The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-21
Tho City Finances-Important Suggestions ~
Comptroller Connolly.

The City Observation-Disclosures Suggestions ~
Comptroller Connolly.
On behalf Of the taxpayers of the city we
invite the immediate attention Of the Commis-
sioners of the Sinking Fund to the suggestions
made by Comptroller Richard B. Connolly in
his annual report to the Common Council
The Comptroller strongly urges the immediate
sale Of all the unproductive property, of what
ever nature, belonging to the Corporation. a.
well as of the city markets, wharves, piers and
bulkheads, and the payment Of the city and
with the proceeds.
1t will be remembered that short time ago
sale of city property took place, at which an
amount was realized far in advance of the val
uation. In some instances buildings, rented at
from two hundred and fifty to four hundred
dollars year, brought from twelve to eighteen
thousand dollars Ofcourse the friends and asso-
ciatcs Of ths Corporation "rings" had secured
these profitable leases, and in many cases, low a.
the rents were, the lessees endeavored - avoid
payment altogether, on the ground Of political
services. The gross amount of that sale
reached about eight hundred thousand dollars.
The rents received by the city on the property
sold had not been two per cent on this sum. or
less than sixteen thousand dollars. Appropri-
ated towards the payment of so much Of tho
city debt the gross receipts of the sale will save
the taxpayers six per cent on eight hundred
thousand dollars, or forty-eight thoussad dol
lars years. clear annual gain Of thixty-two
thousand dollars year to the city.
The markets and the piers, wharves sad
docks have long been prolific source Of cor
ruption' in our municipal government They
have been . charge upon the city, instead Of
source of revenue. This might be less objeo-
tiouable if they had been managed in such
manner as to yield an indirect return and ben
eft to the city, by way Of ample and cheap
markets for the people, and such liberal facili-
ties to commerce as would increase the busf-
ness and reputation Of the port. But tho mar
kets have been insufficient and dirty, and
through the operations Of the political middle
men who have controlled the leasing Of the
stalls the actual dealers have been 90 badly
victimized that they have been compelled -
make up their OUTLAWS by high prices and sharp
practices upon the retail buyers. The piers,
wharves and docks have been suffered to fall
into such decay that they have been reproacA
to thu city and danger and hindrauce to con-
merce. In both cases, under the Odd manage
ment d the Comptroller's office, the City hes
had to. pay out, year after year, mcre't thar Il
has received.
The mode Of operation with the. markets
may not be generally known. In Wess Wash
ington Market, for instance, some Of the best
stands have been leased for ONE dollar week
These leases have been secured by the "ring''
operators, who have sold them to the regular
dealers for premiums, sometimes as high as
ten and fifteen thousand dollars, the city,
Of course, only receiving the amount Of rent
called for by the lease. Through this
swindling operation the rents received
for market stands up 10 the time Of Comptroller
Connolly's accession to Office would not pay
two per cent on the lowest valuation OF tho
property. The whole amount collected In
1866 was under one hundred and eighty thou
sand dollars. The cost of keeping the markets
in repair and paying the salaries of the official
leeches fastened upon the fund was two hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars loss to the
city of seventy thousand dollars. Comptroller
Connolly is ROW increasing the rents Of the
stalls as rapidly as the leases fall in, from five
to seven hundred per cent and At the same
time protecting the dealers from the imposi-
tions Of midalemen and other strikers, and
the lessees are willingly paying the increase.
But he recommends, as the best thing for the tax
payers, the sale of all the markets, and the ap-
preparation Of the proceeds towards the pay
ment Of the city debt
The piers, docks and wharves have hsen
equally unproductive. and from similar causes.
In 1866 Comptroller Brennan sold o number Of
the leases at a fair rent, on condition that the
city should put the property in good repair.
But not . dollar was expended for that pur-
pose by the city, and some Of the lessees refuse
to nav the rents, and no revenue has been re-
ceived by the city from this source. This year
an appropriation of two hundred ana safcen
thousand dollars has been made for repairs /;
but this is barely sufficient to put four Of the
piers in proper condition.
The Comptroller estimates that the markets.
wharves, piers and bulkheads are worth fifteen,
million dollars at an immediate sale We
have reason to believe that he feels con6dest
Of realizing more than this sum by two OF.
three million dollars, il the Commissioners OF
| the Sinking Fund should determine to dispose
Of the property II the fifteen millions sh0ild
be applied to the payment. Of so much of
the city debt It would save the taxpayers
| the payment OF six per cent on that
| amount, or nine hundred thousand dollars
annually. II would actually save them
more than this; for, as we have fsbowu.
the markets cost the city last year seveul y