The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-01

President Grant, as big 1sh in great
waters, withheld the usual message to the
Congress which first assembled under q new
administration. Mayor Hall, as a little fish in
little waters, did not send message, either, to
Doubtless Grant is waiting to find out all
about the congregation that he must preach
his first sermon to. And it is said that the
Mayor withholds his message not because he
don't know his congregation, but because he
has nothing to write about in practical way.
To be sure, he is required by the charter to
communicate his views on police, health,
security, government, finances, ornament and
improvement. But that direction was CON-
tanned in the old fossil charter of thirteen
years ago. Since that time the Mayor and
Common Council have had practically as little
to do about ''police, health, security, finances,
ornament and improvement of the city" as the
fantastic Fisk, Jr., who rampages with railroad,
judicial and theatrical fats. The Mayor will
do well, therefore, to wait until the Legisla-
ture adjourns and see If it will give him any
aid toward helping chaos into order; for
anarchy. The commissions are all well enough,
perhaps, but each is independent of the other.
There is no common head over them, and no
homogeneity between them. The Police Board
and the Superintendent are at variance A
great aght is going ON between the Croton
Commissioners were legislated into Office six
years ago, and have since claimed to be indie
pendent. The Common Council tried to APP
point others, who are litigating for the places,
as we see by the report from the Albany APP
peals. Then the Common Council pass ordi-
nances requiring contracts to be made for
sewering and paving; but the Croton Board
can do as they please about making them.
Stalwart men are taking up and putting down
pavement in Broadway, piling up big stones
and turning the omnibuses opt, all by virtue
of the exclusive legislative authority. And
when city officer or policeman calls upon
their bosses for an account they defantly
laugh and talismancally whisper "Abany."
The Mayors Marshal, or the Common Council
or the Street Department grants all kinds Of
conflicting permits about the streets and side
walks. While it is the duty of the police to
remove distractions, yet they have no money
with which to remove them nor any place In
which to put them. However much money
there may be in the city treasury to an account
that has been closed, none Of 1t can be appro-
priated to an account that wants money, be-
cause of some dog-in-the-manger legislation
at Albany. The Harlem Commissioners,
Harbor Masters and Street Commissioner
fight about the piers and wharves. Thus the
hydra-headed government Of New York 10
eating up the taxpayers with dozen mouths.
If there is any statesmanship left at Albany
since an Assistant Secretary Of State wai
taken away from the Legislature and transs
planted to Washington we hope some Of Il
will be exhibited in regard to this chaotic
matter; for, whether the Mayor issues messages
or not, we shall continue to put them forth
from time to time, and insist upon there
being provided responsible head somewhere.