New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-07
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

HE Message OIL mayor bpu! AZ 10 INC o"il-
mon Council, which Ne print this morning, ID
brief. pointed, ard business-hke. Tie depressed
condition Of business and properly in the city,
the heavy drafts which the General Government
is constantly making upon our resources 10 put
down tie, rebellion, admonlsh W, the Mayor
urges, Of She necessity Of retrenchmeni IN cur
local expenditures. Within quar;er Of Gen.
fury the yate of taxation in ths city has more
than quadrupled. In 1875 II was but 4i-lVO
Of per cent Nov il IA , l--lOo per cent,
exclusive Of taxes - be paid 10 The General
Government. The burdea of taxation falling
upon all classes, every one is interested n
keeping tlsIn down as low rs possible, and t
becomes the duty Of The Common Council, s.
,onscryators Of the public interests, t. labor TO
bring abous so desirable a result. Tie Mayer
thinks they may be able 20 accomplish macy
saluiary reforms, by the diligcnt and faithful
exercise Of such powe-e as are conferred BY
she charter, but he il persuaded that they
would be able to do much more II that instru-
nent were subjected TO \ thorough and careful
revision. 1Ais opinion 5 very generally shared
by the community, and but for the dangerous
character of the former incumbcn. OF the
Ma,oralty. tSe Legislature would never has,
been invoked to strip the Office OF is more IN
yortant aud useful prerogatiyes. Mayor Opdyk'
sites that OF the tnitsd States ~ The bes
.uodel for on. local soyernment. We shoul.
thus have angle executive head Of he city
elected By he people, charged with nj the
functions Of administration, by whom oil sub
ordinate executive officers, except perhaps IL
Controller, should be appointed and removed
subled. always to the check OF an advisory
body; and q Legislature consisting of . Boar'
of Aldermen representing one set Of interests
and Board OF Councilmen Representing.
another. The Mayor also iasors the election
of the Board OF Aldermen, as tho Board 0
Supervisors ere now chosen, OF equal number
from the two leading political parties, for /
term Of years, two members retiring eac'
wear and restoring all the powers az county
legislators formerly belonging TO them, but NV
vested in the Boar1 Vi Supervisors. With ths'
changes effected, the Mayor thinks tina. gra
Improvement would be- wrought IN the CT!
Government, but Ls admits that 10 scheme D
Government, however perfect, can avail, without
faithful officers to administer it.
The Mayor very justly condemns the pracii''
in vogue at Albany Of inserting oil sorts o
doubtful claims and appropriatoas in our N
nual tax le,ies, and iorcbly remarks that ii
llLo no other city in the State, We must cen
tnue to 20 10 the Legislature for authority to lc.
. our taxes, il should be an inloSible rule TIA
no item of expense not asked Tor by the N,
niclpal authorities should be inserted By iii
, LEGISLATURE. lie also thinks Tint the Leg.sli
tlro ought TO pass a general law, applicable
q III MUNICIPALITIES in the state, authorizing a.
. taxpayer TO sustain an action against the CT
authorities for the improper and ialthless app
8 cation OF public funds, such law in otln
I countries having been found to operate as
most salutary check upon prodgatc municiIa
, Expenditure.
The fact that the city receives only Slii, =
4 Of net revenue from her wharf ferry and ma
= ket property, yalaed al seven millions of ds
. lars, is very justly cited as a reason why soul
% economy should dictate the sale of the proper
b at suitable period. rolaiuiDg, Of course, Il
4 right to regulate the same for the public behG
d lbe proceeds to be- applied to the extinction {
no debt of the corporation. Although IL
property would PROFESSIONALLY produce hall
million revenue per annm, it ia not to be O
pecied that such result could be attain
& while It remains in posscsaon Of tlio city. ID