The New York herald., 1876-12-10
A New Departure in Our City Gov
erument.

under circumstances peculiarly favorable to
n strong, brilliant and successful admins
tration. The events that have followed the
recent Presidential election are naturally
calculated to draw democrats together every
where in closer bonds of sympathy and
union; but aside from this the local quar-
rels of the New York democracy, which have
distracted the party for years, were happily
settled BY the nomination OF the county
ticket elected last month. Mr.. Ely there
fore goes into Office with a powerful and
harmonious following. and with associates
in the municipal government who will be in
entire accord with his policy. The public
departments will be free at last from
iealousies, cross purposes and conflicts
OF jurisdiction. There will be no Old Man
Of the Sea on the shoulders Of the city's
progress. By the lst Of January Comp
troller Kelly will be warm in his seat. and
will have made himself familiar with the
duties Of his important department.. The
Corporation Counsel will take into his new
term Of Office the valuable experience of
nearly two years service. The next Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment will consist
Of Mayor Ely Comptroller Kelly, Tax Com
missioner Wheeler and Alderman Purroy,
and besides being improved in material
will almost for the first time since its cre-
alton be entirely harmonious in sentiment.
In May next the new Mayor will have the
appointment Of some important commits
soners and meanwhile if any changes in the
city departments should be desirable in the
public interests Mayor Ely can be certain
Of the cooperation of Governor Robinson
in securing them We are therefore justified
in saying that our new Mayor will be in
augurated under circumstances peculiarly
favorable to vigorous and successful adj
minstration.
Of course there are limitations to the
power and difficulties in the way Of city
government, however well meaning and
energetic it may be. The present charter
is defective in many important particulars,
and experience teaches us that republican
Legislature cannot be relied on to improve
it in the public interest But an indifferent
law can be made effective when its pro-
visions are carried ont by the right sort of
u
der bad officers. 1t has been the misfortune
of the New York charter that ever since its
enactment in 1878 conflicting interests, jeal-
ousies and obstructiveness have marred the
harmony of the departments and crippled
and embarrassed many good provisions of
the law. AS we have now got rid of these
evils the charter, taken as whole and in
terpreted by departments and officers in
accord in their policy, will no doubt be
found capable of giving us an efficient and
beneficial government. 1t will, indeed, be
fairly tested now for the first time, and
the people will be disappointed if
its future administrators do not find
in it ample power to get rid of the suffocat-
ing policy which has too long prevailed in
the city government. The new Mayor and
the new Comptroller will not be able to
build rapid transit road, to construct lines
of stone docks along our water fronts, to
multiply our reservoirs and water mains, to
to give us other desirable improvements at
the flourish as it were, Of a magician's
wand. But they commence their manage
ment of the citys affairs with advantages
not enjoyed by their predecessors, and the
people of New York, whose interests have
suffered severely from obstructiveness, suffo-
cation and incapacity in their local govern
ment, will expect them to make the most of
these advantages, and will hold them respon-
sible if they fail to do so.
There are some points to be aimed at in
our new municipal policy SO plain and SO
desirable that they must Mt once attract the
attention of our new rulers. Mr.. Kelly
takes charge of our financial affairs with
heavy debt pressing upon the city, which
has been steadily increasing for the past five
years. We are aware that this increase is
greatly attributable to unwise legislation;
but it is nevertheless true that broad, COM
prehensive financial policy, which we have
ton. 1t is startling to know that we are
paying for a years interest on the city debt
ten million dollars including the amount
paid from the sinking fund Our credit is
excellent, and yet our bonds are issued at
seven and six per cent, comparatively few
bearing MS low a rate of interest as five per
cent. Money for safe investments is plenti-
ful. and there can be no good reason why
the city of New York should pay for her
loans two per cent above the market rates on
less unquestionablc securities. We have
been in the habit of issuing large amounts
of revenue bonds in anticipation of the
taxes of the current year, to pay the running
expenses of the city government. For these
temporary loans We have paid six and seven,
and, on few occasions, five per cent inter-
est, and have put the money into banks
holding the city deposits, which have re-
fused to pay Us four per cent interest
thereon Comptroller Kelly should COM