New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-20

it necessary to mention. The growth oil the
debt, after deducting the amount in the Sinking
Fund, is computed ut $9,0S4,42J for the period
of twenty seven and one-half months, from
Sent. 16, 1871, when Mr.. Green became Con-
trollcr, until Dec. 81, 1873 This is at the rate
of four millions a year, q scale OF progress
mucb lcss rapid than we have uniformly rep
resented in these columns. The explanation
of the discrepancy between the actuai anu
apparent truth lies in the circumstance that
during the twenty -eleht months since sept
49, 1871 the taxes of three years nave
been collected With the money derived
from the taxes the Controller mas been
enabled to pay off large amounts Of Key
enue bonds. and temporarily to diminish the
indebtedness of tho City and County. But
the misfortune is that the expenditures for the
first nine months of this calendar year VIII
have to he met mainly from the issue OF frcsh
Revenue bonds and such other stocks as have
been authorized by the Legislature. There
was also owing by the City of New-lork to
tho State Treasury on the 3lst OF December
last, over four million dollars for I'M
paid taxes which the City could and
should have been forced to pay on
tho 1st of May, when they became due
The truth of the matter is that the City Is
still issuing too many bonds. The proper
comparison to make for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the growth of the Debt is between
the same dates in different years. Had the
Mayor done this he would have discovered
that tho debt augments at the rate OF more
than ton million dollars year, instead of four
millions, as his comparisons would seem to
indicate.
Several disconnected passages Of tue message
treat of the special legislation which has been
the curse of tais city aud Brooklyn, aud which
the Mayor rightly condemns i'll unequvocal
terms. The powers of the Board of City
Works are very justly declared to be too
great; those of the Department of Parks are
said to be so confused rs to impair the efficiency
of the Commissioners the system OF triple
headed and independent and irresponsible
Commissions is denounced as vicious relic
Of the old and corrupt regime of the past;
the frequent and radical changes in the
Charter are pronounced fatal To the mainte-
nance Of high standard of character
and efficiency i'll administration and the de-
pryation of the Mayor and Common Council
of nearly all power ia characterized as absurd
and mischieyous, leading to grave complica-
tons and great responsibility, What the
Mayor advances on these points Is hardly an
argument indeed it sounds somewhat dicta-
torial. not to say characteristic of the man;
but the assertions are such that few familiar
with our misgovernment in the past will stop
to dispute them
The sins of the Legislature have not, Ill the
Mayors mind. been wholly of commission 1t
has omitted much needed legislation for the
consolidation of tho City and County Govern
ments. Why this distinction in law and adj
ministration should continue when there is no
difference in fact between the two govern
mcnts is ncomprehensible, except upon the
hypothesis that tho ofiice-holders have been
powerful enough to prevent legislation in the
past. 1t is change which must eventually
come Of tho reform movement now afoot, and
the Mayors language will serve to attract at
tcnton to the subject.
As an illustration of the plentiful lack of
power which the Mayor and Common Council
possess. the message cites the striking fact that
Of s25.,4O3i6 90 of appropriations for 1874
legislative power is permitted over only
$4,000, the remainder being under the con-
troll of the irresponsible Commissioners whom
the Mayor and Council appoint but cannot
remove even for cause, except with the con-
sent of the Governor.
Three several enterprises OF doubtful value
to New-YOrk meet with the Mayors condemna-
ton. The Industrial Exhibition project is
described as the scheme of adventures; the
new CITY Prison is thought by him to be a
needless building, rather than build which we
should go ahead and finish the Court House
and the Brooklyn Bridge, under the pres
ent direction of McCue, Kingsley, and
Company, is described ~ an undertaking
whose origin and management have not been
such az TO secure for it the confidence of the
public. This is conclusion to which the
people of Brooklyn have latterly come, and
the work will doubtless stop where it is until
reform there gives an honest Directory which
can command confidence and secure appro-
priatiUns.
We have been able here to notice only
few of the chief points of value and interest
which the Mayor puts in his peculiar and for
chile way. The message is not only one of
the most important delivered in many years,
but il makes by far the best reading in official
form which New York has lately been treated TO.