The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12
NEW YORK TAXPAYERS INTERESTED
How Assessments Should be Made foI
City Improvements.
Morrissey's Charges Against Cor
rupt Aldermen.
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT FINDS NEW FRIENDS.
ALBANY, April IL, 1877.

appearance last yoar and was called tho Woodin char
ter II was good deal bufctcd about amended and
rc-amendcd, and made second appearance this year
from the hands OF Mr.. Fish, 1t has had numerous
vcisstudes OF fortune, being at times among tho
breakers In the turbulent OF the Assembly, but
In the end II was safely landed in tho Senate Its tito
is An Act to Secure Better Public Administration in
tho Local Government Of Now York"
TAXING yoR IMPROVEMENTS
The first part OF the bin relates to improvements and
assessments and, as II IS one Of the vcxed qucs
tons that agtates the soul Of the average taxpayer
mny be we'll to how IL stands as amended to-day.
No ordinance resolution relating an expenditure
for which assessment may be- imposed shall be
passed by tho Common Council unless petition for
such improvement be presented died by owners
OF at least one.half the front feet the line
Of the proposed Improvement The resolution OF the
Common Council that such Improvement has been Pc
tlionod for shall DO published for ten days before
action is taken; but unless the head OF department
which the matter relates shall certify that the i'm
provcment is required by the necessary purposes OF
tho city tho ordinance shall not be passed. No work
for which IN assessment may be imposed shall
hereafter DO proceeded with. unless authorized
by ordinance or resolution OF the Common
Council AS hcreinbefore required, and in year
shall works OF the description aforesaid be proceeded
with even although ordered by tho Common Council,
which shall together involve expenditures exceeding
in the OF 81, O0o, 900. until the present
obi cations indebtedness OF the city for or nc.
count of works payable, In whole or in part,
from assessments arc reduced ny the collcc.
ton OF assessments and tho application OF tho
sums collected. and by the money raised in tho
obligations TO S. 900 600 After such
reduction effected work shall be authorized
ccuted said city for which be i'm
posed which viii ut any one time increase the oblga-
tons indebtedness Of the city for Of
such description OF work beyond the SAID maximum
sum OF $S 100000 Nothing In this section contained
shall be held 10 apply delay any work OF the de.
scripon for which an assessment may be in whole or
IN part imposed now under contract or now In course
OF execution.
In all where work or the description Aforesaid
has been part proceeded with by days labor pur-
suant TO any law ordinance authorizing the same,
such work shall DO completed by contract entered into
by tho head Of the department having charge Of the
ecuti0n OF the same as provided in this act.
METHOD OF RAISING MONEY
So much for that portion OF tho bill The ncxt part
raising tho money for the discharge OF this indebed
There 10 a great deal In the bill that Is Of
special in.ercs. and am only giving now those parts
though thcre Is still long discussion ahead on tho
sections as yet untouched No sum greater IN
calendar De raised on the bonds stocks Of the cty
TOR work authorized by special laws md Tor which
be imposed. BEFORE the issue OF bonus
stock authority must be gwen by the Board OF Es-
tlmatc and Apporonmcnt, interest not to exceed i've
per cent, and the time OF payment not 10 exceed ten
DEFINING TIKI coNPrRoLLER's DUTY.
One-third OF the bonds authorized by this and tho
next preceding section of this may DO issued BY
the Comptroller In sums varying from 500 10 $500
each, and for oDc.third Of The aggregate
OF such ISSUE the Comptroller may open books OF sub
scrpon in lieu OF such bonds or stock, and issue to
subscribers interest bearing certificates IN sums
VARYING rom 10 TO snoo escn, provided mat
shall DO paid to any other person than the subscriber
or his legal representative, except upon properly
cutcd and authenticated instruments in writing TO bis
attorneys or assigns. Whether tho foregoing novel
experiment will be allowed to stand is predetermined
The Senate then postponed the further c0nsdcra-
ton OF the bill till the evoning session.
AMENDMENTS IN EVENING SESSION.
