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

justly proud The expense incurred In construct
ing and ornamenting IL has been returned to the
CITY In the enhanced value OF the property sur
taxable fund Of the city. This property has been
well administered. ana the trust we have received
requires from us the greatest care IN It's manage.
ment. IL Is question how far, considering the
present amount OF the liabilities OF the CITY, 1t Is
desirable 10 proceed with new works OF construc-
has been done, and done so well, IN this respect,
that for some time TO come It Will be desirable to
grounds are we'll cared for during the next few
years. nature Will IN that time do far more 10 add
to the beauty ana atsrac;ions OF me rarn .nan
essential IN the proper preservation OF the PARK IS
the maintenance there OF an efficient police iorce
and this must be secured II the PARK Is 20 continue
to be the scene OF enjoyment ana recreation for
all classes oil our citizens. ltr.trr 81 fl.lI.r
IMPORTANCE OF THE CITYs DOCK SYSTEM.
The natural advantages OF the city, with It's ex-
tenslve water frontage, have secured to IL that
commerce winch has made New York the metro
polls of the country. To develop these advantages
TO their utmost the construction OF better wharves
and piers and of increased terminal faculties
for our commerce Is necessary. TOO little
attention has been given 70 this important
subject IN the past, and now. as consequence OF
Just complaint that the commerce OF the city 10
subjected to inconvenience and expense, as COM
anerate detrimensaIiy to our interests WORK upon
the new docks. as projected, should DE pushed for.
ward as speedily as they can be properly built.
power and influence extend There Is not dollar
We invest IN this undertaking which will not II
properly applied. become paying investment
from the day 1t is made. The demand for increased
accommodation Is so urgent that the wharyes when
completed can be readily let at rent when WIN
MAKE large return upon the entire cost, and those
rents set apart as they are by law to the sinking
fund for the redemption OF the DEBT OF the city,
will become fund from which the entire cost OF
construction will in due time be met. The present
revenue from our docks Is scarcely In excess OF
Bile property even In its present condition, ought
TO be much larger. Many OF our docks and piers,
because % rS m 10 tne pas are
individuals. Leases were obtained from the city
at almost nominal rents, ana the property leased
income to the lessee largely IN excess OF the
amount paid for the property TO the city: me
should receive your early attention.
ECONOMY IN COMPLETING THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The building known as the New Court House
should he completed. am opposed to all commits
sions made independent OF the regular Otflcers OF
the government for any special purpose Whatever.
existence-one for the completion OF this Court
House. another for the completion of the Third
District Court House. and the third is what Is
known as the ArmOry Commission. All three
should be abolished. The two Court Houses can
be completed more economically and the work
upon them can be better done under the
responsible oflcers OF the government than
in any other M, manner There Is "a. 1 Ma
Court House which Is ample for this purpose, and
the work should therefore be proceeded with.
approved or aud contracts made with responsible
parties, under suitable penalties for having the
work flashed within the limitations OF the con-
tract.
SHALL THE CITY BUILD ARMoRfEs
How 10 deal with our arm0ries Is question,
the answer to which cannot much longer be post,
poned. the National Guard is valuable auxlli.
AIRY in maintaining peace and order IN the city.
and in view OF tins the efficiency Of the
this efficiency the various regiments should
be FURNISHED proper Quarters, For some time the
armorles leased from third parties, and all the
regiments quartered In such premises are liable.
at any moment to be turned into the street. This
state OF affairs ought not to continue. the sub
ject OF furnishing armOries IN buildings erected
and owned BY the city 70 one worthy OF your early
consideration; but until provision Is made. In this
or in some other manner, for providing the regl-
ments with permanent quarters, temporary &C
comm9Satons must be secured ioT them. hoo; me
virtually without any armory. The premises
occupied by it at Tompklns' Market were, some
months ago. injured by fire and rendered unit
for use. and the damage has not yet been repaired
The build ng Is owned BY the city, and should long
ssc Value Would have been allowed 10 SO
many months in damaged condition. A lease
has been executed BY the Commissioners OF the
sinking fund oil the block OF ground belonging to
the city bounded by and situated between Sixty
sixth and Slxty-seventh streets and Fourth and
Lexington avenues LOT the erection OF an armory
for tns regiment. It seems but just to tue rezi-
ment that proper building should be there
erected ior them without further delay.
all the facts and circumstances connected with
leases OF armorles, and Will communicate to you
adopted to put an END to the present unsatistac-
tory condition OF affairs.
IMPORTANCE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
There Is no branch OF the city government upon
which the public welfare depends so much as upon
the Police Department Charged as 1t Is with the
so administered as to be and to show that it is be.
yOnd the reach OF political or part isan influence.
! am in favor OIL 9 non-partisan Police Board In
th<N fri not " hof q
preston. Our police system must not be man
aged under party influence or for party purposes.
Promotion and advancement In the force should
not be the result OF political influence, nor should
this influence he allowed to interfere with discip
line ppointments on the force ought never to De
conferred unless the commissioners are fully salts
fed OF the personal fitness and capacity OF
the applicant, and merit should be the only stand
ard or promotion from the ranks. There are many
radical and wholesome changes IN the department
which can yet DE made before the force viii ex.
hiDit the discipline and general efficiency which
the public Is entitled to exact from 1t. This depart
ment, IN addition to the duty imposed upon 1t Tor
protecting the public peace, is charged with the
faithful performance OF this latter duty cannot be
overestimared Past experience has informed US
as to the wrong which may be done by negil:
gent and illegal administration of this trust; and
there should be no cause Tor complaint upon that
subject again. So far as any power or discretion
is vested in me, my endeavors shall be, IN REFER
ton the views above expressed.
Unsatisfactory STREET CLEANING.
The work Of cleaning the streets and avenues OF
the city Is at present under the care and manage
ment or the Police Department. This is an I'M
pOrtant matter, closely related as 1t Is to the
health OF the city. The Police Department was
established Tor very different purpose and IN my
opinion 1t IS not consistent with system OF good
government to impose duties upon any depart
mcnt which must necessarily to large extent
divert the attention OF the chief officers from the
performance of the duties with which they are
specially and more appropriately charged.
by the charter the power is vested In you to
'regulate the cleaning OF the streets. avenues,
Sidewalks a r. "a M
from them" THIS is an extensive grant OF egls-
lative power, and vests In you full control over
the entire subject. 1t appears to me advisable
to relieve the Police Department OF the duty
OF cleaning the streets leaving 1t charged, how
ever, with the duty of enforcing sucn ordinances
and regulations IN reference TO those matters as
you may adopt for removing the nulsances OF flth
garbage, ice and snow, as we'll as distractions OF
all kinds, from the streets and avenues l would
suggest that, with proper specifications as to the
WORK necessary to be done TO secure clean streets
and avenues, contract should be au nOriZed to be
entered into by responsible parties, either IN sep
arate districts or for the entire city; and that the
Department OF Police be required to see that she
work demanded by the contract Is faithfully per-
mn d Ac pfroc irh In IN