The New York herald., 1876-10-13

tho cxpcnse or the State IL canal or bridge ovei
tho tax payers Of New York city pay onehali Of The
expense. We now taxed more than haH million
Albany 20 pay W. says Already ia this city paid
$ COO 900 for that structure, and why should not this
waterway, lying between adjacent portions
or the State Vt tho States expenses This
view has already been pressed upon Con-
OF Commerce and other agencies Interested In the fac
taton OF OF the State should not fall 10
still further agate the subject until action that
Just toward the city attained There no propriety
In putting the burden Of the cost Of this Improvement
upon the city OF New York. because It's relations arc
commerce Of the country by saving iwenty-four miles
least in distance through the dangerous navigation
along the shores Of the city 50 thckly studded with
a subject Of this magn tudc should become the subject
OF a report from the distinguished engineer who has
lately successfully commenced the work OF mprov-
ing the navigation IN this vicinity. think II would
be quite well done 10 leave under the jurisdc
ton OF petty department whose functions are entirely
outside OF and inappropriate TO L. Ifthat IL TO be
made navig gabc waterway what wondrous folly IL 10
10 be putting the head or every avenue bridge
the level o. The wafer which has TO be opened with
every tug boat passes that way Tunnels tho
only way to obyate tho difficulty, and indeed, two
SIX years ago tunnel was projected aud plans made
for the same at the head OF Seventh avenue, at
McComb's Dam, that was 10 give US this necessary
crossing.
have become very great. These improvements must
be done with right comprehension OF what the tax
iayes one dollar II the moneys are faithfully applied
II we get dollar back for one We spend there Will
be 40 lack OF money and no increase Of the doot
We want to husband the revenues OF this
city They are princely. They have been wasted
The laws are very incomplete In regard TO them. II
they were husbanded they would 20 lar TO alleviate the
s,on OF taxation that have had upon US In
tho coming year we shall be relieved largely by q
reduction OF the State tax OF some W 700 600 or
ST. 600 900. We have an oftceholdng class here that
lake very goau oil themselves at Albany, and II
we had another class that were equally attentive
think we should make large Reductions In our ex-
pendi,ures. alarics can be reduced TO the amount
OF $4,000. 900 per annum ana the city be better OIL.
The city expends in ono orm or another Tor the sup
port OF the poor, and IN charitable works nearly
s. 500 600 per Included In this 10 the cost OF
maintaining certain criminals.
Il needs but the most superficial observation to
vince one that, without any reflection upon tho OH
c,als managing these institutions at present, with
proper legislation vast Improvement could he made
and vast economies produced In this branch OF tho
public service.
OUR EDUCATIONAL AND LITERARY INSTITUTIONS
are fostered and natural advantages of the
picturesque conformation OF portions Of this city
should be avaiIcd Of 10 add TO its beauties and TO make
inviting place OF residencc OF persons oil woalth
culture aud TASTE Nor should wo forget TO render
adequate support those measures that look TO tho
betlcrment or the condition u the moro numerous
class who depend upon thcir daily labor tor the sup
port OF themsev and their families
will Just allude TO that fundamental necessity OF
municipal governments In this country 70 which you,
Mr. Chairman, have given so much thoughtful atten-
ton. refer To The necessity OF constitutional pro-
VISION which shall
to contract debt To absolutely lcgislate that debt
should be contracted would tend, perhaps, 10 tho limit
ing the power TO improve and advance the ciy but
point should be asccrtaned and liked beyond which
dob DO contracted This is essential TO the inter-
ess OF the property owners and 10 The taxpayers Of
this and all other cites, towns and counties There
are counties in this state where rich farmers are
hardly worth the amount which they have been
mortgaeed by the pubic officials Tor pretended I'm
provemeni6 see that q resolution has lately been
adopted by what /. called the "Legislatve Depart
men" OF the city, or IN other words, the Board OF
Aldermen, requesting the clerks OF various 10
render statement OF the Judgments th,t have
obtaned against The city during my official incum-
bency. proposed amendment 10 add . statement of
tho suits IN which the city has been esstul
defeated, inasmuth as they wanted no Information Of
that sort might not SUIT ths purposes OF the mover
OF The original resolution had the honor to make
report that ipguished body months since,
which showed The immense savings 10 tins city by
these gations, and which u was very clear aid not
answer the purposes OF the Aldermen. an glad that
they have called upon these court clerks for this
information, for there are plenty OF them, ana
they have plenty OF time TO look up.
