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


tionment has found 1t necessary to appropriate &c. 2s
9 70 to meet the expenses Of Government for the pres
provide expenditures already Hxed by law, 1t Is
simply over the balance OF s02546 60 that the Board
tonment Of this had obviously to he regulated by
the growing wants OF the city IN providing Tor It's l
rent business aud the decayed condition OF many OF is
public buildings, and the urgent need OF repairing IT'S
accounts for 1874 is but slightly In excess OF the actual
expenditures Of 1871 But 1t will be seen that under the
raise during the present year the following amounts IN
of those required for 1871 The state tax Is nearly
required to pay interest on the debt For the
redemption Of funded bonds nearly 1Ooooo have TO De
the Fourth,ave improvements demand sl5oo.ooo, and
the Police Department hoooooo for street cleaning ad
dtiOns force, &c, In excess OF what had 10 Dc
supplied in 1871 Various additions and improvements to
the city property which would under the old , system Eaa
be met out OF the proceeds OF taxation A.,
the :, do S sn Ss rae OF on
value OF 1873 This Is 80 high rate
pristions or expenditures should by the
Legislature calculated TO increase the burdens OF the
operation OF your honorable body. The Controller in
that the rate OF taxation Tor 1874 can DC some
0nrea for thar eect Which viii be prepared BY
for submission 1t is to be hoped that result so desrs
will be attained with both prOmpttude and ease. Both
trade and population will be driven from the city unless
the greatest vigilance is exercised TO defeat all projects
for burdens this overtaxed community,
and unless the strctest economy Is employed IN dsDus
ing the revenues over winch we are suneeu W o'aip
any practical supervision
The proportion of the State tax required this year
from NewYork city and county amounts TO over 40 per
Of the entire tax levy OF the city and county and
the rest Of the state ii standing Injustice to tins
community that 1t should be called upon 10 pay nearly
ment 1t is a matter of little concern to New-York
under what system OF assessment the local revenues OF
Buffalo Rochester raised but 1t does concern our
interests very materially when common burden like
the State tax bears upon every dollars worth OF reai
other parts OF the State From Legislature, fvesxths
OF which represent constituencies unconcerned IN the
preparation Of this wrong IL Is difficult 10 say now we
can expect such q remedy as the case demands IL ~
evident that nothing short Of persistent agitation and
lion and no Opportunity should be omitted to arouse
public opinion to the magnitude OF the injury which the
We are this year required by law to provide 1884,
3s7 IT, by the OF bonds OF the city as our por
ton OF planned absence OF over SOOO In GER
tain sinking funds of the State, which by the constit-
ton and laws made nvioabe THIS inhicton VIII
Of course the debt OF the city TO that extent
Claims Of the present against the Treasury are
audited and paid at the Finance Department with great
promp ness far that Department is concerned
at least just OF complaint exists with respect
TO any class of payments. .,,o. $50
teriss &c, were examined and paid during the year
Finance was two days The average within which
rolls abOrers OF the past year have been PAID was
less than three days from the time OF their receipt at the
Prior TO the present administration OF the Depart
ment the laborers were brought the Office the City
Hall Park payment; they paid for their time
coming going and waiting They are now paid on or
quarter OF million dollars per year is saved by this
method OF transacting this business
During the year 453,Sl5 IS have been disbursed 10
laboring employed by the city, and they have been
always fairly, justly and promptly paid.
services OF paying officer in all departments, except
the police. and the paving OF men and Of claims that
formerly occupied dozen separate treasurers and a
retnne OF attendants aud aids for almost every depart
ment is now done by the Finance Department after Its
audit of the claim thus keeping check on the opera
tions Of the other branches the City Government
TINS is a salutary and sound arrangement and though
1t has greatly enhanced the abors OF the Finance De
partment, the rule should he made universal.
IL is this department. that much depends in the
OF the CITY That these
revenues have greatly increased is beyond question.
In the midst of the late financial panic ION the LIST OF
November lastl. bonds of the city, TO the amount OF
s. 35O,OOO fen due, ana the Controller was compelled IN
current claims of the city, TO provide the means to pay
the maturing bonds. THIS was successfully accom-
pllshed.
February 1874 eight millions OF bonds mature, ana
the means will he provided to pay them
CHAMBERLAIN AND COUNTY TREASURER.
The very responsible duties of this officer have been
most satisfactorily performed. The banks which have
been made deposares OF the moneys OF the City and
County have made 10 the Controller. promptly and
without coercion, monthly returns OF the interest
accrued the deposited funds and these have boon
passed 10 credit OF the sinking fund The amount
OF interest accrued the CITY their moneys from
NAV to Dec 81 is $52.i77 Is. The Chamberlain who
ia required to give security the sum OF E,6ooOo, IL
allowed by law the OF $4,000 per annum for his own
compensation. and to provide for all the expenses OF
conducting his office. What contrast with the past
The late Chamberlain Francis A Palmer, has not yet
paid over the city the interest accrued on deposits
amount paid over to the state Treasurer 1t is believed
the advantages OF this Office prior to the accession
OF the present incumbent were, directly or indirectly
not S5oOO per annum TO Its fortunate holder
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The cleaning OF the streets has been placed under the
management of this department, and is very certain
that there has been great Improvement in the per
Torrance OF this service during the past year 1t is to
be hoped that the expenses will be reduced as the bus
ness becomes better organized This department since
its organization under the charter has exhibited
degree of vigo and intelligent zeal in the discharge OF
the important duties the law devolves upon its heads
which promise to us greater measure OF security
10 life and property and maintenance OF pu0lc order
than we have known III recent years
LAW DEPARTMENT
Upon the Law Department has been imposed al uu-
usual amount OF business 0ccssoned by the defense OF
numerous old claims against the city. TO this depart
ment has been committed the power OF assigning coun
sell to the other departments of the city required
IL to me it would be well to give TO the Mayor
the power to employ special counsel when. in his
opinion the interests OF the city require it. He is held
responsible fol the good government OF the city; and
employ counsel in any particular in which the in
terests of the city may. In his Judgment require it.
DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department proposes. among its expend
lures for the year the construction OF fire boat
ply on the OF the harbor properly equipped with
hose and powerful engines and apparatus adequate
the speedy extinguishment OF fires occurring in the
shipping or in the warehouses along the docks.
The Department also cOntemplates The erection OF
aerial ladders late invention, TO aid IN the speedy
movs OF persons from lofty buildings fire. and OSd
the force 10 their efforts stay the advances Of the
consuming flames. 1t is hardly necessary for to
state in view OF the reputation 1t enjoys that the duties
OF this department have bsen successfully and satisfac
torily performed
DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
Great economy and efficiency have been introduced lin
the Department OF Public Charities and Correction The