The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-19
~ ia az is1i snnnid hs al oncs amendsd

recommendation OF the Mayor, and 70 this extent
the law OF 1871 should be at once amended.
third statute was passed IN 1871, designed to
regulate the use OF Croton water by the lntroduc-
ton OF water meters. The object OF the law Is
manilestly good, and proper steps should be
taken to secure the advantages contemplated and
10 prevent the waste OF water. which durino the
past season mas been enormous. BY SO dong
we may be able TO obviate the necessity OF pro-
ceeding with extensive works OF construction TO
husband still lurlner supplies An effort was
made to carry the law into effect which provides
ior meters for TINS purpose, but It resulted IN
should be prosecuted TO decision without I'M
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT
Another Important matter which requires regu.
lation is the administration OF the Department OF
anomalous position. All the expenses connected
with the administration and arising out OF the
performance or execution OF the duties inirusted
TO 1t are provided Tor out OF bonds Of the city.
Salaries OF the commissioners at the head OF the
department and OF the clerks they employ, The ex-
penses OF the offices they rent OF the supplies
they require, cl the engineers and other en-
poyes and Of the laborers they employ, are all
paid Tor out OF the proceeds OF bonds.
The department may proceed with its works, in.
curing Obligations Tor the CITY they go. subject
to the only limitation which the law imposes-and
that Is that the gross amount OF Its Obligations
shall not exceed $3,000000 III any one year-and
that for salaries, rent, &C, the amount snail not
age property belonging TO the city Is under he
care OF this department., subject IN effect to the
will or The three commissioners at the head OF IT.
know OF no good reason why the ordinary ex-
penses Tor salaries, rent or supplies should not be
provided IN the tax levy tor The Dock Department.
as IL is FOR all the other departments OF the city
government. The expenditures OF the department
any one year be allowed to exceed q fixed sum
less, perhaps, than hat now provided-and some
OPERATIONS 1 OF this depari ment under the super.
vision and control OF the CITY government.
THE CITY RECORD.
suggest that every department OF the local
government, before proceeding with any works
authorized TO be performed by 1t, should be re-
CURED TO file with the Clerk of the Common Coun-
Gil, Tor publication In the City Record, statement
In detail OF the expenditure estimated to be re-
CURED Tor such work and strict official account
ability should be demanded where In any insta uce
the actual expenses to any material extent Nx.
coed the original estimate.
II In this city progress Is to be made with pub.
lie improvements there must be a power of
control vested in some central authority, Ivy
which the rate OF progress OF each may be regu.
lated with reference to the amount which the city
may be authorized to spend and that amount
sum by which the city shall have, by payment OF
past Obligations, reduced ITS debt below the
restriction upon the amount to be expended In
new undertakings.
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
The present disjointed and dlsorganized ar.
rangements, by which several Of the departments OF
the city government are permitted without refer
ence to the action oil any other, annually to incur
large obligations which the city must provide Tor
by the issue of bonds, cannot be allowed TO con-
tlnue II the city is to maint ain Its credit.
1t is your dnry TO see at once that all attempts,
OF whatever character and BY whomsoever mace,
to obtain authority from the Legislature TO in
crease the pecunlary obligations OF the city,
should be stopped, unless promoted by you. act
ing In conformity with some system or plan regu-
lating such authority IN the manner nave sug-
gested.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
There are several respects also IN which leg1sla-
ton IS proper concerning the administration OF
the Law Department. For instance the authority
to consent To references OF causes to which the
city is party, tried ny referees instead of by
Jury (Which latter Is, except IN very rare Cases,
the appropriate and only sale trl0unalJ should
not be exercised by the Corporation Counsel
alone. His consent to reference ShOuC not be
to be expressed IN writing; and the power OF the
courts to order reference OF q cause to which rhe
city party should be subjected to restrictions
not now imposed. BY Judlclous legislation III
these respects the city Will be protected against
wrongs and the treasury against losses to which
they have during recent years been frequently
subjected.
CONCLUSION.
l again urge these ma tiers upon your immediate
attention, and recommend that the various mat.
appropriate committee, with authority to act IN
concert with me IN securing the measures which
may be considered necessary and advisable TO
comlish the purposes mentioned.
heads OF the several departments, requesting
them to transmit TO me (as several OF them already
have done) the particulars OF measures which
they have unuer consideration, and upon winch
BY such means nope that we may be able to
secure q more efficient and responsible admins
tratlon OIL the government and to obtain relief
from present Opp;es5lo
AS heretofore remarked, ! think IL eminently
proper that there should DE no legislation requir-
ing the expenditure OF public moneys. the pro-
ceeus OF taxation or OF bonds OF this community,
which has not first received the approval OF the
elected representatives. OF the people IN the city
government. WILLIAM ID. WlCKHAM, Mayor.