New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-19
THE OITY'S CREDIT.
DECREASED EXPENDITURE DEMANDED.

DECREASED EXPENDITURE DEMANDED.
. COMMUNICATION TO TIE ALDERMEN FROM MAYOR
wICKuAM-HE OPPOSES A FURTHER INCRKASk
IN THE CITY DEBT, AS TENDING TO INJURh TIE
MUNICIPAL CREDT-THE POWER TO MAKE HEAVY
EXPENDITURES SHOULD DE CoNrhoiLED pi
THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCiL-A fEhii
NENT QUESTION by TIE CONTROLLER.
The following communication was trans
mitted yesterday by Mayor wickham 10 the boaru Vi
Aldermen. was read, and ordered 10 DC prnted ~
length In The City Record, and was finally, after debate
referred TO tho Committee on Law, and VIII propaoy
be taken M and discussed at the next meeting when
tho reading Of tho communication was finished, the
Controller who present. said that he was glad 10
hear such conservative sentiments from the Mayor.
They were he himself had advocated Tor sew
eral months past He would ask whether tho
request of the Mayor tho Legislature for authority to
incur additional debt had received the sanction
of the Board Presidents lewis decided that the Con-
troer was Of order the question was then on tho
reference to q special committee or the Committee on
Law. Alderman Pdrroy thought the Controller should
be heard and tho Controller, resumng his remarks,
said amounts asked for were for the Central Park
improvement and for the construction of the Museum OF
Art The following Is the message OF the Mayor In fnll:
MAJORS OFFICE NRw-Y YORK. March 10, 1875.
To ne Honorable The Common Counct-Genhemen:
In my of January remarked that as to what
position to state. cannot do so yet But as stated IN
That have been Informed by ne fse
bonded and funded debt amonntef. on the 3lst OF De
cember 1874 TO Sal So3 75s which includes me amount
of the Sinking Fund Since enterng upon the duties OF
the May orally have. as member OF tue board Vi Es
innate and AppoTonment ana as one O Oh rponped to
pass upon number OF applications Ior a9tho ALLY
to issue additional bonds. winch increase lno urpt
Of the city Before any such bonds were voIeu ae Laws
authorizing them were examined Those laws are
mandatory. The Common Council has no coh'rol over
the proceedings required bs taken under several of
them. But onicer or depart inrIt Oh tuo VII!
public work of some Sort incnr obligations iort
in OF the CITY, For the pay eht Vi sucn Vo.
of the laws on subject IN such terms mat the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment or as the caso
conpeed TO authorize the issue OF bonds TO an amoibt
NECESSARY to meet obigaons-and that, Whatever
Commission necessity for or propriey Oh inc
work for which the obligations were incdrred: ,,
III this system to be continued IN OPERATION inc
debt OF the ely lus go increasing indefinitely and
1t will probably. a. the close OF ths peseh. ye ulSoR
exceed the amount now reached. Inc burdens which
to bonded and funded debt have aiea1y ilnposru up
tae Taxpayers have, IN my Jnage',, mow Srr
boud be better regulations as 10 iucnrrac oDISaons
recurring any further Issue OF bond. Nrlthef inc boIr1
OF Estimate and Appointment. nor ay Olhef Dfanoh
of fine Cty Government should be called on TO act upon
| the suIrct when it helpless to apply checA or
The action ard snOcld not DC for the rst Time
Invoked when obligation has already been incurred,
and when tno fuads meet II must be raised without
discretion Us TO methods amounts ANA II should %
provided BY statute that no OBLIGATION, pinIole r"h
proceed, of bpns may he GcJrred by any Olccr OF ut
partme nt hey ond the limit OF the appropriation made
Inv iho Board for the particular WORK Out OF Wllh IL
arises rms the law III regard to al Civilizations
PAYABLE from the pIoceci, OF Aatoh ana a. 10 ~.
ofobgitious tue Restraint h"' OeeA lou'i 10 nave
| a salutarY erect. ,,,..