In the evening session the principal amendment was
making tho Board OF Sinking mmssioncrs consist Of
tho Mayor Comptroller, Commiss OF Public Works
and two citizens. to be appointed by tho Mayor. with
the approval Of the Recorder and CITY Judge.
woodin gave notice that he should move an amcnd-
ment similar 10 the one offered by Hustled IN tho
consist Of the Mayor, Comptroller three cl
zcns, TO be named by the Recorder.
Section 80 amended SO that no clerk other
employs shall be appointed referee or receiver In
action proceeding now pending or hereafter DO
brought in any OF the courts Of this State.
Wo0dn moved TO strike out tho clause cxempting
the nremen, policemen and school teachers from any
action looking TO reduction OF salaries by the Board
Of Estimate ana Apportonment.
Gerard supported the motion.
Mr.. Morrisscy took tho ground that the who had
control OF the Board Of Airport had expressed
these three classes OF people, and that nc having
troll OF the Board OF Apportionment the reductions
could DO made In any other quarter except here.
Mr.. BixBr-ro whom do you refer?
Mr.. MoRRissEr-To Mr. Kelly.
warm debate followed and Woodn's motion wns
lost Other amendments wore made regard to con-
tracts, and The bill was ordered TO be printed.
THE BILL TO ABOLISH TIN COMMISSION.
At u meeting Of the Committee on Commerce and
Navigation OF the Assembly, TO which was referred the
Morrssoy bill abollsning tho Dock Commission, tho
following named gentlemen IRON New York ap-
pearcd:--Will,am Allen Butler, w. Ii. Webb, q.
b Potter, Gastave schwab, Edward Fitch, john
opposed tho bill, though on The previous
visit they were earnest In It's advocacy.
To-day they recommended leaving tho Dock
Commission as II is, and gave as their reasons
that the Commissioners OF tho sinking Funa
would DO too cnsrossed with other duties attend TO
the affairs Of the docks They insisted that cngi-
ncer Of bureau at the head OF the Dock Department
could not properly discharge tho IMPLICATED auiics
connected with the control and MANAGEMENT or the
docks embracing as they do both legislative ana cx-
ecutivo duties. What produced this astonishing
change nobody here can tell Certain IL Is Messr
Woodin, Morrssey and Fish arc not satisfied with such
a sudden change Of base, ana they are determined to
fight Tor having the bill aDolishing the commission
mcrcc aud Navigation Committee agreed TO report a
bill 10 meet tho Wishes OF tho pseudo rcformers with
Mr. W. H. Webb at their head; but II II succeeds the
reform has bcen stabbed IN tho house OF Its pretended
friends
CLEANING THE STREETS or NEW YORK
The Committee on Clues III report be tore the end
OF the week bill Tor the better cleaning OF the streets
OF New York city. IL provides Tor superintendent
TO be appointed by tho Board OF tho HEALTH Tncrc are
laborers In uniform, as ~ per week. aud drivers OF
carts $500 year. There will be a corps ot black
Smiths harness makers &c, 10 look alter the horses
carts, and the whole machinery 10 DO 20 ike
cockwork The oial and Carnage to be utilized TO
tho utmost extent, and made toward nav
ing the expenses OF the department.
RAPID TRANSIT AND ITS ENEMIES
When Hayes bill TO extend the OF tho Beach
Pneumatic Tunnel comes up Tor third reading, IL Will
be significant 10 SEQ that who votes for It
voted TO defeat Ecclcsncs bill in favor Of rapid transit
Spnola whose arrest by the Sergeant Arms was de-
mittcc, was found side by side with HIM whom tho
vote was taken on his adverse report on rapid
transit. Stranau, who has also reason to ds-
like Gilbert, was discovered In the same attitude as
Spnola. Now you will find Hayes bin two
such quondam and bitter enemies Strahan and spi.
nola working IN harmony In behalf OF Hayes bill.
This extension OF the Beach Pneumatic Tunnel is an
impudcnt hind, and directly aimed ut rapid transit
IL is as much as TO say TO tho people in Now YORK
"Wc have gwen you rapid transit and what moro 40
you want There Is the Beach Pneumatic Tunnel: we
have extended its charter, and now 10 put your
Il II In ahnni