The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-05
HE.z-Is OPPOSED TO COMMITS s1oNs
The ! Democratic Principle Of tho; People Gov.
erning by the People.
TU : COMMON COUNCIL POwERLEss.
ID Increased Taxation and How 1t Was Neces-
sitated-The Old Police System-Popular
Election the Remedy for All
Political Abuses.


onnces are somewhat changed since the days when
ex-Mayor Hall was Chief Magistrate. 1t VIII De re-
membered that Mr. Hall occupied the inner room |
of the Mayors suit OF rooms and there received his
visitors chatting and Joking as he signed warrants
or putting the finishing touches to an epistolary
and onicial communication. Mayor Havemeyer re- |
ceves hts callers in the middle room OF the suit
and ushered in by Mr.. Whittemore, the acting Chief
Clerk HERALD reporter was introduced to His
Honor yesterday. The Mayor turned in his chair on
the entrance Of the visitor, and, taking his spec
tacles from his nose, asked the reporter to be
seated. Mr.. Havemeyer has thoroughly burgo-
master appearance, and the most casual observer
must be struck with the venerable and atherly ap-
pearance OF the Chief Magistrate Of the city. His
manner invites confidence and shows no fear OF
that innova ton OF modern times the professional
interviewer.
After few complimentary congratulations the
reporter said
"Mr. Mayor have called upon you to ask you
about your message, If you think 1t proper to say
anything to me about it."
"wen sir, don't know that can say anything
about it. l don't intend it to be anticipated. 1
shall deliver it on Monday, all being well, and then
everybody may know all about it,"
''Mr. Mayor, don't care about the anticipation
oft; that would not be proper but. perhaps I
may ask you II ther' be anything revolutionary IN
itg'
mo, I'm man of peace. Pm not O revolution
ist. should like to describe my message in one
word If could think OF an appropriate word" The
Mayor threw himself back in his chair, and seemed
TO be trying to think OF the word but the word did
not come SO the interviewer tried to assist him.
81 presume there will be no jokes in 1t, Mr..
Mayor"
'No there will be no jokes. They won't find my
"Your predecessor enlvened his messages with
. little pleasantly, and 1t was not una ceptabe."
'.Mr. Halls messages were admirable. used to
ask him why he made them elaborate for so lit
tie purpose, and he generally replied by asking me
lf they did not read WE'LL"
"They certainly were successful in that particu-
lar, Mr. Mayor, but presume by that remark you
are of an opinion that the message to the Common
Council in these times is Scarcely worth the eabor-
. alton"
~Well, let us see what this Common Council can
really do. Well, they can regulate the letting or
or fireworks, the putting up Of bills advertise
ments) on the psvements or lamp-posts aud they
can recommend street to be paved, and don't
know that they can do very much more"
Mayor Whatever the Common Council may be,
they are elected by the people, and ought to have
mo, don't approve OF 1t: that's certain, SIR"
'"rhat is precisely what might have been ex.
Then you don't agree with this system Of commits.
sions for doing everythingY"
responsibility should rest with the people, and the
elected of the people should have power. AS it is
now, the Aldermen may recommend street to be
paved. They may say to Mr.. Van Mort that street
shall be paved in certain way and by day
work or by contract;. but Mr.. Van Mort
suit him. probably he will do it; Il 1t don't it is
mot likely he WILL Then, Mr.. Van Mort is men,
her OF the Board of Apportionment and actually
q
$4,000, OOO,' and II he gets it he may use it as he
pleases. Why, that's no way Of obtaining respon-
Hblity There Is no election OF him by the people,
and, think, the peoples representatives ought to
have tine say as to what should be done with their
"Then your message, Mr.. Mayor, will point out
this anomalous condition of thingss"
was Mayor before. Then If asked an Alderman
about what was best to be done there was some
point and force in what he had to say and If the
Mayor recommended anything it was likely to be
carried out.n
'Then you would have the Mayor the RESPONSE
BILE, active head of the city government, with actual
power and power that could be felt ~
"Certainly, that's my idea OF a Mayor. or course
Icould not go and pave a street. or enter into any
contract for 1t, actually, but / could do this:
could order 1t to be done and give street inspec-
tor or commissioner orders to do 1t and II any
thing went wrong about IT could have power to
call upon him to explain. Just as when l was
President OF bank was President OF the Board
OF Directors; was not the cashier but appointed
the cashier, and although he could appoint clerk,
under certain conditions, he was responsible to
and tne Beard Tor the performance OF his duties,
and could hold him to an account. That IL the
principle that prevails in mercantile affairs, and
citySn
"0f course Mr.. Mayor you have taken into con-
eideration that since the time YOU were Mayor the
CITY L mas wonderfully grown and Is not quite so
THAT don't make any difference. 1t is the prin-
ciple OF the people ruling by the people, and that
u what ought never TO be forgotten under any cir
Cumstances."
ABut the people have elected the Common
m nv in
vidiOus remarks about former boards may ask
are you still satisfied with the result p,
"Well, If the people choose to elect thieves. rob-
bers and rowdies let them take the consequences
OF it. They have to hear the consequences in tax
alton indirectly, and when they find that out they
will remedy 1t rs they have done"
81 scarcely think that this abolition OF Commits
sloners and this return0f governing the people by
the people likely to come TO pass in this city just ut
present, Mr.. Mayor"
ave are governed BY Legislature, that's true;
but we can Impress upon the people these prin.
iples and get back again TO government that
} very man feels he has personal interest in; but
q lis Kind of governing in which nobody Is respon-
z ole can't last. Let me know where can put my
h. nd on q man who Is doing wrong, and give me
n power TO bring MN TO So9S ana tnis ccIrup
q IshOud like to ask, Mr.. Mayor whether You
has eexpressed any very decisive views upon the
"av ell " replied the Mayor, Il don't know that
have expressed anything in avery decided man
but l uess you Lad better wa,t TIL Monday, and
ihen you VIII be able to form your estimate. That
matter OF taxation is very peeunar one-it
wakes people up about as soon as any thing does
Wher people expect to be taxed about $50 or 2.60
and fud that it Is up to 290 or 2S5sthey pegin 10
feel serious about It.
Then infer from your remark, SIR, that taxa
ton will be increased shis year. Am lcerrectT'
"Oh, yes. There will be quite AN increase. III
will be about thrty-nve, thirk."
But, Mr.. Mayor, what has necessitated this In
crease ~
"a vaxiety Of circumstances bave combined to
produce IT. You see the State taxes the city
,Qearly ioar millions more this year-about three
million seven hundred thousand dollars, think,
u pretty nearly the figure You see they stole the
whole sinking fund, which amounted to between
Blk and seven millions, and propoi ton OF that
has 20 be made up by additional taxation. That
fund was fortified by legislative enactment so that
~ cod3d not De appropriated for any othe purpose
than the one for which IL was raised; but they
passed other laws overriding these and declared