New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-05
which will have to be.added to already enormous

which will have to besadded to our already enormous
Ne must look TO the Legislature for aid not for dis
couragement, in effort to tighten HE public burdens
Last year considerably aided by the legislative
REPRESENTATIVES OF the county. Then asked them 10
deliver from the Commissions, aud In the main they
complied Now we have to ask them to complete de-
liyerance from the Commissions; Ia abolish all unneces
sary Boards. leaving the Mayor As the one Executive or
the hole civ with no power shift the blame il any
department officer has wasted public funds and he has
failed to suspend him ana lay the ease Tor investigation
before the Board of Aldermen. We want in single city
no little imitation Councils, not elected by the
people yet claiming to be independent OF your honorable
body whom the people have elected In TINS room, by
YOU gentlemen OF the Common Council, all legislative
deberaton be inelligently, and what Is more. re-
sponsibly carried For executive charge OF depart
nieus but one head IL wanted for each and all such
heads should be directly aud entirely responsible 10 YOU
aS You to the people at brief intervals.
our choIee is between return TO simple honest, Dem
ocratc City Government by one popular local leglsla
tire, and one head under tor each department. OF 10
drift along, with independent departments employing
their own counsel prosecute the Mayor in the Courts
whenever he presumcs 10 try tosave the treasury from
paying borrowing money that IT cannot afford Tor
uses that IL does not need ont OF orderly, responsible
local government we cannot IAN To get economy ana
such "A reduction OF taxation "a would restore 10 our
the beginning until 1860 ONT OF the present anarchy II
prolonged. cannot avoid still higher taxation next
year. and that will create state OF things which will
put il Of the power OF those who now have the
power TO either their own interest, as public men,
or the interest OF the great body Of the citizens
residents and propertyowners There Is nothing des
perae, even dangerous in the situation yet except
the unacCOuntable apathy 10 consequences exhibited
last wear in many quarters. our laws still give
limited facility TO four five different local authorities
cannot authorize dollar tn be spent beyond the amount
already IN the Treasury for the specific purpose but
every street graded and paved threeyear bonds
are issuable without limit. The Water Board can spend
all the water in salaries, IL IT please and call
on the levy meet deficiencies. And 1t repaye
streets old and new with any restriction worth
noticing
The Supervisors can order a new jail TO cost half
million dollars, any day they think proper. The Park
Board have their half million per annum for cOnstruc
ton and 100000 for maintenance, and boulevard I'M
provement within and without the city the vast
OF which has scarcely yet begun to he felt in
burdens idle to hope for substantial REFORM for
much longer postponement OF an evil day for Brooklyn
unless we get law emphatically fOrbiddDg any more
issue Of city bonds by any local body pretence
whate until present debt shall he at least Onehaf
paid and bringing local authority under the direct
control Of your honorable body, who.
whatever faults, in the matter OF the gas
lamps least claim that whatever do il in pub
lie sight, and would be far keony watched II IL
were understood that without public action and APP
prevail here dollar could be spent executive
official remain In place. When the public know exactly
where look and know that they looking, the
solicitations OF interested parties would longer avail
to induce expenditures against the interest
OF Xed city and the sentiments OF critical
constituency.
To the political majority OF yonr honorable bOdy-men
OF influence in the party locally d0ninant-I
clusiOn, aud In all moderation, that II stand up
against for anything Less than the present public de
mend for radical local reform, stand only
until constituents get their 1t opportunity sweep
difficulty, and what temporary alienation Of IL had
last year the work Of the party In power but
II reforms far thorough still, not made this
the people will forget who caused the trouble og
nay, aud punish only those who, having the power Of
cure, exercised with hesating and insufficient hand.