The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-11

Commissioner the Commissioner tor Inc payssson n
Correction OF Assessments all perform their fuueioo
without reference the Common Counci,he onIv uro
pery or legally chosen representatives OF people Of
this cy-who az before stated are held responsible
the acts OF these respective although not
possessing the slightest control them any respect
not even IN the munt Of approximations required
mates TO the Common Council and its action conforms
to their requirements well and good II not, application
made by them to the legislature and city levy or
bud0et is made up TO suit their supposed wants. the
action Of the city authorities being entirely ignored 10
The Police Commissioners are possessed Of dcspo,it
and unlimited the lives and property 81
Citizens and respons BILE to no local. 10 any anthor
~ for the exercise OF such unrestricted powers Even
the command OF our local militia, In times N riot or dis
legally chosen as the people Of the city
having ~ more the right TO employ ,h,n have thu
Correction have unlimited rpntrol or the Amsbouso and
the prison departments OF the city: the Central Park
Commissioners control The principal park or pleasure
mssioners for laying the upper part or the city nx
and establish grades, ani ly out the streets and
nues on the UPPER end OF tho isand in manner % suit
themselves totally regardless any local cootrol tho
Harbor and Pilot Commissioners claim and exercise or
elusive jurisdiction harbor and the wharf, pier
and slip property OF the city while the the
streets and public highways within corporate limits,
supposed TO be vested 10 fec the Mayor Aldermen and
Commonaty Of the city Of New York, seized
upon by the State legislature aud their amoat exclusive
wishes. against most earnest protests OF the
city authorities and the people,
The statements in the first part OF the report exhibit
the agency by which the taxation and personal
property 10 this city Increased to the present Alarming
the city authorities to prevent or re ney In evils Of
which our entire reputation so justly complain.
But the Increase IN the amount or expenditure for
tho government OF the city Just complaint
TO our taxpayers that OF the county would to justify
free from ho psh INIT has 20
them and which Ia squanderng In unchecked expenditure
and irresponsible extravagance the moneys Of the 20 pie
Supervisors Of this county by the Legislature Of 1857 the
annual amount raised by tax for county purposes exceed
the present year Is nearly 900 oco-bcing regular
annual increase Of $7cooco from the time Of the
The creation OF the County Legislative Body
was in keeping with tho other acts or spoliaton
them the municipality Of New York Il was totally
unnecessary TO the well being and good government Of
the or the county managed previous to tho
Act OF 1857, and was passed only with view Of de
prving the citizens OF tho city OF all control over the
disbursements made by the county officers.
The mode Of cectng this model legislative body is
buresque the elective franchise half ts members are
elected, the other half appointed with view of pro-
serving political equilibrium 10 the Board which 10
composed OF twelve members, six elected and SIX ap.
pointed for period Of six years each one being eccica
and being appointed year IL c1pnot be called
representative body one hall Of lis members are ap
oted for by minority Of the votes cast for tho Office,
and the lengthy term Of six or which they respect
lively hold Office being ono half longer than the term OF
Office the President OF the United States renders them
totally indifferent 20 the wishes opinions OF those they
claim represent or the requirements OF the
citizens OF the county they totally irresponsible 10
any human power for faithful performance OF their
duties In the expenditure OF moneys taxed tho
property OF the county there total lack RESPONSE
blity. We have Now City Hall Commissioners, Har-
sions for dsbursng the funds county and
dence Of their integrity i 10 be found IN the fact that the
county have been Increased IN ratio st'st
Greater than OF the city, while both combined present,
for the present year. the aggregate sum Of 70 80
,n sss vaa, ,ha Go Co,ncl s s,rs,,v rcs~on
sble only for the expenditure the sum OF 81 S8S o.
win be seen by reference 10 page OF this report tho
N fNsQan Ina
cd In the city estimates being expended by Boards or
Commissions, over which the Common Council have no
The amount OF tax assessed for city and county
poses is given above with view OF exhibiting the sum
properly chargeabe to tho city government and tho sum
over which It has no control and which Is dsbu sci by
boards aud Commissions appointed by tho state Iegsa-
ture. Both Included In one rate OF taxaton
which leads to the that the city author
es responsible for tho annual Increase in such rate
consequence. the more diiacal, 70 eorrso. jus
tice could be done TO the corporste auiheri-
each rate separate or least separating the city
from that OF the county and imposing separate rate Of
which the greatest occurred annually and
citizens could then place the responsibility whore IL
Your COMMITTEES are ac,uated solely by the desire 10
exhibit In readily TO be understood, the gross
he Legislature OF this state in every reati existing
between the two governments. liberal wsc and Just
State government would encourage tue growth and pros
perity Of this the nrincpa pert ~ tho state, the
Target aad u,t raaoEs city o. Ito Continent and the
State was governed by such men l'e Witt Clinton,
william n. Seward. Silas Wright. william Marcy, and
other great and master minds that cuntrullcd
aud directed detiaes former times, and raised 10
the condition o! provinces 10 the proud POSITION Of
ouch contemplate hucksterng as we nov wi,6ess,
aud have witnessed during every session of the
LEGISLATURE Tor the past lew yea,s IN ,1e private ah"ss
been tolerated much less encouraged, and opportu-
mites sought 70 iutermeddle in our local govern
Of the state aided and counselled by nenof
equal ability or at leas, equal integrity ~ the Legs
aue, encouraged and cstered the growth aud prospcr-
" OF the promisng and rapidly advancing city o! New
lork-a.cy that then did, and s,il does pay into the
State treasury about one nth OF the entire taxes Tor
state purposes o. the great works.o the etsa
were devised simply with that object 10 view They OBJ
served the most rigid regard for the chartered rights
privileges and immunies granted 10 before the adop
ton OF the State constitution and confirmed 10 that io-
strumcnt and legsstcd for It. when such legislative be-
came necessary only upon the request Of its duly const
tuted authoos Tho general good OF the entire state
eagrossed their sole attention. and they left to the city,
conty and town authorities the and government VI
their respective locah,ies Ia the primitive and middle
stages Of our exstenceas state. party advancement wac
regarded as secondary to best the eope
the legislators OF th 80 days always recognized TINS
Ter as belonging excusiv ely 10 the local
authorities In these latter days. party advancement
Ss Il and The dss.
ing spectacle b annually presented OF oohodmg tno go
vernmept OF great state ike New York, aesSsnans
the effort to the people OF this city and 70 con-
vert them not into wiling. At least in.o oocdient sub
servepcy the behests OF the dominant political party
In the state.
Iis an established fact that persecution never makee
proseytes Tyranny and oppression naturally beeet re-
sisance dsanectiou noble instinct, implanted Ia
our natures mpes resis,biy 10 resist aggression,
from what quarter IL may and that resistance is
certain be fierce aud unreentng when prsctc.d
against those from whom have the right 10 expect and
obtain protection aud Thus FAR resistance 10 the
tyranny and oppression unsparngly pracsed against
by the state authorities has been manfcsed ony In
annually increasing the maiorities against their cand
dates for Office.
That distrust Of, and disarection TO, the state go
vsrnment 10 fast taking possession Of the m'nds
. fact very much TO be depored, although u ~
not TO be wondered al They behold year Mtes
year. their dearest aud most sacred cnsitered
privileges invaded-parceed cut 10 needy political joo-
bers and made the sport ADD psyhings tne unscIu-
puous and designing. They see, IN silent astonsnmen
those jnmunities which we're guaranteed 20 .nem onx