New-York tribune., 1875-05-12
THE MESSAGE.
sTArr OF NEw-YopK. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY. Nav | l. 1878. \
ALBANf My IT, IHIo.
To the LeGisi1ture: The Constitution (Art. =

STATE OF NRw-YoIK. EXECUTIVE CHAMBERl
ALBANY, May IL, 1875.
To the LeJisiature: The Constitution Cart. 8,
Sec. o. declares that
II shall he duty Of The LEGISLATURE to provide for the
Organization Of cities and incorporated villages, and 10
restrict their power of taxation, assessment borrowing
prevent abuses in and IN contracting debt
by such municipal corporations.
The Convention Of 1886 haying exhausted lis sessions
in the confederation Of questions upon which acted and
finding itself unable TO deal adequately with the problem
OF municipal government, the day before its adjourn
nj nt charged that duty upon the Legislature. lt5
primary object protect taxpayers in the
municipalities against "a the part OK local
governing officials in t..1ation for local admin
isiration in for local improvements, in the
contraction Of muncp pal debts and in the loaning 81 n
ncipal credit Those evils had already attracted Gen-
ton, though they that time but in tie ginning
OF the monstruus growth 10 which they have now at
tanned IN the % years which have elapsed the increase
OF population in this state has been chiefly in the cities
and Incorporated villages until At the cens Of 1870,
those organizations embraced more than 1000 G00 and
now about 100000 Of people The course OF ces-
laOn 40 far from obey,ug the injunction Of the Consti
tuition. has been mainly In the Oppns direction. Every
annual statute book has been largely occupied with en-
actments fayorny the growth Of municipal expenditure,
invoy ing taxation the contraction of debt,
and the oanus credit The result, far a the cites
Of TIE state concerned is shown ly abstract Of
by The local officials. and which l herewith transmit
TO your honorable body.
MUNICGPtL TAXATION.
The aggregate valuation OF property in these cities,
subject taxation in 1874, ~ l.jG0,55j.07l; the
aggregate of city taxation S3Gl30.121; the agere-
ea,e county and State taxation SljJJJis7 the az
Cregate o! taxation $50 i29, ,6O9. The aggregate
debt Of these cities was $l75G572C7. Computing the
taxation AID debt the population VI 1870, adding 20
per for subsequent growth, the city taxation was
:l5 -. the county and state taxation - 9, and the
aggregate 2I - Tor each inabant. The dty debt
We. for each nhabitdnt so %.
I. mast De- borne IN inind that the proportion o. the
t,.ed valuation Of real estate - is actual NaIe is
AAd ia these reports according To standard from %hlch
III J. now liig reduction. The average OF The
assessment is 30 i3 per cent 0f the true vai' II ne
:L N marketable values b" esniatrt at 0nchlr
the Of the assessed valuation would be- 20 per cent Of
tAe ;ia! y4ln-. II may be presumed tiai ;Lo values
80 allowance Is u.ade TO; the .i.'I nGr au1i.on oi
Of personal poper{{i {{o iaxatisn p9Io.d p9o.d u1oG dt
prosr,y in cities has been from oncg 70 Gnf ra,
1imcs roaciee one .af tue income Of real Ia
ls53 when tho population OF :be United States num-
bcred 2590oooG, The whoe cost Of ts goycrrpent %as
under Sj5.~c0.o00 1t viii be seen that less urn
2.jOO0OO Of inhabitants OF the cities Of Ne"-lOrk pay
nearly ~ much taxation imposed on % oOOOOO,
about 20 years ago for the Of the army navy Indian
treaties and al! other expenses or the General Govern
nient. As remarked IN ny annual ~. asc
III the decade beginning July |, 800, the people VIII
have paid in taxes. computed in currency ,OooVoOyOU
Threeats were for the use o thc FcdeI", CoNeru.-,'
ami two-hs Tor the SAFE and municipal gor'IhiIthl"
doubtless that portion or he huuciilI
expenditure for objects not strictly ,IlIHen
Bat il cannot be questioned thlt much TOO !se Poih
Of the Whole net ennDSs OF lndusiry ana 'i ne Whoe
net Income Of soclcy Is tdAeh loI lhe puIs =" S
government IN this country. The Duic'n 'pH mor"
easily be borne when values were hgb, and were aHeh-
Ing. As they lecodc toward tnclr iOlth'r "N'l'
the taxes consume Larger Inauny 4t Inc aic ql, lo-
weigh wilma constantly incrcainI s,Y rlty upon al
business and upon all Glasses They syel up more ana
more the earnings Of labor This condition oi Things
ought to adnon.,A us in or respective .pheTs 20 DC S
Ja.ucnt - possible IN appropriations Tor pubHc eApeh-
oluccd It ought to he, onehird would stiu
b" larger ihln few years AGO taxing accCnAt oi ihe
prices Cf Tie products which. In order Z" pay
tiaJ cost, We are .elIcd 10 convert INTO money
CONSEQUENCES.
