New-York tribune., 1871-09-25
pPTPENCHt RFTRENCHI
age.

Tie new Deputy, really the Acting Con-
tro,Ier. bepins his labors with the full conf
dence of the financiers of the City-a most
important point regained, for his predecessor
had thrown away if he ever had that great
advantage This confidence was clearly shown
in the readiness with which the Clearing
House on Friday gave Mr.. Green loan OF
half a million dollars to meet pressing pay
ments necessary to carry on the City Govern
ment. No obligation Of this kind can legally
be made while Judge Barnards injunction
holds good; the loan was, therefore, virtually
made without security other than the official
promise of the Deputy Controller that the
money should be returned, and the wide and
amply justified confidence in his integrity.
But this loan was obtained, though irregu-
larly, and all others which MIR. Green may
effect hereafter while the injunction remains
will be obtained, because the capitalists and
taxpayers believe that there is to be thorough
reform in the financial administration OF the
municipal government. Without this conf
dence there would be no credit. In order
that it may continue and the credit remain
good, it is imperative that the acting Con-
troller should give proofs of his purpose by
instant retrcnchment.
This half million dollars was obtained Osten-
sibly to pay tho employees in the public offices,
the clerks janitOrs, and attendants generally.
Are the hundreds of sinecures to be paid as
formerly and continued in offices Are the
scores of useless attendants on each court ana
department and office to be paid for services
unperformed during the passing month or
since the last payment, and are they to be
continued for another month or an indefinite pc
riodf We arc now near the close of September
Mr.. Green owes it to the people and to him
self that the next month shall not begin with
the City incumbered with its present immense
payroll. He owes it to the City that no
officer shall be paid for the present month
until he has clearly proven that he has rem
dered full service. Let the City be sued by
them rather than that these idle fellows should
longer be paid for work they have never per-
formed.
The City is in doubtful il not desperate
financial plight. Its debt as admitted is
enormous; the outstanding claims against it
are unknown the expenditures for the present
year are not yet fully ascertained, but enough
is known to warrant the statement that they
haye been as enormous and as corrupt as in
1859. This uncertainty as to our financial
condition and future prospects should prompt
retrenchment in every way. A business house
similarly involved would hasten to cut down
expenses, and stop all work not absolutely neces-
sary. There is no reason why the same policy
should not now be applied to the City. The
pay roll must be reduced useless work must
be stopped. Here is the Park Department
calling for eleven hundred thousand dollars
to continue the establishment of the City.
1t ought not to have one cent beyond
the amount necessary to pay its current ex-
penses. There is no overwhelming necessity
for the completion at once of Central Park OF
the Boulevard. Both enterprises can wait the
renewed prosperity Of the City, or rather its
recovery from the prOstratiOn to which the
Ring has reduced 1t. 1t is not even impera-
tive that the Docks should at once be begun
on the immense and expensive scale which
Gen. Mcclellan has planned. The strongest
argument in fact the only one-for the
continuation of these works for the present
is the necessity for giving some en-
ployment to the large force of labOrers at work
upon them. Their immediate discharge would
be serious to them and perhaps to the City,
but they can be used on more necessary labor
The force can be "wecded out" without actual
wrong to any one.
These measures of reform ought to be at
once set on foot. The people can wait for
the establishment of the City. What they
want now are assurances of retrenchment and
il ia in the directions indicated that they most
naturally look for it. Mr.. Deputy Green will,
we feel sure, prove equal to the emergency.
MhRSHdL MURRAY COMES TO THE FRONT
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