New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-05
FUTURE MUNICIPAL POLICY.

THE MAYORS SUGGESTIONS OF REFORMS.
"noME RULEn IN LOCAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF THE CITY DEBT-THE BRIDGE, RIVERSIDE
AND MoRNINGsIDE PARKS, FOURTH-AvE. M
PRovEMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS 10 BIZ
CoNTINUED--A NON-PARTIsAN POLICE BOARD M
PERAT1vE ...t
The Mayors message was yesterday forwarded to
tho new Board Of Aldermen, and read immediately
after their organization. II Is o plain, practical
document, with very few theories, but numbers OF
suggestions as to reform in the city government,
which the Aldermen and heads of departments are
invited to cooperate in carrying out.
The Mayor holds that the last remnant Of the sys-
tenn of commissions authorized by the Legislature
should be eradlcated, and that o return to " Home
Rule" in all the departments should be made The
enlargement of the powers Of tho Common Council
to this end is urged.
The Mayor Processes his ignorance Of the actual
liabilities of the city; declares that tho outstand-
ing liabilities OF floating debt may reach as high as
$2OOOOOOO, and In very emphatic language says that
the time has arrived when the actual financial con-
dition of the city should be definitely ascertaned
and published in detail" He urges change IN the
system of finance particularly in the matter OF col
Letting taxes upon personal property, and advises
revision OF the rolls Of personal property subject TO
taxation.
He condemns in strong language the past manage
ment, which has involved the city IN vast amount
of litgaton urges the resisting OF improper claims,
but saws that he shall do all in his to secure
to every just and honest creditor aspeedy
| of his claim.
| Among the public works which the Mayor urges
should be continued are the River Side Park. the
| Morning Side Park the East River Bridge the con-
tinuation of the Fourth-ave. improvement, the COM
pletion Of the Courthouse. the providing OF better
| armories for the National Guard the repaylng oil
many of the streets south of Forty -second-st the
building of moro bridges across the Harlem kiver'
the construction of sub-drains through the low
lands in the northern part of the CITY, ana the Dud-
ing of further Croton Reservoirs in Putnam County.
| He commends the management of the Central
Park. but suggests that as far as additional lm-
proyements in the Park are concerned it would be
wisest TO follow conservative course, taking good
caro- of the roads and grounds as they exist at
present without adding any new works.
| He fayors the pushing forward Of the work upon
| the new docks as projected
The Mayor strongly favors non-partisan Ponce
Board and declares that the Board shall not be run
by any party or for party purposes. lie favors Tue
abolition of the Street Cleaning Bureau, and re-
turn to the contract system of cleaning tue streets
The message is non-committed upon the subject
of tho Fire Department, no alluson whatever being
made to the present state of the department or the
pending charges against its heads.
The Department of Health, on the other hand' is
commended in very strong though brief language.
The enlargement of the Tombs or City Prison. the
| sale of the markets. the regulation OF hackS aho
street cars and several other rsinor matters which
come under che supervision of the City Marshal and
the extension of the method Of advertising corpo
ration matters are other recommendations to which
the Mayor alludes.
He strongly condemns the practice of heads Of
departments visiting Albany for the purpose OF Sc
curing special legislation affecting their depart
monis. and in etter which was circulated yester
day, addressed to all the Commissioners in the city
be asks their cooperation in breaking up this prac
tce