The New York herald., 1868-01-07
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
The Mayors Message to the
Common Council.
The Comptroller's Budget for
1853.
INCREASE OF STATE TAXATION.
The Conflict Between tie Old and
New Boards Of CounciImen.
TIE MAYORS ANNUAL MESSAGE.
MAYoR's orrlcE, NEw YoRx, Jan. 9, 1868

no rHx HosoHAHrE THE C'oMIos CouScn.-
GEyrLEMEs-We enter to-day upoa the labors, duties
and cares ofa municipal year, impressed, trust
with due OF our responsibilities ana Of our obl-
cations discharge faithfully the important trusts
which have been committed to II Is true
that tho executive and legislative departments
Or tho city government have been deprived Of
m.ny Of the powers which formerly belonged 10 and
wers exercised by them. Only the form Of gov
srnment remains, the substance having boon trans.
fsrred TO various Metropolitan district boards and COM
mssions all acting Independently Of each other and Of
she municipality. But the elected representatives OF
rcat city, should remember that the people look
70 rs TO do what be done for their best interests and
they will expect that while assert tho right OF local
s,if government will conduct ourselves In all our
relations as to challenge and not only their conf
aence but confidence and respect Of the people Of
The State and Of the nation.
Ihave nothing 10 add TO the Views submitted In my
lass annual relation the subject Of muni
e,pal government The great majority Of our people
SeIcvc them to ba sound. They know that we can
never have an efficient respons bic administrator OF
municipal affairs until all departments are made por-
tons sf harmonious system under the control and
direction Of the chief executive, who shall havc powers
adequate to his responsibilities. The duty OF giving
M such q government belongs 10 the Legislature
and to the Constitutional Convention. The city
Of Tew York; In wealth, and population, IN
stsslf an empire, and must have local government,
created by ana responsible to It's people. Our whole
government national. state and local. is government.
Of the people II springs from them rests upon them
books to hcm for strength support aud existsnce and
docs not become any representative In the Conven-
Mon or in the Legislation to ignore the fact II it be
not a fact then our whole governmental theory is
rallacy.
II has been said with much forco that the form OF
municipal government best calculated 10 secure the
most perfect results s simply That there should 90
q chief executive-the hayorcharged with the duty OF
enforcing its laws. and clothed with the power 10 do IT,
That nil other executive and administrative omeers
Except perhaps tho Comptrolor and All boards or So
called COMMISSIONS should be appointed by and be
made responsible to the Mayor; that hc should navc
power 10 call them to account and TO suspend and
rsmovs them; that tho legislative department
should havc legislative powers Only, and should
consist Of two bodies; that tue Board OF Alder
men should be elected by tho people At largo
upon general ticket and that tho Board OF Assistants
Or Courclmen should be elected by wards. We do not
requre anything complicated or intricate. We do want
concentration Vi power and responsibility somewhere.
the ran just suggested does not secure good govern
upcn 1t will least enable the people TO sec upon whom
che responsibility Of failure should rest ain glad TO
know these views sustained by many men Of all
political parties and that many OF those who have
favored and sustained the metropolitan commissions
eoscede the fact that would be far better for general
interests II they all paris or system OF which
Che Mayor OF The city should be the responsible head
rEx CITY FINANCES
In the two annual Communications which I have
heretofore had the honor 10 submit 10 tho Common
CouLcil have been careful to stale concisoly and ac
uraey the In relation TO The debt taxes and
oxpc piiiures OF the city and county governments
desm !. INV duty to continue statsments is not
emily important that honorable body should De aoe
- sse and At glance all facts, but 1t Is
oQualy Important that tho people generally should be
able 70 the submit, therefore, the following
facts which hope will be read and carefully con-
sidcred First, the city and county debit
Dasr OF the CIT COUNTY REV YORK, DEcEMBER
81, ls67-cTY FUNDED Dgar
water stocks-issued account OF intro.
ducing the (roton water into the city aud
distributing the same ooo'Soo
Central Park st0cks-issued on account OF
n%s % an .. -. - s02sSn
: v1re Indemnity sock-issued ior payment Of
damages for blowing up buildings, Decem.
Der, 1882 S1''o'
building worShouse on Biackweiis Island. Avo,VO0
iReal estate bonds-issued In settlement witn
State icssees OF Wes, Washington Market,
for payment to tho state for sundry lands
filed in beyond the boundary line of the
Montgomery charter. and for purchase OF -
Fort Gaasevoort propertv. ll33,43I
6tock for docks aud slips-ssued for rebuild
Ing and eparlng public docks alps. $4,000
ting aaa funding boating debt in ls5o.. 274s,o 900
u1ubIc education stock-issucd for payment
Of debt OF Public School Society. $4,000
utock for rebuilding Tompkins harkct-is.
sued, as ls titic Indicates Tor rounding
vaISnsssr Smysns soa,ors Family Aid Fund bonds
Issued provide for the families OF soldiers
in the United States Army my.............. 766 500
Nolun ntecr soldiers Family Aid Fund Redcnp
t.on bonds--issued TO cxend the time of
payment o Volunteer Soldiers Family
o....
Total funded deb. OF city ........... saosss, ,07s
COUNTY FuNpEp DEBT.
r., uascp Bridge tonds-Issued for erectipga
lwdgs across Harlem river, at AcComb's
-, 80 a;a,, r. Ilouse s,ocxI.ued "a its ,itle
'i Sss IN Chambers street ............ 1900 900
Sod. efs' substitute bounty rodcmp- So -, 80
tio bonds. ........: -. s@'Voo,ooo
dem psion bonds .:............. gao aoo
soSier so : bounty fund bonas No. T. SIC 800
soldisrit souuty fund bonds No. o.. 745,Soo
Tho a, s~e were issued TO provide means for
the pay uent of bounties and for substitutes
Cor the pies Of the Union.
Il Of dana yas redemption bonds. >. 81. 600, 600
--sl. .css, 900
refund tAxs Of 1883 and 1854 levied on Sc
curi.ies OF tue United States neld BY banks
and lnsursn companies, decided by The
oourss to DO ls0a-taxabie ie.............. 1,T2I0c0
Tota funded ksa; Of county Ia Isl, 100
RSAscrrLArToH-ruspED prDr
Amount psyas's from sinking -, .
anonn. r%na ma, able iroa 1855 500
Amount pay, bio fsom TAXATION ls2sl,TOo
Total fcarr. forward $43 5s4, 7T6
II viii be rer 1emtered that tho tar levy Of 1860
about scveaee mi Aons OF dollars ask careful atten
tcuhN winch up thiS VI ueaily
ave mlons OF fo,lnr In 1851. Only small portion Of
tb,s increase d ageabe to the city county
ment II will be enembered that all appropriations
prd bays been maIe by the state Legislature, and that
lhc Common couucy has not now, and for some years
incur an liaiiiity bsN ,ond their appropriations
Tho following tl items showing Tho Increase over
Ne tax of 1s66:-
INCREASE ,NoR STATE rrRrosEs
For instament On state Nounty debt 81, 2S9, fl6
Decrease in ant for ca nals. gen
sral purposes and commc 4 schcols sl7o2s
fne deficiency IN State tax on 1863,
withheld by this county forNtaxes
OF 1903 and 1864, not collcc6abie
from banks and Insurance coz -
'an''' '''''''''''.''''''''''''' @--- - sss7oOs
INCREASE ron COUNTY I~RrosEs
Police pen.rtmenL L............... Ss35,3i0
commissioners of Charities. 100000
Toi redemption Of bonds Issued for