New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-04

appears that, in tho first six months. 40 XIX q
was expended; and this does not include suy
expenditures for the obsequies of Pre-;
dent Lincoln. The $42,575 25 is made IN +,
part as follows:
Presents to Reporters. ers........ H,a,
Presents to Officers OF Common Council .... sSn
COachhire for members OF Common Council SS~,
Goid ages for members OF Common Council 4On,
Gold Badges for Police Justices. an,
Colors FOR Regiments. ..-......---..-........ soos
Statlohery' s&s0
Iotal- .........e Ga ia
Thus, 1t Will be seen, that but $l2, 900 was
left out of $40, 900 for sundres. But this ia NOT
all. As in previous years, judgments will bs
recovered to large amounts against the CITY for
matters, which, if paid at all, should have been
paid for out of the amount allowed for Con.
tingencics" for 1865.
The Senate Committee has reported TO the
Senate the Tax Levy, in which they allow
$6O, 900 for City Contingencies" 1t must be
borne in mind that the Common Council and
the heads of departments, in making up their
financial estimates, include an allowance 20,
every object Of expenditure that their expe.
rience, ingenuity and imagination can suggest;
and then, after they have asked for the larges,
amount possible for the purposes Of legitimate
and illegitimate expenditure, they ask for an ad
ditional fund to use as they please, under tn.
head of Contingencies"
This item, if necessary at all, should be cul
down to cover matters which, in their very ma
ture, fall under the definition Of Contngen.
cies."
1t is dangerous for the Common Council to bs
allowed to spend, for the qualification Of it's
whims, the sum of 100000.
We have seen that, in the first six months Of
1865, $23, ,134 was expended for matters for
which there was no reason or necessity to have
spent one cent.
Let there be no presents to reporters or 10
officer. and attendants for nominal "extra
services"
Let the members of the Common Council pay
their own bills for coach.hire. Let not S4,JN
be spent in badges" Let the city regiments
buy their own colors; and let Stationery
come out of the large appropriation specially
made for that object
When the Common Council wish to reward
fidelity to the Ring in an employs, they
raise his salary, and direct the increase to ba
paid out of "City Contingencies
When we consider that in 1865 the Legsla.
ture allowed the Common Council in fsct but
$40, 900 for this item, and when We have shown
that 81, ,l34 of it was thrown away. and when
we recollect that there will be no more funerals
of officers killed in battle, and no more recep'
tions of returning regiments (Which both wsss
formerly used to cover big steals), we cannos
but express our amazement that the Senah
Committee in view of these glaring facts should
have the hardihood to report SO large sum
500, 600 for "City Contingencies, when. 10 Ill
conscience and honesty, $4,000 would bs mSrs
than sufficient for all the legitimate "Contiu'
gent" expenses OF the Common Council.
In behalf of the already heavily -burdened
taxpayers Of this City, in behalf Of the poor
workingman, and in behalf Of all the material,
commercial and social interests of this great
metropolis, we call upon the honest members
Of our Legislature TO set the seal Of their con.
demnation upon this attempt Of the Common
Council and their instruments to have legsised
their robbery of the people to enrich themselves
Let the Legislature cut down City Contingen-
cies to $1,000, and also cut down the whole
Budget 81, 900, 900. If this Is done, one step
will have been taken in the right direction.