, or nearly $4,000 less
than last year; Salaries, $53, 100, increase,
$26,359. The City Inspector wants $468, 500,
showing an increase of $3.50 on the abatement
of nuisances, $6,201 on contingencies, S1,722
for cleaning markets. decrease of $40, 900 on
cleaning streets, an increase of $4,000 on the
removal Of night soil and olfal, and Sal 900 in
salaries. The Metropolitan Police get $4,000
for station.houses; Board of Education, ST.
35S, 435, increase, $60,654; Board of Health,
$40. 900: Commissioners of Health, $5,34s;
Fire Department salaries and telegraph, S42,-
O0O-decrease on salaries, $1,000; Unsafe
Building officers, $l3, 400; Board OF Assessors,
81 900; Commissioners of Central Park, $ll8,-
s4l; City Courts, $ll5,233, increase, $4,000.
The above comparison, which does not ap.
pear in the Controllers communication, shows
that on salaries alone the most alarming ex-
travagance prevails. The increase upon last
year is over $4,000, the Finance Depart
ment being the only one which shows
decrease in this item. What we need now, |
and must have, is rigid and prudent
economy. That such curtailment is absolutely
necessary everybody must admit. While the
energies and resources of our citizens are taxed
TO the utmost to supply the Government with
tho means of carrying on the war, our local
expenditures for war purposes and the relief
of the families Of volunteers, which are not in
cluded in the Controllers estimate, amount
already to nearly one million and half, to
which another half million will be added in
few days, with how much more in the future,
circumstances alone can determine. Add to
the above the county expenditures, and the
total taxes for 1862 will foot up to not less than
fourteen millions of dollars, while the property
upon which this enormous tax is to be levied
has greatly deprecated. AT this rate 1t ID
manifest that radical change in our local ex-
penditures must soon be effected, or the city
would become bankrupt. With these facts
staring the Common Council in the face, it is
their imperative duty to strain every nerve to
cut down expenses. Let them overhaul the
several Departments, and weed out all the su-
pernumeraries who have 80 long fattened atthe
public expense. Take, for instance, the City
Inspectors Department, which is VIGOROUSLY
worthless. The majority of its duties are now
performed much more thoroughly by the Police,
and for the remainder a couple of clerks at
81 500 year each would amply suffice. Here
is chance to save hard upon half million
year. The Street Commissioners Office
should next be subjected to thorough pruning,
and 80 ON through the entire circle of the City
Government. If they do not set about this
work they may rest assured that the Legisla-
ture will. The latter body should also give its
attention to the reduction Of the expensive COM
missions by which the city is overburdened.
Were the Legislature and the Common Coun-
Gil to 20 to work thoroughly and harmonious
ly, the taxes of 1862 might be reduced by one
third, and the way paved for even greater
economy in our Municipal expenditures.
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