New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-12
WHAT NEw.YORK CITY WANTS OF
AIRANX.

We understand that, in addition to- nr elected
representatives in either branch, quite number
of our sharpest citizens ar" in Albany, instruct
ING the members "a 10 what this City wants
done and forborne in the Capitol. Not being
able 10 go mp, we take this method Of telling
tbe Legislature what We understand our citizens
TO require from that quarter. Hero it is, in
short:
!. This City wants some arrangement OF our
Police system that will save il from becoming an
appendage 70 any party " machine the tail OF
any political or personal Kite. Our present
Police is faithful and efficient; the City wishes
il TO continue so.
.. If revision Of the Charter ia to be made,
with a view Of increasing the power of the
Mayor, or for any other purpose, let II be
thorough. Any change that does not abolish
hundreds of now useless ofhces--Inspectors Of
this or that, and Clerks who have nothing to do
will not satisfy the taxpayers.
There should be at least five hundred useless
places dispensed with, and The duties Of such Of
them as involve any at all transferred 20 the
Police. A considerable saving might TINS be
effected; without which we do not see how our
citizens can be induced to endure patiently al
augmentation of either the number or the pay
of our Police. Unless the act that makes such
increase shall make net saving in our City ex.
penses, We think it should not be passed in these
times Of crushing taxation.
3. Our City Tay-Levy H. very properly, sub
iccted 10 annual scrutiny and revision by the
Legislature to the single end that any pecula-
ton or iobbery that may be covered up therein
shall be exposed md defeated II was never
contemplated ~ imagined that this subsection
and scrutiny would become itself means of
pcculaion. Yet, for some years back, persons
having all manner of dubious claims on our
treasury which viii not pass here-loose H. mat
ters are around the City Hall--take them up TO
Albany and there procure their insertion in the
Tax-Leyy The process is so monsirously
wrong that nobody here suspects that it ia ever
effected otherwise than by naked bribery.
Whoever votes for such an interpolation at once
violently suspected of having had something
put into his hand when held behind his back.
We pray the members Of our present Legisla-
lure TO make what money they may want by
or something else than this.
4. Our Common Council and Board of Super.
visors now claim and exercise the right Of rails.
ing salaries at pleasure. OF course, this opens
a suice out of the City Treasury whereby the
depletion is measureless. Salaries which were
: 800 and 81, 900 q few years ago are now
-, 900 and $1,000. The Judges Of our lowest
Courts, whose work is usually light, are thus
paid larger salaries than the Justices Of our
States highest tribunal, the Court of Appeals
higher, We believe, than Justices of the U. 8.
Supreme Court. We proy the Legislature at
all events to shut the gate hard down on this
ruinoa6 business.
g. As 10 our City Railroads, We beg members
10 bear in mind that We who ride on them are
OF thousands, While they who make
money by them arc few scores-hundreds, at
most. IT. then, any legislation with regard TO
them is urged or attempted this Winter, We
pray the lawmakers to speak ut least one word
for us TO every ton for the nonopolsts. We
need legislation in orr behalf great deal more
than they do.
g. Finally, give the cold shoulder 10 old pro-
fessional lobbyists, and bid them 60 home and
be decent. And il any "big things" come up
at Albany this Winter, which have "money
in" them, we beg every member, who would
not have his children blush wherever they look
on his grave, 10 90 dead against il. No matter
how plausible it may seem, if money is on hand
to pass it, kick it right down the Capitol steps
and out at the Statc-street gate. 80 shall you
meet your constituents next April without
covering, and 60 through the world rejoicing
that money could not tempt you to play the
part Of shameful betrsyer Of lofty and hon
orable trust.