New-York tribune., 1873-01-07
THE MAyORS MESSAGE

Mr.. Havemeyer begins well. His message is
comprehensive, remorselessly reformatory, and
mainly sound. An old Democrat, elected by
Republicans without having provoked the
serious hostility of his Democratic opponents,
of stainless reputation, valuable experience,
and unquestioned ability, he enters upon his
Office with the general confidence of good cit
izeDs of all parties. 1t is a difficult task he
undertakes and it will be very easy to dis
appoint the high expectations that his record
and character not less than his vehement as
saults alike upon the course of his predecessors
and the existing order of things inspire. But
he will have everywhere good wishes and
cordial support.
The plight in which he finds the City Gov
ernment ia deplorabe. A wasteful and need
less distinction is kept up, for office-holding
purposes, between City and County Govern
mepts. The Council has largely abnegated or
been deprived of its legislative functions
The heads of departments are without proper
accountability, and they are all beyond the
Mayors control. "There are too many de-
apartments and boards in the city, too many
chiefs placed at the head OF some OF these,
" too many bureaus i'll some OF the depart
"ments, and too many supernumerares and
" sinecures in the bureaus Some heads of de-
partments audit their own bills. The laws relat-
ing to the city are incongruous and bewilder-
ing. Public works are carried on without rigid
contracts. on the most wasteful of systems.
The City debt has increased in six years from
forty-fve to a hundred and eighteen millions
Thanks to the folly of the last Legislature,
the taxation has been raised, i'll year. from
So to SO 80 per hundred. We are paying large
sums for the rent of buildings which we don't
use. We are paying ninety thousand dollars
a year to sweep out and lock up the City
Hall buildings. And we are paying more than
our share of the State taxation.
| Such are some of the fruits of the charter
of 1870. which THE TRIBUNE did what it could
to defeat Was there ever sorrler exhibit
Yet the Mayor seems sanguine enough to be-
| ieve that legislation at Albany and honest
administration here will speedily reform it all.
! Over and over again, we have cherished sim
! lar confidence. We reach it more slowly now.
| There are two methods of governing the City
of New-York; the first through the people of
the city; the second by the Legislature. The
| way to place. patronage and plumber is more d.
rect by the latter plan. and hence government by
the Legislature has always been the choice OF the
politicians. What our citizens ought to ask Of
| the Legislature is to restore self-gOvernment
to the city, and we know that the mass OF
the Republican party throughout the State is
| not in favor of assuming the responsibility OF
ruling the metropolis from Albany for the sole
benefit of few active politicians. That ex-
periment has already defeated in turn both the
| Republican and Democratic parties, and will
| defeat any party that attempts 1t. Neverthe-
less deep scheming is already going on. The
political workers are celebrating how much
they can safely ask of the Legislature, and by
what tricks they can deceive men not accus-
toned to look beneath the surface OF things.
When we come to honest, untrammeled gov
ernment Of this city by the people; when we
have few officers when we make these re-
sponsble and hold them to a rigid response
| blity; when we elect them at a time as far
removed from all general elections as posi-
bic, that State or National politics may be ex-
cluded from the choice then we shall have
| lust as good government as we deserve.
| Till that time comes we shall founder on
| with patchwork devices. The Mayor suggests
some of the legislation he wants. The Repub-
| ican Committee is understood to have diverse,
| if not hostile suggestions. Neither will 90 to
the root of the matter; but either, let us hope,
will secure us at least something better than
We have. "