The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-08
CITY GOVERNMENT
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

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THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
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. MAYORS OFFICE.
NV YORK, Jan T. 1857
rrBx HoSoRABIr COMMON CoUSon:-GESrLKxxs-
In bedlence the requirements Of the City Charter
RESPECTFULLY present for your consideration the following
fats and suggestions In relation to the government
aAnces and improvements Of the city,
THr CIT GOVERNMENT.
In theory the city Of New York Ia governed by the
Iayor and Common Council In fact, IL Is not II is
pstantay controlled and regulated BY the State Lsgs
AZURE and BY various Legislative commissions acting
Independently Of each other, and OF the Municipal
suthortsa The city government cannot make sxpendi
cures without Legislative appropriations; nor can Is
tasusurats or carry any great public improvement
without Legislative authority, except in the matter Of
opening, grading and paving streets, and building
ewen, or In other work OF ike character 70 b paid
Ar BY assessments upon property.
TIE KxpxNDuuRys CORNERSTONE
The major portion Of all moneys raised BY TAXATION Il
Spended by the Board of Education and by the various
ecpmssions created by the Legislature; and neither
,theNsyor nor the Common Council has any voics or
suthodty in the management or direction Of either
do potytate these facts with the intention OF casting
blame D reproach upon any commission Or board, or
their dus shars Of cntcismoand censure; bat state
snem IN oder that the truth may % distinctly under
1s 'nH .ssS Sss BE-
and running hisush all the commissions, Is the worst
saAt could DO devised for great city. Some Of the
commissions have worked well and produced good
suits They however, but parts Of defective sys-
tom. aud withou. accountability or responsibility
NEW CITY ORGANIZATION NEEDED.
city Ike onrs-the metropolis Of the country-with
over q million OF inhabitants and aboundne IN wealth
respeotaoiy ana intelligence, should have local gov.
gsnizaton perfect In oil parts and directed by
single head responsible directly to the people, II re-
quires concentration Of Iowor and of responsibility
ruE EVIL op NEW rsRnsAs BOARDS.
repeat what stated IN my message last year, that
all, or nearly all, OF municipal evils. These evils
csnnot be cured by new partisan Metropolitan Commits
sions by partisan Board OF Revision and Control
Such Board would be wholly Irresponsible and il Great.
cd would, IN my opinion, require Rnother to watch
IL before the expiration If Jingle year. Under
constitute tho only legitimate Board Of Control and
those who advocate other must necessarily assume
she city Of New York are incompstent OF unaf 70 70
any such doctrine and proics, against s1e assumption
that the local interests OF the people of this great city
must be taken care Of by the State.
WELL. DEvIsED cHARTRR NECESSARY.
1 make these sug esiions not because you can act
upon them but in the hope that they may dnd Iodg-
ment in the public mind. With Q well devised city
charter we have the best local government In the
The subject OF municipal governments will engage
much OF its attention, and after its adjourn the
som s sa he can sss SUCH s ssa as y It's
during its present session. desires only the good OF
ehs CITY, will refuse TO cgsato upon various schemes
IN relation to IL which said to be in progress IT, on
The other hand seeks is willing, for any reason,
fdyanoc and encourage movements relating to city
Affairs founded upon the personal partisan interests
md motives Of their orignaors suggestions which
'an make will be likely 10 receive any attention con-
tdera1on As Chief MAGISTRATE Of tho city, having
Iessng, as believe do, the couhdence of the vast
majority Of ils people, can only enter my protest
OF preparation leave this branch OF the subject
without further remark and proceed TO the considers
tion Of our financial condition
COUNTY DEBT, DKc. 81. 1906
he aggregate amount OF the city and county debt and
- particulars in relation TO L - sssss
City Fndd Dtf&
Water Stocke--issusd on account OF insroduc.
ting the Croton water into tbs city and dis
0anArai PARK S.ocks-assued on account OF .
Central Park and this Improvement Of the
vsrs indemnify s,oek.lssaod for payment Of
damages for blowing mp buildings Decsmbrr.
ra',S,o. iosn 4; an .cco,n; AZ
suiding work house on Blnckwcs Island. 10000
Ress Estate Bonds--issuod in settlement with
State Leases Of West Washington Market for
payment to the atate for sundry lands hlied
Ia beyond the boundary limo Of the Mont
Emery charter, and for the purchase OF
sock for Docks and sips-issusd for rebuild.
Ing and repairing public docks and slips. 10000
ploating Debt Fund Stock-ssued for liqui-
da,ins and funding floating debt 1869. s,4s,ooo
Public Hdncation Stock issued for payment
of dsbs OF Public school Society $4,000
3took Cor Rebuilding Tompkins MARKETS.
sued. - It's title indicates, for rebuilding
roMpkins Market .......... ......... $1,000
Volunteer Soldiers Family Aid Fund Bonds
Issued 10 provide for the families OF soldiers
Ia the United STATES army. svoes 800
don 5onds-issued 10 extend the Tins II
payment OF Volunteer Soldiers' Family Aid
Fund Bonds. No. 3...................... 6O0.0 eO
velunteer Soldiers Bounty Fund Redemption
Boods-issued for redemption OF like
amount Of bonds for payment Of bount.os 70
volunteer soldiers. ...................... 100000
Total funded deb. of city. go, a. o7o
County Funded DebG
Harlem Bridge Bonds-Inued for erectnga
bridge across Harlem river, 81 McComb'a
County Cour, House s.oci--i.susd as It's iiie 49,"
Indicates, for the erection Of the now Court
House In Chambers street. ............. l. 800 900
Bonds. 100000
Bonds ............... ................. o4e 700
Soldiers Bounty Fand Ronds. ........... 100000
Soldiers Bounty Fund Bonds, No 2......... y7o,e00
3oidicrs Bounty Fund Bonds, No 3......... 745,S0O
The above were issued to provide means for
The payment OF bountles and for substitutes
FOR tho armies nj tho Union.
Riot Damages Redemption Bonds. .... 81 700, 900.
Riot Damages Indemnity Bonds. ............ $4,000
Total funded debt OF county ST. 500, 100
Hserpsfa In--Fvnded Debt
cty-Amouut pa, abs from sinking Fund se2 49asys
Amount payable from taxation. ......... s. 209 500
payable from taxation. II, so0,f0o
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .sA2,14217e
The Comm ssioners Of the sinking Fund hold
on account or the above debt he sam o. sps
Net amount Of city and county funded debt
December 81 1888. $50, sol, SIS
OF the foregoing debs u will be perceived that
TO- Ys2 900 IL for Croon watsrwofks 90 o2a GIL for
ontraI Park and S1A 45 600 for expenses growing out
Il ADD connected with tho war.
temporary Nfy DIT
seveaus Bonds OF ls0e-fssued In anticpa-
Moo OF collection of taxes Of 1893. ..... 600
ltvsss improvement Fund Bonds-l@ucd TO
pay contractors for improving the streets.
nsnis therefor. 100000
Assessment Fund Donds-Issued to par foe
opening, widening, &C.. Of streets, In an
hcpatlon Of the collection of assessments