New-York tribune., 1873-01-07
ana sinecuros in the bu-

departments
stance De subject TO the approval Of the Council All
boards that separate from departments with the ex
be abolished II this latter board continued, It's con-
sttution should be changed Executive officers sitting
their dsnosa o TO expeSd Is am anomaly which mani
festly ought not to continue. No mere executive oneer
svey in the hands Of those Of city officers whose
duty II is to watch and restrain.
without intending any reflection upon these oncers
in my Judgment no good reason exists why me Com ON
partmeut OF Public Parks should be members OF the
Apportoning Board IL was originally thns arranged 10
enable certain men who then held these offices the better
TO gigantic schemes OF public plnnder which
they were working for their own personal benefit ln-
stead OF these officers there should be substituted ts
OF Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen The presence OF
tne Controller ,S mhe vote o.
sary to give validity to their acts-the vote OF the ma
proceedings of the Board should be subject 10 the
approval of the Common Council All heads OF Depart
STf e SSTor oT S Ne TS Should he
subject to removal by the Governor for cause in the
manner as shers and other public officers now are
CHARTER REVISION SUPPLEMENTED BY ECONOMY.
Let us not however, delude ourselves into the belief
that any revision of the charter adequate to pro
ec us rom the evils from which this city has suffered
and still is suffering The laws which relate 70 the gov
ernment Of the city are numerous so full OF details
and often contradictory and ncongruous, that their
proper administration Is almost impossible. The ord-
nanees OF the city are also In ineXtcabe CONFUSION
Since they last revised special legislation Tor the
city has been extensive, that cannot without con
siderable labor ascertain whetbe particular ordinance
remains in force II is no doubt in a great measure
owing to these that of the proceedings of
the Common Council for several years past nave been
held by Courts to have been irregular and illegal
throwing the burden Of expensive local improvements
upon the city at large TO the extent OF millions OF dol
lars instead Of leaving them 10 be borne by those whose
property has been increased in value by such improve
1t is necessary therefore, that all special laws
in force which apply 10 the city, as well as the Guy
ordinances should be revised by some one competent 10
And while these various measures arc being promoted
others Of practical character require 10 be DEVISED 10
secure efficiency and economy In the execution OF tne
about 20 be entered upon by the CITY, Whatever under
secure the welbeng Of the community should be pro-
ceeded with, and conducted with vigor and economy
How best accomplish this for the public veal and not
for the benefit Of spectators private interests
! is doubt difficult to determine But whatever the
difficulties IN the way may be- they must be encountered
The system which has of late grown to such gigantic
proportions Of permitting the heads of some OF the de-
partments TO employ and the right to retain at the
pense the city, subject to their exclusive control
speedily and firmly dealt with The methods by which
employment obtained by those seeking II at the hands
of the departments is often humiatlng 10 honest labor
and naturally results in organizing bands OF political
reaners, under the control of the heads OF particular
departments, for their own purposes. We have felt the
pernicious influence which has resulted from the per
sIstept efforts made through such nsrumentaity to
cure personal and party influence and advantage. We
longer want mere political operators at the heads of
departments or IN charge OF influential interests OF the
PUBLIC WORKS UNDER NEW CONTRACTS
| Our public works must 90 proceeded with, under
well devised system Of contracts In every contract
the work to be executed should be specifically set
forth that efficiency in its performance should to Ger
tainty be secured. and in addition to all this i'm
proved system Of inspection of all public works
imperatiyely demanded Only such persons who have
practical knowledge of the description OF work they are
appointed to inspect should be placed in such position
| OF trust Honest contractors should no longer be
haraSsed with double set OF inspectors 10 accommodate
political fayorltes and 1t should no longer be
proach that with an expenditure OF millions OF dollars
each year upon works connected with the formation, m
prOvement and repairs of and avenues,
many of thoroughfares are still found in disgrace
| ful condition
Under law passed in 1870 the Commissioner of Pub
Lie Works authorized to change the Croton Aqueduct
from 10 Ninetythirdst,
distance of twenty blocks, from structure of masonry
to iron pipes. This work has been going on for more
than years. not by contract but by the direct
ployment OF large numbers OF men by the Department
OF Public Works.
Up TO the 26h December 1872, the enormous sum of
50 I64 62s Ol had expended this work have
doubt it could have been executed much more expo.
cost The law does not limit the amount OF expend
ture for this work. the Controller being bound to answer
the requsions OF the Commissioner or Public Works to
any extent that he may demand.
It generally supposed that gross and extensive
frauds were committed in connection with TINS WORE.
Recent developments show that the payrolls OF the
employed by the Department having performed labor
and entitled to receive pay for the same while In fact
these men had done work and were entitled 10 no
money II is very difficult for the paying officers to
ascertain and detect these frauds The principal knowl
the roll winch assumed be correctly and honestly
certified and in the Identification Of the person by the
/ recommend that this work be examined by compe-
tent engineers an estimate OF the cost of completing 1t
made, and that il be completed by contract
Works only Of special character should be made
future burden upon the CITY, such as bridges tunnels
works connected with water system and others
OF Ike description. In view OF recent caamtes by
Gre il matter Of vital importance that sufficient
no of CrOton be carried to all parts of the city,
as to provide for any emergency which may arise;
and, If expedient that some system DC devised OF ut
water Of the Hudson aud East Rivers. Where suf-
dcien supply of Croon water been already
~,
should be proceeded With at once The expense OF the
already OF may hereafter be completed should be pro-
pided for out Of the annual taxation.
INCREASE OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The alarming rapidty at which debt and our an
nual burdens have increased Is far my knowledge
extends without precedent in the history OF any city,
During the past six years have had no undertakings
very costly IN themselves TO provide for no works OF
any magnitude have been entered upon, except IN con-
necton with water system our docks and parks, our
roads, and the Brooklyn bridge. In connection with
these several & oSn we haye pd during he
county in the PERIOD has increased from S5,lS7,
7TO so $l9855229 81 and our annual taxation from
IS to $50 1t is difficult for to real
lze the magnitude OF this increase.
Through the instrumentaty of special legislation,
fraudulent schemes have converted legal Obi
cations ana our debt and our burdens thus increased
we have had to provide for The successfm manlpua-
ton by which these burdens have been imposed upon
have added strength TO that system of pnder Of which
We have been long the Victims and the prejudlcal
inAuenees OF which have been felt in all matters affect
ing the we-being OF this community.
A faithful d0mlDlstlhllOn OF
TO exert powerful influence the good order and
erpment OF the city. Our late financial administration,
on sudden termination left as legacy It's successor
an OF floating Indebtedness, the accumu-
lated the neglected business Of the various
departments the past five years. amounting TO many
millions of dollars considerable portion OF which was
a very complicated and fraudulent character Upon
the new administration OF the Finance Department
largely the and most unpleasant duty OF
sitting and examining these various claims, paying those
which were ust and rejecting those tainted with excess
and with corruption.
1t should be borne In mind that 1t was necessary to
labor with the transactions
The great volume Of the daily business Of the Depart
ment satisfied the work OF dealing with the large
arrearages Of the past far II has pr0ceedod-and
there has been no unnecessary deay-has been dis
charged By the Controller with the sincere determine
ton TO administer inparualjusce That such course
Of acion-consderng the nature of many OF the claims
dealt with should sometimes lead to disappointment Is
he znndereii That thera shOuld be