The New York herald., 1875-12-01
GOVERNMENT OF CITIES.
THE COMMISSIONERS, AND WHAT THEY THINK
N THEIR woRK-A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

or THEIR wORK-A DIFFICULT fhObAEM.
Following the telerraphic report 10 the HERALD q
Yesterday, that Governor Tildcn has appointed William
n Eyarts samuel Hand. r l. Godkin, Edward
Cooper. Martin B, Anderson, John A.
Lot James T. Carter Oswald oiendOrfer,
william A Butter simon sterne Joshua A
Van cott and Henry r. Dmmock Commissioners to
oev,ae plan for the government o. the cities OF the
state reporter was sent to Messrs Evarts, often
aorfer ana others 70 ask their views 10 why IT has
been thought change the existing plans for city
government, Why they had been selected, when they
propose 70 organize and what they propose 20 do
Mr.. WILLIAM N. Ey4Ers
vas found IN his once and after having perused the
rip from the HERALD Mr. EvaTts informed the
reporter that as many occasions Of grave import
auce he bad received from the HERALD, through him.
his FIRST Information that such a commission had
been formed CHANGING along the list for moment
again. ne said, 'wei it is work OF vast consequence
that is to be done by the commisson--one which viii
require very great and attentionand 1t seems to
me without reference TO myself that the
Governor has made very fair selection
OF gentlemen for the work no proposes.
Aside from their other qualifications they seem TO have
been selected equally from the two political parties
which deprives the commission OF all partisan Color
iugn AS be had only that moment come TO know
edge OF the appointment Of the commission he gould
information
H. fell snre however that the gravity and importance
Of the allotted to them would meet with due ap
probation
was found better informed than Mr. Evarts concerning
she appointment Of the Commissioners He was
familiar with the Governors desires relation 10 the
proposed work and the action OF the Legis-
iature IN reference thereto He felt that
there was great need Of very important changes IN the
government OF all Of the cities or the State having
100 600 population, How best to secure the change
required the most serious question the Legislature
wstfa In ann.
lation from wear TO year, and how to
secure much needed better government for them was
a very difficult matter TO decide But that there must
be changes under our present republican form q
governing dense populations was clearly apparent Tor
u there not soon some well recognized reform We
would al no distant day, have 20 republican iorm even
10 preserve. THE need here now, said he Though
NOT the in detail, Is similar to what was
felt to be needed among the great cities OF
Germany as far back a. 1914 1t then seemed clear to
the authorities and many Of the people there that there
was a great necessity for some well devised common
system for the government of all the German
cities Changes accordingly made and observed
from the date named, through, ] am sure,
1859 In regard 70 all the large cities Of that country
The regulations made there, however, were not then
would they nov be applicable here under repub-
hcsn form Of government sun ,he same sam gen. ,h.
reforms effected there might be worked over
and made 70 suit the requirements here
in such manner as would be consistent with our diner
form OF government Governor Tilden's desire is
that ii shall be much difficult for our cities TO
Sncur Indebtedness than Il has been. ! remember a
conversation with Charles o'Conor the subject
during which he said he wished 'fhe government OF
cities restricted that they could not loan their
credit to the extent OF single cent" and the same
feeling is growing among the intelligent people gener-
ally every day.
The authority which the commission has been
appointed is found in the State Constitution article 5,
O. which declares that It shall be the duty OF
the Legislature provide for the organization Of cities
and incorporated villages and 10 restrict their power
OF taxation assessment borrowing money contracting
debts and oanng their credit so as 10 prevent abnscs
IN and in contracting debt by such munich
pal corporations.
In reference TO the growing necessity for such a
commission the Governor says that the Constitutional
Convention OF ls46 having exhausted It's IN the
consideration Of questions upon which y acted, and
finding itself unable to deal adequately with the prob
lem Of municipal government, on the day before its
adjournment charged that duty upon the legislature
payers in the municipalities against abuses
the parl Of local governing officials in the contrac
ion Of municipal debts and in the loaning Of municpa
credit Those evils had already attracted attention.
though they at thai time but in the beginning OF
The monstsons growth to which they have since at
taned In the years which have elapsed the IN
Of population has been chiefly in the
cities ana incorporated villages, until, at the
census Of 1870 those organizations embraced more
than 81 600 600 and 81 400 600 Of our people The
course @ sies lsgi2n a a2 f5 5 he opposite
direction Every annual statute oook, SAYS the Gov
ernor Las been largely occupied Win ehacsnentS iav
oring . growth OF municipal expenditure invoVing
taxation assessments the contraction OF debt ana the
ioaning or credit The agsresae valuation of property
IN twenty - the cities OF the state subject 70 taxa
zion in 1874 was s156o 535 ora The aggregate city
taxation was s26 439 l21 The aggregate county and
State taxation Sl3 800 4SI The aggregate of taxa
ton $50 420 600 The aggregate debt Of these cities
S115 65T 26T Computing the taxation and debt on
the population of 1870 adding twenty per for subse
Quent growth the city taxation SIS 81 the county
State taxation s. 9s and the aggregate was S2l %
for each nhabtant The city debt for each nhabitant
SIS 50 II must be borne Ia mind that the proper
ton Of the assessed valuation Of real estate 70 It's actual
value il fixed IN t-S reports according 70 standard
The The average Is So Is per cent Of the true
value of the recent fail IN marketable
values be estimated one-third the rate or assessed
valuation would be eighty per cent Of the actual value
In 1853 the population OF the United states num-
bered 2 600 600 the whole cost Of ts government was
under S55 600 0O0 IL will be seen, said the Governor
that less than 2 500 coo inhabitants Of the cities
OF New York pay nearly az m9cn TAXATION
wears AGO for the cost OF army, navy,
and al other expenses Of the government In decade,
says the Governor again beginning ~ 1862 the people
have paid taxes computed currency ST. 900 600 600
or tnis three fths for the use OF the federal
and two hfths for the state ana municipal
governments. Now, II cannot be questioned
that much too large portion Of the whole
net earnings Of industry, and OF the whole net
income OF society Is taken for the purpose Of carrying
on the government Of this country Again, the
burdens upon taxpayers in cities are exhibited in
various ways; bills for relief BY temporary funding OF
floating deLts bills authorizing loans TO carry
complete permanent improvements; fire.
quent appeals from taxpayers against measures
or local officials, 50 numerous that
il s quite Impossible to arbitrate iuteigenty between
cpnendng parties, are among the incidents OF the
lines. The choice between the opposite evils which
such present Is often unsatisfactory, much
20, fact that II has been mpractcable to at once
inaugurate better system The whole subject
quires a careful and thorough investigation and the
adoption or dxed policy which shah be known 10 tue
people and to which they shall conform
With view 70 securing additional measures OF rem
edy and restraint the Governor recommends that the
taxpayers should be invested With powers OF assocR
ton and organization for the purpose Of investigating
the dongs ~ their local officials and enforcing pub
icity, and for the purpose OF insttuting suits
in the courts TO restrain and redress public
wrongs without having recourse to the ultimate
resort designed for great cases IN an action by the
State TheAmght be endowed with capacity to take
end execute contracts for public work. under the su
perysion Of and plans fixed by municipal officers.
There is reason for instance, says the Governor,
why persons taxable for the Improvement Of a
street should not be allowed 70 associate, and
by their agents execute the work for
which they pay The duty Of the State 10 establish
constitutional provisions and TO enact laws protecting.
Rs far practicable. the Inhabitants Of cities from
abuses OF maladm nstrati0n CON mtted by the local
governing officials and preservina the rights OF ndl-
yidual and of LA nRaInst the