New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-05
priations for tho government Of the city one wnicH
shall receive my early and most earnest s''0"N"N'
CLAIMS AND IIIIGATIONS.

10 meet and cover every object and purpose OF the GOV
ernnent provision very properly inserted III w.
Charter that no expense shall incurred by OF tho
Departments, Boards. or officers thereoi' un'e''
an appropriation shall have been pre"ou'p
nads covering such expense AZ 'aerso.e ,
there can DO legal habilv lncufrou
for the city beyond the appropriations awfuhy ni'o'
for the purposes Of the Government there ought 10 10
no great dlculty ex perieuced meeting our iaoles
after ascertaning that they arc proper o. an
vast amount Of tgation but this legacy Of the past
form proper excuse or prerx. Ior hefnre
claims against the city ~ be put into ntsauon ti
the creditor can secure the 10 which he is justly
entitled 10 resisting improper Claims anu nnf
Wv rssponsibe shall aid the executive officers OF
the Government with all the power can ,a ~
70 every inst ana honest creditor speedy settle
ment OF bis claim. II shall be my endeavor ~ 'S tbs
proper officers OF the Government, In passing upyu
claims presented 10 them lor IT, nist must
be separated from the just; and as to the stte
tious aud costly litigation Will not ne perlni'''''
STATE TAX.
The laws under which this city Is required W oon'
tribute so largely the state tax are 80 m@nesp u
lust that revision Of them should be persistenty IN
listed unop by the city authorities or the entire state
amounting TO si527s2 for 1874 this city mas 10
nav ss02.ss6, or more than one-half OF tie wno'e
amount and the law requires that this sum be pad n'o
months before the city can collect or impose ceh' "
We have to pay tho entire tax, whether - e'ot &c
ceyed by tho city or That 1t never Is all received
by us shown, for instance by the annual loss aIes
the city sustains IN the slOODoOo OF persohS 800
which cannot be collected Tno city is required 10 Iass
state 81 S8i rs s6 and for asylums and refCrmatOrle
si3 70. We support our own normal o IIu we
MAYER send our children pupils 10 other Darts OF tne
State have III addition to pay Tor inc puoG ttra
NAL schools Of tho state about we maintaH our
own asy and reormaores at our own cO5 all It ~
tho same tme are compelled 70 so
ported by the State How far Iellet IN ts III cneG
nss of Inc Comnitee appointed last session OF
the Legislature to investigate ana report upon .
ject. may be determined, wheA tue rePorS Vi '""' WV
PUBLIC WORKS
The present condition the public works OF the city
has attracted OF late universal attention The suece
Is one which Is not free from difficulty All our puono
works are carried with borrowed homeopathy on
the security of tho credit OF tie city and partly on the
special security to be imposed upon the
property more Immediately benefited. That inc "orAs
which have been completed the northern part OF the
island are will become Of vast public benefit Is al
mitted by all. The only question Is how far some OF
those works. and others which projected, may not
be beyond our present requirements. According to me
information furnished TO mo by the ConrOer ne citf
Is In advance account OF tho public WORKS
TO the amount Of s2O,s5looO. Pursuant TO tue pro,
visions of law enacted In 1872 the city mas
pay the interest all money IL 6orrows on account
public works. without any claim OF reLlel against
the property benefited This interest forms Ouraen III
our annual tax levy And the interest charged con-
tnues until inc amount advanced is returned to the city
by the assessments imposed upon the property oene-.
flied il Is manifest that ability OF the city " prose-
cute It's public work. successfully depends, IN Rreat
measure upon the proper application VI tue machinery
reGured 10 secure as speedy return as pos
s6ie OF the advances made Proper attention mas NOT
been given ia the past this important feature eon
nected with our public improvements. Works com
nenced several years since nave made HUE vi ~ to
turn for the large which the city mas maus lO
them: and this delay which operates 10 the benent Oh
the who are III arrears Win tnelr as
goes far cripple the energies OF the city IN
carrying on other equally important works, when
are anXousy desired, not only by tue parIes more ln
aediatelv interested but by tue cizs Ems generally
am in favor OF proceeding with our public works OF
Of the clty and consider thst this NAV % accom-
pshed without increasing the debt beyond ITS present
SUM- with ca.o and attention there ought 70 De no ai
hculty Ia securing, out OF the large aaiouns ~ a,ses
meDts imposed and TO be imposed, return suciens "
carry on as extensively requirements OF the city
demand all most pressing OF the Uorks IN progress
on contemplated. AS Wow tue matter, tue properly
owners have Inc solution OF the question much IN their
own hands, The assessment deot Is exclusively thelrs
nu ana 10 the city that debt owing by tnem should
he paid city thus be placed III position III which
t obtain further sums to Oe apped W new WorAs'
TIE UNFINISHED PARKS.
The construction Of the roadway drive adjoining
the Riverside Park should be at once proceeded WITH
rn nroperty-owners In that district under tho compul-
sion of law had to pay large assessment upon their
property for tho lands taken to form this roadway aud
the proposed park adjoining. How or when the park
itself should 10 improved am not at present prepared
10 say; but the drive avenue forming It's eastern
boundary mperatyely required and the construction
of this roadway Is but act OF Justice to those who
have paid so heavily upon the understanding that that
work should be at once prosecuted 10 completion. lt
will secure extensive tract or ground the
ne NJ winch will be thereby considerably enhanced
and this increased value will nure to the benefit or tue
city as accession u Its taxable fund recommend
this subject your early consideration and trust that
will
necessary measures enacted Tor the prosecution OF he
work mentioned.
There is difference OF opinion to the merits OF the
projects known the M0rDngsde and Riverside Parks
We're it an open question, 1t may doubted whether
tho present day tue idea would BIS entertained OF SUBJECT
ing city 10 the expense or laying out PARK on the
ate chosen for the Mornlngside Park. But WORK upon
the road or running from observation-disclosures
to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES known as Morn
a be has been ppOseeded Wtn 70
considerable extent. The money already expended IN
tSa of thi, road will be entirely lost TO the
city II the work permitted to remain at present;
and, II further prosecution or tnat Work only
temporarily delayed the expense OF completing 1t will
be much increased because, in its present unfinished
condition, 1t Is subject 20 great dama the elements.
That this avenue VIII DO pubic benefit when COM
Met ed. there can be question. Tue work upon 1t
should prosecuted without any unnecessary
delay subnt the subject 10 your favorable consdera
tion and prompt action. In this connection 1t
be- Improper 10 suggest that the immediate prosecu-
ton OF the work upon the Riverside roadway and Morn
lugsjde-aye will give labor TO many who at present
suffering through enforced ideness. Ii Is TO be sure no
part the business OF Government. as SUCH to furnish
WORK IOr any Vi ILS CltlcuS DltlcS Iuo
public works provide for q portion OF y community,
who dependent principally upon them for employ
ment Tue suspension OF these works is serious mis-
fortune dependent Such persons desire not
charity but honest employment; and as their labor,
when properly directed contributes to the wealth or
city, ought be secured, when is practicable to
do
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM APPROVED.
The manner in which our public works should be car
red on whether by days labor By contract, Is sub
ject which necessarily before you, and
which you will be called upon to act. Apart from those
special laws passed by the Legislature authorizing the
construction OF particular works the charter provides
that any work DO constructed by behalf OF