New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-10
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

Tho Annual Message Of tho Mayor will be
found on another page. II ia practical and TO
the point, and though its suggestions will not,
probably. uniformly commend themselves to
the common-sense of the public and the pockets
Of tax-paying citizens, it at least deserves
the praise of not stepping beyond the linz
its to which the Chief Magistrate of the
city should conGne himself that 10
may discuss irrelevant questions of national and
party politics TO whiclAhe has no official reia-
tions. The form of our municipal government,
His Honor thinks, should be so changed as to
lodge in the Common Council and Mayor all
authority and control over its affairs. While
we are confident in the conviction that our
charter needs to be largely amended, we think
that eyerybody outside of the Mayors Office nnd
the Boord will agree with US that it Is for
tunate, at this moment that no more power Is
lodged in their hands.
The present debt Of the City and County
amounts to about thirty two and half millions.
The holders of bonds will, without doubt, re.
joice with the Mayor that there is ample secu-
Il ty for tlls Indebtedness. The taxpayers, how
ever, would rejoice in orr large revenues with
much greater satisfaction, if they could be
used 10 relieve them from the burden OF
taxation rather than to pay the interest
of so heavy a debt Tfcy will look through
the message in vain for any suggestions OF
moment that promise them such rehei lhe
Mayor recommends ia almost everything III.
creased expenditure rather than cGrtalInent.
The salaries of officials he thinks, should be IN
creased. Tie rates OF compensation to the gas
companies should be enlarged. The whaTyeS
should be rebuilt Of stone. \ new reservoir
should be bull tosgrply tie suburb Of Washing
ton flights with the Crolon water. All the buSi-
ness streets or the city, including, OF course,
Broadway. should be rcpavcd with block pave
ment. A more perfect system OF sewerage Is
Indispensable. The cleaning of the streets viii
be done more eficc.ua.iy-ccrtanly more profit
ably TO those who shall secure such job
t. in addition 20 $3CO,0C0 or $4,000, We also
give to the contractor al the swcepng', IN re-
turn for which, we may rote in passing, the
streets of European cities larger than this. are
alone KEEP. clean, and tvo new markets
hould be built up town. With one or two OF
these suggestions we have no fault to find; but,
though the carrying out Of all Of them would
sigual!y eiorly the administration OF Mayor
Gunthcr, Ne are inclined 10 think the over
buncned taxpayers would prefer that the
greater part should he postponed 10 a more
convenient season. tine Of war, with is
financial embaryassments, Is uncertainties, its'
high price Of labor, and IT, heavy taxes,
IS not ihc best and most convenient time 20 IL
iroduce sweeping reforms and Improvements
involving enormous cXpcndiiures-to use no
har.hcr tenn-and an immense increase of the
city debt. 1t has. perhaps, amused His Honor
10 suggest them, but the citizens would be,
alarmed were they no. muca more likely to
share in his anu emcat. Most of bis recon.
monda,ions are 10; lii.ly 20 excite much other
r..liry