The New York herald., 1877-01-24


city for the increase OF tho debt You make
mistake The people who hold official positions here
all render services for the money that they receive
There may be some OF them that receive too large
saiaries; but 80 far az my knowledge extends, do
not know Of any sinecures connected with the de-
partments OF this city nt the present time. have
the least doubt that II you gentlemen CO operate
with the officials OF this city much good will be done.
You must understand that the duties OF the Mayor
very oncrous, aud the duties Of the Comp
troller. II has been matter of astonishment to
that the late Comptroller should have been able 10
have performed the labor which he did perform in The
limited time allowed for these duties II probably
not not his fault nor any persons particular fault. but
ment OF the Office tho want Of system connected
with the Office compares very unavorably with affairs
AZ the very beginning and inception OF reform that was
brought about here in 1871 you had continued
not have had anything to complain Of You
should have allowed the men connected with your
departments to 60 TO the Legislature and get laws
passed which they thought would be OF great benefit to
the party, but which in the end accomplished great
injury AS regards commissions, see IN the bill now
before tho Legislature proposition to reduce the num-
Der OF commissions My experience has clearly demon
srated his acthat you cannot get along wel without
three Police Commissioners. Mr.. Kelly then went on
to dilate upon points which have already ap-
goared in his interview published IN yes.erday's
ment relating 10 the Finance Department
MR. xELLY's STATISTICS.
The Comptroller showed that the bonded debt OF the
city, December 81 1885, amounted TO sl42 002 713 2s
leaving tho net bonded debt, after deducting
s2ss l7ss 1o2 70; the amount OF the sinking und at
standing revenue bonds payable from uncolleced taxes
amounting to So 1o4 s44 81, and also tho debt OF tho
the amount of 81, 100000 From 1873 to 1876 tho
sinking fund paid off So 949,637 90 OF the city debt
Tho sinking fund should be applied TO the whole
bonded debt o the city payable from taxation II was
payment Of that portion OF tho debt provided for by
payment from tho sinking fund This would spread
taxes over series Of years and the debt payable from
out excessive taxation at any ono time. During last
year the Of the sinking fund for the redemp
ton OF the city debt amounted TO 81 $685. 344 23 who
the revenue OF that iund To be applied TO tho payment
OF interest the city debt amounted TO 69S ISL As
be largely Increased and taxation proportionately
reduced by opening now sources Of revenue and by
railroads were, many OF them, largely for
dues to the city, and they could DO fairly made to
contribute moro revenue TO tho city for the privileges
they enjoyed, for the relief OF taxpayers. The appro-
priatons composing the city budget for the present
year, amounting in the aggregate to 260 AZ,
set forth detail in the Comptrollers statement;
aso that proposed to sell the real estate belong
ing TO the city which was not In use or necessary Tor
public purposes and apply the proceeds the rcduc-
ton OF the city debt, proposition which entitled
consideration The church property and all
assessed tor all street improv ements, and vacations
and remissions OF assessments should bc absolutely
prohibued by law. The city treasury had lost millions
ol dollars from the failure OF tho law to enforce the
payment OF assessments on property benefited by
street improvements; that tho arrears OF on
real estate amounted TO over $l2 0OO 000 and that
personal estate to So 900 600; that there
oil taxes amounting to than 5000 600 duo
on city revenues from street railroads. ierries SC !;
that the amount OF remaining uncoliectcd
December 81, 1876, was ,SlS 81 that the
amount OF advances on contracts tor works not
peted and for which had been confirmed
at the Same date was $1l 1871 1893 30 and that several
OF these last named amounts must bo charged to the
city at large. Tho statement presented by the Comp
troler will bc printed in full Tor the convenience OF
tho committee
Ex-MAyoR wrcKHAM's HOT SHOT,
Ex-Mnyor Wickham said he was surprised to observe
the ignorance displayed by some gentlemen present
deavored to that the budgets for the past years
economical as possible, and great part oi the
moneys raised from the city of New York went or
State tax for charitable institutions and other purposes
made compulsory tho city by legislation at Albany.
The Department OF Police requires So O00, COO, the
Board Of Education requires 81 600 tor salaries,
the Judiciary is largo item In the city tax levy, and
none OF these departments the salaries attached
under the control Of the officers of tho city gov.
ernment There was not one dollar Of the judiciary
appropriation that the Board OF Apportonment was
respons%SS i0r The axable COCO charities OF
amount appropriated for the public institutions.
II. had hoard a good deal about sinecures and dis
reality $50 officials In tho actual employ OF the city
government, and no did not believe any of those
27OOoOOo the CO. and he could not see how il
could be much reduced by any retrenchment on the
part OF the real officers of the city government The
city was paying by legislative enacsmont, 500
these private charitable institutions, and ,heso
enactments passed during times.
How the city debt as it at present stands could be
reduced he did not see; the debt was there, and it
had TO be paid. The city credit was the best credit In
ought 10 good United States bonds OF course
IL desirable that they should be placed low
rate OF interest possible but he appealed to any
gentleman present II he possessed large quantity Of
city bonds payable in specified time. either in his
own right or representing an institution, II
he would bo willing TO exchange them for
long bonds at lower rate OF interest.
Ex.Mayor Wickham concluded by saying that he did
not wish any ofhe gonllemon present to go away with
the impression that the officers OF the city government
for the past few years In any responsible for
the accumulation OF the city debt complained Of; that
all possible measures had been taken Tor rercnchment
and reform, and far the Board of Airport oE ment
concerned the work done was all that could be
expected.
COMMITTEE TO BE APPOINTED
Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt moved that tho resolutions
presented by Mr. Eaton be adopted, and Mr. Charles
G. Smith moved as an amendment that u committee Of
five be appointed to act with the Mayor and Comptrol
Ter 10 promote legislation In the spirit OF the resou
tons offered.
This motion was carried.
Mr. Booth said he would not appoint this CONN ttee
until he had carefully considered the matter with
other gentlemen who were active In the new mOve-
mcnt for reform
THE MAYox's CLOSING REMARKS.
Tho Mayor said that he had been more or less
quainted with all the mayors since time of Mayor
Varan, and he thought that they had been all we'll
meaning gentlemen. He had no doubt that they
would have done much better had the people OF the
city been moro sympathetic and the press little
charitable. He also thought that they had now
tered upon now and better era, and he could only
say that If representative gentlemen OF the prcs
ent meeting should wish to call upon him land he
very happy to cooperate with them for the purposes
OF tho public good. The meeting then adjourned SUBJ
jcct to tho call Of tho committee Of FIVE to be ap-
pointed.
WAS VIRTUE ENSNARED?