Tie burdens upon taxpayers in cities are exhibited in
various ways: bills for relief by tne temporary funding
Of fOating debts bills authorizing loans 70 carry ca or
complete permanent improvements frequent appeals
from payers against the measures VI local officials 50
lla quite impossible 70 arbtrate mtci-
gently between the nding parties, are among the
incidents OF the times. The choice LetT te opposite
evils which such present IL often difficult and
the result unsatisfactory WORKS by tao localities,
as by the state which ought not to have been under
tkrn or which are Oh scale TOO expensive ~ eItra'-
cant, advanced near 10 completion thai Il Is not
eXpencrt 10 refuse the means to nni'n iheE, or not
tsgcnt and assured personal judgment than s possible
l. will IL enforce The rule at lpiii- FOR perinl-
ncnt improvements shall BE- accompanied ny sink
ing fund III many cases where there, was
sanction % l' bin ayertin. funds raised by per-
maucut loan and needed Tor tts original puI-
ind.ng oairg drbrs The loans shoud be but temporary
until he drccucy could be provided or by aNatlon II
ha- been murTciicabc to 40 inau-Hiatc better
- stem. Tie whole subject require, careful ad thor
ough investigation. and the adoption Of hA+i policy
which shall be known 10 Tie people ana ~ which lLty
shall conform.
JUDICIAL REMEDTrs.
II bnt Just the presen, Legislature o say that the
three bills which it adopted with great unanmity, pro-
vdins judicial remedies a-ainst frauds. Affecting the
public money property OF more value FOR the re-
presson OF the evils OF municipal government than all
the gl5latiJn which has taken place during the 20
years winch the mandate of the Constitutions in re-
spect to municipal administration, las remained
unezccuted. IL IL true they reach abuses only
wheii extravacance and impr0gdence degenerate
into bad fath fraud. but they apply to every
official Of every ely, well ~ 10 all ate, county and
town fnci ciuuaIics. They apply 10 every case IN Nch
a city official shall with intent 10 dernd wrongiuilY
obtain. receive convert pay out, or dispose 0i any pub
every ease which such official shall, with Ike in
tent, by wiuly paying, allowing, or auhltns any
falls, uulst ciim or in any other manner or way
whatever, aid ahet any other person III wrong
f any uubie money, funds. credits WOpcrty
they apply also tO every person VINO, d'llS WIN any
oil,cla suall Nit intent 10 defTaud "I0hguy Obtiin
receive, convert, pay OHt on h7one =" ohy rucn nohy
funds, credits or property Ihry s"e'p away Tue CON
pl.eated techncalties by which conviction Tor such
oiiens,s has hitherto been embarrassed or defeated
one OF these acts provides for every such on nSe penal
ties adequate TO ts enorfny, in imprisonment III the
tate Prison for not less than three nor more than ten
years. an hne not eAceedng aye times the amount oi
for the OF the person and the attachment Of the
propery Of the wroDg-oer The third OF these acts pro-
vidts Tor the contingency that the local gov
eming officials Shall be able 10 exercise in
turnre over the officer whose duty IL would be
to order ection for rpdrcss OF such wrong,
or whose dnty IL would be 10 conuct the SUIT or, where
local influence might De exercised upon the judiciary
and enables the injured taxpayer Ia appea 10 tAe state
Tor relief, ana gives a method OF procedure Doth RAPID
and effective. These laws, when they come 70 De gener-
ay known the people, cannot fa to exercise very
saluary restraint upon all 0fhca persons Ihey ahord
a system of remedies hitherto unknown IN our lurlsru-
dencc which for their special purposes may well be
deemed comprehensive, complete, and enecllFe.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES.
Additional measures Of remedy and restraint can, no