The New York herald., 1870-12-27

|
bergen. n.............. 30,l24 14,725 10, 309
Hudson. ........... I28,275 2lS22 105, Asa
Essex l43,S50 1880 90 300
Passaic... ............. 4s.423 22,509 23,S54
Totals. ............ 35o,672 IS3,O88 pa, COG
PLAN FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
me plan Tor new city government which the
tnat Of The city OF Brooklyn, differing only In its
| TO the Board OF Aldermen. THIS was deemed pro-
I per because OF is being more In accordance with
sembly OF the State ana of the two legislative
branches OF the New York city government
posed new city government Woud be- comnosed s Of
| Mayor and Conmon Council, with nine wards, rour
S wnca are now the existing wards OF the town OF
Moirisania tnree oil which are created IN the town
or West Farms and two OF which In the town OF
Westminster. These wards will each nave an alder.
man, constituting Lhe Board OF Aldermen OF nine
members, and from each OF these wards two assist
ant aldermen are 10 be elected, making eighteen,
constituting the Board OF Assistant Aldermen.
The Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen are to
M as was formerly the case IN the better days Of
Assistant Aldermen, without pay.
A SMALL SALARY
Tor the 1rst few years or the existence OF the new
CITY government would be PAID 10 the Mayor and
air salary the different heads OF the departments
created by this oi-the different departments con-
Department, with its head, the Comptroller and the
Department. OF Public Works. included WITHIN which
would be jurisdiction over the Streets the water gas
anu 0thcr local improvements as now conferred upon
the Commissioner OF Public Works. In the city of New
YORK. me Law Department would consist OF q Cor
poration Counsel and Corporation Attorney, to whom
during the earlier existence OF this government
small salaries would be paid There will be grand
Tax Department, containing TWO bureaus-one to
look after the assessments OF property upon fair and
equal terms and md TO be known as the Board OF AS.
receiver and necessary deputies
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
wo e @ 10 oe ana
the new city limits, the same jurisdiction In civil and
criminal criminal cases that the county Judge now has. In
n fQ fn hn
elected. for each OF the wards within the pro-
posed city, whose jurisdiction ia civil and
now conferred upon the justices OF the peace
In the towns comprising the proposed new
the Supreme Court their jurisdiction are to re-
main the same AZ al present The police, with
BOARD OF Police Commissioners and Superin-
tendent, would be in such numbers and IN compen-
sation as the Common Council In their wisdom
would see ut TO designate and appoint
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM,
with the different Boards Of Education, school
houses, apparatus aud properly, would remain and
only to such changes FOR increase Of e ioars and
better accommodations as might be provlded by the
new government.
The existing debts of each town are to be assumed
and paid by the property and the taxation thereon
In the new city; but each OF the towns of that City Is
tn be assessed and to pay therefor In taxation in
proportion TO the Indebtedness OF each Town at the
time of the charter taxing effect. In connection
the present debt Of the town OF Morrisania amounts
to over 100000, West Farms to over 500, ,0O0 OF
Westchester over 100000. making total say, OF
Your committee believe that the work which has
been done In the way OF public Improvement, and
Tor which this Indebtedness was created did not
ceez sixLysx and twO-rhrds per cent OF It's actual
value. This was caused by the
INCoNGRUOUS SYSTEM
OF o number OF special commissions appointed by
different acts OF the Legislature and known
boulevard commissions, who have power con-
ferred upon them OF issuing bonds and which
bonds, owing to The lack Of confidence OF capitalists
and banking institutions, have been negotiated and
cold utnrv fran -fxn ont
TO- In "a few cases, OF their par salue.
The contractors dong the work and receiving
these bonds In payment for the work instead or
money, always In their estimates discounted the
bonds at enormous rates.
benefits which the community affected 10y 1t would
receive would be In the credit or the bonds or the
new government, being as IN the case Of Brooklyn
and Jersey City bonds, put at par IN the market
among capitalists ana a saving of at least thirty
three and onethird per cent would he effected IN the
after done IN t6e way OF public improvements with
IN the proposed new city territory.
The rights OF property owners by The proposed
change Of government viii be protected from special
State legislation from
sCHEaING AND SPECULATIVE BoULEvARDs
made al general expense, and where thsse lnllne
dlatey benefited should bear their Just proportion
OF the expense of construction, and shOuid pay for
the Improvement where they are largely benefited
thereby. In no case would any Improvement OF q
street or avenue be made unless iwO-thirdS or the
properly owners fronting upon such street or ave-
petitioned ana desired The same.
general system OF drainage and lamp districts
ana OF sidewalks and other legitimate improvements
would be made upon similar reguisitions ol
the property owners by this plan would also De
preserved intact the present boundaries OF Tue
districts andithe existing system of recording titles
and Judgments Will be recognized. The only
STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLAN
proposed for annexation 10 the ciy Of New York is
that by it privileges OF the Croton water would be
derived by the people living IN the lower part OF
Westchester county.
Considering that the city OF New Ork now has no
more reservoirs than are necessary for the sufficient
supply Of that city with water, under the plan oi an
nexaiion new reservoirs would have to be con-
sruced IN the lower part OF Weschester county, the
cost OF which would have to be borne by lts people.
Your committee can see no good reason why they
may not, through their representatives and agents
IN the proposed new city governments, construct
works for the use OF the waters OF the Bronx river
and other fresh water streams fowing into the
lower part OF Westchester county, for The erection
OF necessary reservoirs and works, and to give the
citizens the same facilities and comforts or water
which are now had in the city from the Croton De-
partment and this done, too under the immediate
supervision and direction OF our peoples represen-
tatves. and at 0 much less cost Than would result
from annexation.
THE AREA or LAND
contained In the seven towns proposed TO be an-
nexed by the Corson bill Is 46hl7 acres, more than
treble The area OF land contained In the county OF
| New YORK. One OF the objections which have been
made to the plan OF new city government IS that
the expenses VIII be large and purdensone. Ins ls
lie buildings would answer the purpose for years 70
come OF transacting the executive, legislative and
judicial business therein, and no new public build
lngs would be built until the Increased populatisn
ana wealth or the new city warranted and demanded
| their erection. Your committee, taking INTO con-
sderation the
| EXPENSES OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF the present towns OF Morrisania West Farms and
Westchester for the past three years and for the
present one, do not hesitate TO say that the entire
| expenses of new city government under the plan
proposed would be much less than ~ now paid IN
| by these incongruous governments, where proper
responsibility and checks and balances do not exist,
| but which would be insured by the adoption OF the
| new plan.
The well recognized fact that the city OF New YORK
| Ia now governed by "rammany rlbg.o consisting
!, OF not more than fve prominent members should
| induce the people OF Wesichester from motives OF
personal respect from their intelligence and integ
r,ty and IN protection ef their interests. to long
| hesitate before consenting To confer additional
power OF fasspssulentand taxation, already too much
| concentrated III and upon this ''ring."
THE RIGHT or LOCAL sELF.GovERNSENr
Is one which under our system has hither,o com
manded the respect VI ali communities, ana tney
have been especially jealous OF having ms right