The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22
Jobbery in Municipal Organizations.

Any one who sees the vast array Of figures
jotted down as the annual expenditure in
dollars and cents of the municipal govern
ment Of New York city, and who, happily for
MS peace of mind, is in state of ignorance
as TO the mode and circumstances under which
these large sums are appropriated, cannot
avoid some mental inquiry and cogitation as
to the men by whom these funds are so munif-
Gently disbursed and the necessity for such
enormous OUTLAWS. The city is taxed at pres
ent to the extent, in round numbers, of about
twenty-four millions of dollars, which, added
to the ordinary revenues of the city govern
ment, makes total annual expenditure
OF thirty millions. This revenue has
increased about one-third during the last
five years and nearly doubled itself since
the year 1860. We have ''city government
which exercises about one-half the powers
usually conferred upon municipal corporations,
and the remainder of the administrative powers
are vested in some half dozen commissions
and boards. These were created under the
shelter of the cry Of corruption" and were
osensibly intended to act as brakes upon the
wheel of extravaganza and fraud. The popu-
ladon Of New York city has not increased
one-ffth during these eight years of advancing
taxation, but the revenue has magnifed itself
nearly one hundred per cent, and as yet,
despite the fact that we have had almost four
years Of peace in which to reduce the inflated
scale Of taxation inaugurated during the war,
there are no indications of relief These raw
facts must necessarily lead to the conclusion
that our present system of administration of
the affairs of New York city is decided
failure, so far as the welfare of the public is
concerned, and render confusion worse con-
founded" as to the suggestion Of remedy.
We have the two distinctive forms of govern
ment, consolidated and exercising varied
jurisdiction, as in the Common Council, and
local or special, as in the police and other
commissions.
All these departments have their regular
sessions, and enjoy, also, the privilege of call
ing special meetings, which they can generally
do on five minutes notice. A call fO1 meet
ing Of the Board Of Aldermen or Councilmen
may be issued, and skirmish of few minutes
in the saloons and gin mills around the City
Hall, it is well known and cannot be denied,
in nine cases out of ten results in bringing the
members together. On the 18th of February
last regular meeting of the Board of Alder
men was held, and an adjournment ordered at
three o'clock P. M. until the next day. Some
Seventh avenue property owners were present
to oppose the laying of Stafford pavement on
that thoroughfare, for the cost of which they
were to be assessed. At six o'clock that even
ing ''snap" meeting of the Board was called
and a resolution adopted, when none but the
members were present, directing Seventh ave-
nue., from Fourteenth street to Fifty-ninth
street, to be paved with this same expert
mental pavement, that five minutes session
costing few citizens in the aggregate half
million dollars. 1t is now being contested in
the courts but the result of the litigation three
or four men alone can foretell. This is but q
single instance.
AS to the commissions, they hold meetings
whenever and in most cases wherever they
please. The Commissioners of Police call
sessions and transact their business at any
hour of the day and night, at their residences
if they choose and the public are not per-
mitted under any circumstances to attend any
of these councils, excepting the trials of police
men for breach Of duty or discipline. The
Police Board exercises the power of appro-
priating and expanding from two and half to
three and a half millions of dollars annually.
Other commissions have like extraordinary
powers and similar extraordinary privileges
regarding their exercise. The fact is the
central government of our city, from the
highest to the lowest Offices, is fostering with
corruption and fraud, and the ostenible
panacea, the local boards, is actually infected
with the same plague sore. The first branch
was begotten corruptly, and the second, under
false color, divides the patronage and is az
corrupt as the limited power wrested from the
Comma nj varu,if