As Tho information called for for where the
city has been defeated and not ior those where tho
city has been successful We need not look in these re-
ports instance, for judgment IN favor OF the city
in the where The architect, Mr. Kcum, sought 10
about $780, 900 and did not succeed We saved
$500, 900 In that We mood not look for judg.
mcnt In favor OF the city OF about $35 900 in
tho late Sheriff Brennan sued to So O0O
IN which he was defeated and the city recovered
So, 900 against him, and thereby established princ
pal which involved $3.50, 600 more making difference
Of S2400OO to tho city. We need no, lpok Tor a
s40O,00O rendered by referee tor lawyers
costs, which referee has been istcy pro-
without any dictasion or advice from anybody, 10
responsible judicial position IN this CITY This CLAIM,
as Was stated oy reliable gentleman was offered 10
him, the whole of 1t. Tor 81 ,2UO Wo need look
Tor litigation involving x3o0,000 for mere clerical
ana surveyors In the OF widening ruad-
way, nor Tor great number OF other results nh
Gaton, any one OF which would more than equal the
whole amount OF costs obtained against the city
came into office. We should not see on their return
,.A. Mr. thn~ Efa
viii lot say some things that have occurred 10 me,
that was about TO Ailudo TO, out OF respect my
m"s, wres Of ..ssv ,,l,i, Thsv would nc,,her and
any Judgment your favor Mr.. Chairman, tor S. 600
$1,000 Tor advertising, tor which check has been
lying drawn III tins oce for iour or i've years, and
which you refused because you will
ing accept results OF any special law gned
any particular class Of creditors
You would not nnd any judgment for doing the Ad-
vertisng o the city In widely circulated jorrnal IN
tho tierman language IN this city, through which we
member OF the Board of Aldermen, because you never
sued Tor would accept It, You would not lind any
the Board OF Aldermen Tor two years, amounting to
81, 0C0, which you refused aud still refuse 10 accept
You would not lind a Judgment Tor your salary as ou
pcrvsor In addition TO that OF Alderman, which you
refused TO accept and denounced as wrong You
would not nnd any judgment against the city IN your
favor Tor the occupation OF valuable oices owned by
YOU and occupied by ono of tho departments
OF this city, which was running about the
streets to obtain one, Dy tho negligence OF
receive while you were city official. l should be
GLAD II these clerks who have been 10 this duty
continue tner investigation little aud report
tue names OF receivers and OF referees upon whose
reports monsirous Judgments nave been obtained
against The cy and by whom these referees APP
pointed Tins would be Instructive and stil further
II they would report the names oil commissioners who
been appointed within five or six years past to
value lands purchased by the city In street opeE
ing cases, &c. WHO they are and how many ot Them
thoro are that are absent, and how many thcre are
whom you would not trust the charge OF oyster
box who have been to value millions OF property
as between the city ana owners.
FULL EEroRT rHKsE THINGS
would he Instructive and useful 10 the city. Will they
further report how many hundreds OF judgments have
obtained against the city by the ishessness and
negligence OF corrupt officials deriving their positions
the very organization which stimulates the action
OF tins Board Of Adcrmcay Everybody knows that the
Comptroller o the city contracts but lew Obligations,
aud that these judgments part oil the result OF care
essness and negligence on the part OF other officials,
mainly OF the past
HIS duty IS 10 pay claims II they are correct We
have some nity odd authorities anu officers contracting
debts with or less freedom, some oil them hot
ry good ants unfamiliar with business, and
rom ooscness and negligence obligations are incurred
rfttrht IA. bp mad t.Ar