l urgc the matter upon your attention, and solicit
your cooperation III my ciOris 10 nave ." staurs
which apply 10 tins city 50 lar amenced that except 10
meet obi a,ii0ns already incurred our DOhlcd ahi
minded d.bt shall nos be increased beyond It's present
unit. Oar progress III tue future Sh0Hld Dc u'tr-
mined by ability u meet our oJIstloh Ia VIC p'
ana ONLY IN the radio III which aciuliy pay iOf pup
he ALREADY exec lto1 "r IN SHOULD
tsfur
expenditures. Under well regulate s'sieiD' en-
reason why with w,se anu & rr ,yr r,nof
attain this OBJ and at the same He pto7Trso WIZ
public improvements rapidly as the puDhc interests
With a view OF initiating some such system it Gems
desirable limit should be liked, beycLi wnrm me
CITY authorities cannot proceed Wth WOrhS Vi rcSud
ns gradIn scweriug, or paving srociS Ioda'' OF ave
uucs. the expense OF when Is pi!tole iio IA, % I
upon IN. properly benefited suggest tadt tl.s nm
may be safely liked at. say sl1OOlVto as 'he i
asgreg lie sum watch thc Guy eo gan -
lyalco local Improvements, Oh III scuilJ ui as
scssnents pai.Je ~ Se 'm 'v m ne sacay OF
mcnts are, IL wese continually leVoi,lhH. MoHeSs
are the bonds OF the ciiy 1l adlhnteu 10 Ply
fo iblc woIk they progress ana iOr lhcse "o.h'
wncu com ,ed, assessments arc Imposed "hlrh wnsh
collected, applied towards payment OF thc oonus'
Wheu has f:eq lenil hdpp tHe as'es
menis vacated tbs funds on the SeenI' oi ~iicn
nnnds were issued are forthcoming 10 pay tnem az
maturity, and tGe CITY IS Obliged 10 feieeh 'ho'e oon
with The proceeds of general taxation. O., ,,.o
There Is no reason why an assessment ior td'aIces
for scn works shoni not De perfect security 10 Tue
CIV If Limit is fixed, bcyoad winch no aGSances can
hs made Tor local improvements, payable from assess
| meut. the terms of law should 0e 80 simple ana
pi"mrr any assessment IN poscd the advances made
by ne Will be vacated or set as e ana thc assess
uent fund suOud be secuiei b. law 10 Dc dilniuy a
pled towards obligations OF the cry undertaken on
tue security Of It, Proper regulations snoua aIIo eo
enacted reference 10 proceedings Tor street OpehDg
Tue present OF special PROCEEDINGS ana separate
fUr each opening. shCuI1 DC aoOlIshcd' All
streets laid III plans which have been approved
Legislature may be declared opened oy Law; ana
IN all proceedings 10 determine the compensation 10 be
laid Uy the Guy property taken, ana for rights ac-
Qured, for streets &c tue fees OF commissioners
and the expenses which can be lawfully lucurTed by
them should restricted. In the past the ices OF con-
mssOner and trer charges FOR tue clerks and survey
The should be amended that excessive lees or ex-
| pcnses of Commissioners OF Estimate and Assessment
| shall recoverable against tue city,
1871 the practice has existed OF borrowing
money bonds Of the city for meeting the EXPENSES
incurred in repairing rebuilding sewers Inc au-
thorIty is found IN statute passed March 80 1871
| the amount TO be expended III one year for the
nnrpose stated not 10 exceed 100000 SO long as
law remains upODtDo slatue,bOOk IL IL mandatory upon
the city To pIOyde the amounts required within the
limit stated, for repairs OF sewers. But this Is an ex.
pendure which ought to be provided Tor In tho annual
| tax levy. The habit OF raising money upon bonds for
any portion of the ordinary expenses VI the Govern
ment Objectionable theory and operation that
effort should be made 10 put an end every phase
OF the system which allows 1t; and with TINS yew the
referred to should be Immediately repealed the re-
pealng act to take effect from and after the end OF the
present Another statute was passed IN 1871 which
authorizes the Commissioner OF Public Works. acting
on his notion take such lands and proceed with
such he consider necessary for securing
| city In this statute, originally passed. the Commits
soner was authorized to expend Tor this purpose
QUESTION, 20 city bonds sucn amounts he
should A subsequent statute passed the
| wear limited tbs amount to be expended In any
| wear for the purpose stated to <1.0oO.O0J.
Tue question OF securing proper supply or water for
the city Is Of undOuDted importance, but 1t should be
considered IN all its aspects While every should
DO taken to have such works completed as WI collect
and store up water required, equal should DO
taken the distribution ana use OF the water
and to prevent The power should not continue
In the Commissioner OF Public works to proceed with
new enterprises OF This sort Oh his own motion merely
IL should exercised subject 10 the approval OF the
| Common Council, upon tho recommendation OF the