The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16

SAroQOU Opl0lOu0
suits In which the corporation as an entirety ts
plaintiff or defendant. Fortunately for him the
Various employ attorneys Of their own
ants mischievous law Is on the statute book
which win cost the city great deal of money In the
corporation ltigations and hampers the discretion
of the Comptroller and the Judgment OF the law
brought against the corporation must be tried be-
fore atury. There necessarily result accommodations
OF costs and interest Political corporations all the
world over lose largely upon the average IN ntga-
CATION. 1t is generally cheaper to compromise than
to lltigate II compromise can be had without sacrl-
crook, the majority Of ntigants against public
corporations recover their claims. under tne IN,
Of time and political S So o R9W as
down and apparently killed. A notable IN
stance recently came under the mayors zen ION
for about thirty thousand dollars. The city. could
several times thereafter have compromised. But
in the end after variety OF complicating legal
Issues. DELAYS and new trials on both Sides the
claimants under unanimous opinion OF the Court OF
sixty thousand dollars. The Hacking and Devn
claims are, perhaps additional instances In addt
tiOnal Illustration.
Health Department..
This department Is crippled for want of moneys
Nine-tenths OF our population know as little about
the mechanism or their bodies or the laws OF
health as the child does OF the wonders OF his me,
regulations lacks the Inspiration OF knowledge or
of sympathy with the acquisitions. OF law. The
greed. The enforcement OF health laws encounters
not only ignorance and greed, but antagonistic
Hence more moneys should be voted for the pur-
poses OF public defence. More inspectors are
NEEDED These oG sh rsEs b 1sSef 4
for the authorities to enforce health laws upon
community Of million, Jet them stop TO appr ts
nifty.
deaths within city limits was larger than ever be.
FORE for o like PERIOD in our municipal history. 1t
demands chronicle. because, notwithstanding the
pheric acceleratiOns OF sickness, there were no
signs Of epidemic. The number OF deaths were, IN
round numbers, 1900, about four hundred OF which
represented persons Of foreign birth; OF the num-
Der stated to be natives, infants under one
tween five and twenty So that the ratio OF native
born adults who succumbed to the comparatively
exceptional causes of weakness and illness ana
consequent death was quite small Two hundred
and seventeen Of the deaths were certified by cor
SS OF TINS Peg nc s 10 FIVE e
hundred and eightyelght OF the deaths in private
practice were due to disturbances in the digestive
organs, and consequent upon the ignorant or In
cautious manner with which, despite all outdoor
precautions Of the Health Board, the citizens par
take Of fish, fruits and vegetables which farmer
Inasmuch as some legal doubt exists as to whether
not the existing health ordinances are In force,
it may become advisable for your honorable body
to legislate upon them.
Street improvements.
The Board Of Street Openings will shortly con-
yene for the purpose Of extending Church street to
Washington Parade Ground, another block; and
for perfecting the widening Of Ann street, now rem
New YORK Post ONCE. The Board viii also consider
other plans oil city improvements. The Mayor hopes
that your appropriate committees VIII render such
advice and aid in the matter as may be necessary,
While upon the question of improvements it will
aU Re 81 the a % bRe
soon solved by the agency OF private capital ener-
geticay used, nor to recognize in this connection
dinguishedly identified with the agitation and ac-
compishment OF schemes for rapid transit. &c
their promotion, during many years. his pen, voice,
fortune, and finally his strength and life, were
given. While revered In social and business circles
for his private virtues ne anrs o ast ing re
sight and zeal in developing city growth and pro-
noting the convenience and prosperity Of his fel-
low citizens
Boulevard Construction
was four years ago. transferred from the Street
Department to the Central Park Commissioners.
The Legislature has recently re-transferred It from
the Department OF Parks to that OF Public Works.
The principle OF this was doubtful The Central
Park may be called the heart of the Improvement
system, Of which the boulevards are the arteries.
One board Should as matter OF principle 1t would
SEEM control the system, in order that uniformity
of the Department OF Public Works. who assumes
supervision or the bOulevards, has been identified
with the Central PARK rom JUS nlrtn, ana under
velopments in uptown improvements, and he will
be assisted by the Engineer-in-Chef and Clerk OF
the old Central Park Board.
Press criticism is made upon the necessity and
cost OF Riverside and Morningside parks but 1t
must be remembered that city treasury .expendi-
ture for their purchase and laying out will really
prove less in the end than the expense for running
streets and avenues through the area which these
parks embrace-the Typographical difficulties Of
their situation being so complicating. Moreover,
these parks will advantage popular comfort and
health, and by enhancing property values IN their
vicinity, lessen general taxation.
Legislative Departments.
The Mayor earnestly begs the Common Council
to enact complete code OF ordinances. This is
municipal matter which has been grievously de-
layed. State laws, concurrent in action with the
Charter law, make an nractlon OF every city Ordl-
nance msdemeanor, and therefore you can eXer-
else enlarged powers 1t Is now six years since the
ordinances were revised. They have never been
adapted to the present charter. The police and
magistrates constantly complain OF confusion In
ordinance enactments The twenty-seven specifl-
cations Of powers to pass ordinances contained in
section Fl OF the charter are considered to be COM
prehensve and exhaustive In their scope. Take,
s.27. And Tor carrying into effect and enforcing
any of the powers privileges and rights at any time
granted and bestowed upon or possessed by said
corporation"
Or power 49,
"l3. In regard to the relation between all the Of
hcers and employees OF the corporation, in respect
TO each other. the corporation and the people,"
The ordinances respecting traffic and sales In the
public places, or use OF streets and sidewalks or
opening OF street services for gaspipes or IN re-
spect to the deposits OF ashes, garbage, or re-
moving snow and ice, &C., require especial enlarge
ment ana which haye ma an
within the last year that the Common Council really
possess more power over departments, by the
enactment of ordinances than either the Mayor or
the Common Council have hitherto supposed. You
may also accomplish much by investigating the
operations of departments In the manner EN-.
poyed by discreet legislative and congressional
committees. Agitation IN legislative bodies some
times acc0mplishes as much as statute making.