New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-04
REDUCING MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES.
ILLEGAL EXTRAvAGANCE IN sTREET-0rENlNG COSTS
RFBUkED.

Corporation Counsel Whitney has been en-
gagged siuce be took Office making himself thoroughly
acquainted with the duties OF the position lie Is Oh 'ne
opinion that considerable saving can be eHecleu III
various ways and has addressed letter to the COmis-
sopels for the opening streets and avenues with refer
ence to the taxation of costs. Since 1862 single
erroneous practice which fully explained by the Cor
narration Counsel has cost the city S35OO0O. Following
is the letter;
LAW DErARrMEST OFFICE OF THE COUNSEL TO THE
CORPORAIION, NEw-YoEK, Dec. j. 1910. }
To he Commissioners J0r he opening n STREETS d''d
ArenueS-CENIIKMEN the enormous expense when mas
nenj 81 strcets and avenues in this city has induced
ME make special examination OF the subject iGr the
purpose Of scertaning how lar these great eA eHAuf
are qhJiI1f w ir mat Down to The present time the
expenses have been OF all pro- orton 10 the require
mCnts OF the law, ana are without "!A Ius,i4cA'oii
ybateySr As Won are now conducting proceedings not
VI cc,od | desre TO call your attention to one
erroneous practice III these cases, IN order lht you ma
,tnld nm error into which every commission appointed
din Inc llst thirteen Yeas has fallen, and that Is with
reference TO your report Inc law OF AHTh - lpo7;
applicable these cases, provides speche@Iy MAJ siah
CONSTITUTE. your report. Ihat there might bc no nsn-
der,,anding OF yOr duty, eacn step OF YOU Noetts
for which you estimate and assess d',mases mas
prior 10 Your appointment been laid ont on the city map
ana surveyed and inOhhtnttd ny 'it pnou
Before any awards OF assessments can dc h',ut.
certain data be obtained, aud therefore inc Ia"
Iove Tor the preparation under your direction 81 dd-
grams showing the extent and boundaries oil tue r.
similar Iiagrls of tie property benefited 10y the pro
Gee ugS upon which diagrams each parcel Is 10 DC lhu!
a
n0 bguuds Of eac aIe 10 be laid down IN figures
Alter you have ascertdned the names Of tho owners 81
mined thr amounts OF the awards for property taken and
OF assessments for that benefited the law provides lor
The ur,paI7.tiOn OF "a tabular abstract 81 youl
awards aud assessments, III which tdoh plc,I hLa1 pt
referred 10 by us number upon the diagrams. Ihf NAMES
NJ ~ Drcty, owners snail be given far as known;
otherwise the parcel shall bc indicated as oeoLsHs 70
unknown owners ana the amounts oil me m''l'is anu
prOucriy headed each wOlld occupy but one live
This abstract has always been properly prepared
and ,cA upon the law provides for the lIcthlaNo
of your report aud in terms speccs what shail constr
lutte thai report The said report shall consist OF sad
diagrams duly corrected when necessary, WIN taou'i
abstract a. said estimate ana assessment WIN an! cor
rccous alterations thereof by said Commissioners;
and shall Toicr 10 the numbers u the iidcls ana
parcels indicated by SAID diagrams anu s'a',
Che several sums rcspectlNely estimated Tor
assessed upon each OF sald tracts on Parcel;
with the name or names oi tne oWtIs Va u iii VI
each il asgertutd by said COMMISSIONED il sla'l mol
DO necessary IN said report 10 describe any OF tDe sa
tracts or parcels by mctcs and bounds hut only ny refer
ence 10 the SAID dagaa5 IL Is entirely cic rom thls
as 10 what shall constitute your report You arc required
1.-THE diagram iunsltS an inc usl TO ,n'.. .i i,o
awards aud assessments rs IS now the custom referring
10 affected parcels by the appropriate "noT ia eaoD
caso u the diagram, giving The names Ol the OeIs
and the amounts assessed or awarded II nsuIes, ItH
ned and certified by yOu constitute the report Ihey are
made by the law. .,
for the clerk OF the commission to prepare an
elaborate isoealed Teot IN winch leai rs el,en VI
each award and each aascsslnont, ana ia when an t'r
story is told Of what TIE commissioners nave zone
in each case and the full description OF the Affected
property Is gwen by mees ana bounds This is exactly
the th which the Law contemplated shall mol be done
IL saws The said report shall consist Of said diagrams
with tabular abstract" &c, and provides against TINS
very thing specifically Ii email not DO necessary "A
by mees and bounds but only by reference to the said
diagrams" - ,
The criticised progress is quite analogous TO that OF
turning "a merchants ledger INTO narrative, 30 that
each item should make complete story. Ihese BOOKS
as light be supposed generally become rubbish when
made they vOuminOus, 80 much so that bulky
volumes have been brought forth III numbers from
single opening. They are used Tor no legal purpose
because they not known 70 the law Though these
books quite unnecessary ad eOINe no istlu PURPOSE
IL appears from examination OF the oils tdal the} nave
co Inc city since the act OF 1862 forbade then over
$3.50 600. / cannot find from any accessible records
that their egaity has been suggested but hereafter
it will De necessary to eliminate this item from The DIE
Offered for taxation or when taxed. suggest IT, tore
fore 90 you this time In order that the expense may
not he incurred by you. an, gentlemen yours respect
fully WA. G. WHITSEY, Counsel TO the Corporation.