The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-05

how iar al or any OF tue appropriations made
for the government OF the city, not fixed by act or
the Legislature by contract, are susceptible OF
reduction without impairing the efficiency OF the
services required, cannot at present state. But
the whole subject OF approximations Tor the govern.
ment OF the city is one which shall receive my
early and most earnest attention.
CLAIMS AND LITIGATIONs.
Inc appropriations made for the year being de-
signed to meet and cover every object and purpose
OF the government, provision was very properly
inserted IN the charter that no expense shall be
Incurred by any Of the departments. boards, or
onlcers Thereon, unless an appropriation shall have
been previously made covering such expense.>'
AS, therefore, there can be no legal liability in
Cured ior the city beyond the appropriations law
fully made Tor the purposes OF the government,
there ought TO be no great difficulty experienced
IN meeting our liabilities after ascertaining that
they are proper Obligations. Past mismanage-
ment has, no DOUBT, involved US In a vast amount
Of litigation but this legacy OF the past can form
no proper excuse or pretext Tor forcing current
claims against the city to be put into litigation be-
fore the creditor can secure the amount to which
ne Is justly entitled In resisting improper claims
for winch it is not BY law respon.
slble, l shall aid the executive onicers
mand but this power shall as unhestatlngly SO
exercise as to secure TO every Just and honest cred
itor speedy settlement OF his claim. IL shall ne
my endeavor TO see that no unnecessary delay
taxes place. on the part Of the proper officers OF
the government, in passing upon claims presented
TO them Tor adjustment and settlement. There
must be determinations the unjust must be sepa-
rated from the just; and as to the latter, vexa-
tious and costly litigation Will not be permitted.
UNJUST STATE TAXATION.
The laws under which this city is required to
contribute so largely to the State tax lie so mani
perslstently Insisted upon by the City authorities.
Of the entire state tax, amounting 10 sl5,7Z7,4s2
Tor 1874 this city has TO pay $S.Dl2.3S6, or more
than one-half the whole amount, and the law
requires that this sum be paid five months before
have TO pay the entire tax, whether 1t Is received
by the city or not. That 1t never is all received by
US IS SHOWN of instance oy the annual loss which
taxes winch cannot be collected. The city Is
required to raise by tax this year, for
state, 1881. AS and for asylums and rerorma-
tories, S4l4,443. We support our own normal and
puoic schools at annual cost OF s35s3, OO0 and,
although we never send our children or pupils to
other parts OF the State. we have In addition 70
pay for the public and normal schools OF the state
about one-thlrd the entire State tax levied for
their support. We maintain our own asylums and
reiormatories at our own cost, and, at the same
time, are compelled to contribute one-half OF the
expenses OF all the asylums and reformatories
supported by the State. How far relief IN this
the proceedings OF the committee appointed at the
iast session oil the Legislature to investigate and
report upon the subject may be determined when
tne repont OF tnat committee is presented.
PROSECUTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS
Inc present co1dtion OF the public WORKS Of the
subject Is one which is not free from difficulty
All our public works are carried on with borrowed
city and partly on the special security u1eo OF ~ sne
merits 10 be imposed upon the property more i'm
mediately benefited That the works which nave
been completed on the northern part OF the island
are or Will become OF vast public benefit is ad.
mitted by all. The only question is now far some
OF those works and others which are projected
may not be beyond our present REQUIRE
ments According TO the Information FUR
nished TO me by the Comptroller the city
Is In advance on account OF the public
works payable In whole or In part rom
assessments TO the amount OF $40 651, 000 Pur-
suant to the provisions OF a law enacted In 1872,
the city has TO pay the interest on all money 1t
borrows on account Of its public works, without
any claim OF rellef against the property benefited
This interest forms a burden In our annual tax
levy. And as the interest charged continues until
the amount advanced is returned to the city by the
ntcd, II IL manifest that the ability OF the
city to prosecute Its public works success
fully depends In great measure upon the
proper application OF the machinery required TO
secure as speedy return as possible OF the AZ.
vances made. Proper attention has not been
given In the past to this important feature con-
nected with our public improvements. Works