The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-02

The following is Mayor Ely's Message to the Com
mon Council, which was read yesterday at the meet.
ing OF the new Board OF Aldermen
Executive DEPARTMENT, MAyoK's OFFICE.
NEW YORK. Jan. |, 1917. (
To THE HONORABLE THE COMMON CoUNcIL:--
In tins country 1t rs customary Tor new,y elected
Office their views and opnons concerning the duties
and powers with winch they aye charged. have
concluded to follow the example of my predecessors
briefly, although think the duty might be in
telligcntiy discharged at II later day.
Gu rcsumns my connection with the administration
oil our Guy and county government after interval OF
SIX years lind much that Is gratifying and much to
dcpiore
our highest prcrogatve as citizens is the privilege
Of choosing rulers Ind representatives freely
without interior congrat ulaic my fellow cit
zcns on tho grand spectacle our city presented OH the
day oil the last general election, when IT, 900
deposited thor ballots without any obstruction DIS
oruer, and these ballots were ailerward canvasscd
openly and justly That this vote was intelhgently
gwen demonstrated by the TACT that although the
party line was distinctly drawn, and only Two tickets
IN the held 1t IL estimated that majority OF the
whole number OF voters reiraned from voting regular
party ticket but Disseminated by crasng or changing
one or more names on their respective ballots This
result III population composed o. such strange
and varied elements IS properly matter
OF congrataat'on and pride, while IT
universal suffrage in large cities. IL Is more
gratifying when contrastcd with our condition low
yenrs ugo, when dishonest mon manipulated our bal
lot boxes, and ballots Of our citizens by thousands,
were counted Tor Candidates against whom they were
cast.
Next IN mportance elections is an honest
Judiciary Al the present time It is conceded that all
OF our judges mon OF good ability and undOubted
integrity, within whose jurisdiction liberty and prop
erty protected and not mpcrilled. We oil renem
Der the time when some OF tho judges OF our most
important tribunals the sycophants and tools OF
the men who had nominations to give, and The courts
law used by rapacious men as instruments of.
oppression and eXtortion.
DEPARTMENTS AND BUREAUS
A very gratifying Improvement is also observable in
tho management OF our municipal affairs With faro
exceptions TIC various departments and bureaus vi the
CIT, government controlled by officials who
titled To the confluence respect OF the community
In this respect has been manifest Improvement
during tho past lew years, ana | think II may now
be truthiully said that our CITY officials VIII compare
iuvoraOly with those OF any other large city this
country
1t caunot be denied that great faults and defects
arising from the iDharmOniOus, irregular and fceOe
administration of some Of the departments und bu-
are apparent 70 all who interest themselves IN
pubic matters.
THINGS TO he REMEDIEp.
Complaint is constantly made OF the condition Of our
streets and wharves OF our imperfect hack and cab
system and The want OF proper and comfortable acil-
ties OF communications OF tho caprciOus and spas
mode made upon Offenders against the laws; Of
tue illegal exacliOns made by subordinate officials IRON
whose business anu property bring them into
communication with some bureau OF the city govern
mcn: OF the opening aud OF streets long
u OF the needs Of the public, by which heavy
burdens are imposed upon unproductve property, ana
OF various other abuses more or less conspicuous II
Is painful to acknowledge that 30 much remains to DO
done to perfect local government, but tho man
hest Improvement already accomplished warrants us
checked and remedied II citizens VINO the objects
OF official injustice will communicate with this Office s
power II DC cxcrted III their behalf
The subject OF municipal reform has recently re-
covod considerable attention from our State authorl-
ties botn executive ana Legislative and II IL TO be
hoped that the commission recently appointed to re-
port to the Legislature such constitutional amend
ments laws to remedy the evils Of our municipal
systems composed IL is OF OF tho ablcst men
in the tate may be instrumental in procuring amend
mens 10 our constitution laws which Will effect
uaily many II not all tho evils OF our present
dssi.. tlx.S nf al q ~
DEBT.
During tho period OF misrulc 10 which have alluded
Indebtedness enormously Increased.
Some portion OF this debt Is w involved that II Is
difficult to estimate It's magnitude, and II ~ 10 be
greatly regretted that there now pending IN tho
various oil law about 500 suits, involving IN
the aggre gate several millions oil dollars
The debt oil the city ut the present time,
including assessment bonds, &c, Is esti.
mated 10 bc... @l4l, " 10
Less amount sinking fund. ........... Is la, l02
Leaving net debt ll3 $50, OIL
In addition to this there revenue
bonds outstanding, issued in anticpa-
tion OF the collection OF taxes, amount
ing 6,104, S44
There Is also 10 be added Tor the liability
Of the city for the debts Of the annexed
portion OF W estchcser county. ], 2lo 900
Additional bonded ebtcdncss has been authorized
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