New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-07
CITY EXPENDITURES.

III. COMMENTS o. NR. FIsH's LETTER CONCERNING
sArAEiE.-HE REPLIES 70 CHAEGEs oF Ni>NAN-
AGvMENT-Hls VIEWS OF MUNICIPAL ECONOMY.
President Roberts, OF the Board OF Alder
men, who Wa acting MAYOR. yesterday lu Mayor h
absence received from NJ. -, chairman - the A.
--nby Committee Cf.- letter asking the views OF
tie member. u tie Boa.l O, Esu-ts AID Apoeriion-
rut m IT, r = reduction Of tie -a'arr- %. school
teacher. anl Policemen aai PRECEDENT E35.ts Was IN
Wiling t. express al opinion ou the siD-
iect without consideration Controller Kelly ssd
4, a TRrBrNE ref,o-i.r. F0r ". Fi.h 10 send
T. us for OR opinions ds - th'
ey-abiit OF reGae zee pas ~ certain classes u Off
c!ss i. foolish T. D. write, % fsk us whether We are u
favor n toe reduction Of me general expenses Of tue
CITY Government Iuv4ef would answer decidedly N,s
Bur Z he thinks 70 Involve the Department - Finance ~
the cts il tie settlement u question Which 10 l. uo'
for that department 20 settle. be viii find Anse mis-
tasen. That J. what sh. saY to Lin ~ answer % h4'
letter"
NJ Kelly later IN TIE cay TAXED freely and fully ID re-
card 20 th SUP ct aaa other municipal matters. rep.-
Ia to puo.slcI .ta;.uisn c,-!,llaAs lie manage
meut % thc city fin,ure-. lie sd:
This {, favolite device q disappointed politicians
who are striving 10 get f9othod IN orr Municipal Cor
eminent. During the session 81 the legislature theiT
oraus m tbs city p.iat the mot outrageous article. on
our city finance. based fal-e premises with h-ure-
10 match k. counterfeit bsrEnoie-, well calculated t"
deceive the public Tie article. 90 tie 5u, %. tempo
rasy Ir.cauc honI- "a anticipation ~ the tAHc- 81 -i
VEAL are sample o. thu ul1st criticism Tie amount
u these boLis outsi .uL.Lg Dr'eInarr 81 l,'' vas
sJ3f3.N0l and February =. ISIS, u was 81
aa8O0D. reduction o.: more than SlOj1OoO id
t,g, months (, nu.t Dc remembered taat tie only
rroaey- which ran 20 applied O. ~arI tho ria mption "
tcs. bonds are tA- receipts from taxes q ast year
These come 10 slowly, ard Tho payments cannot BE-
ha.;eued ~ Controller OF tue c.'y, would - glad 70
red them promptly hnt cannot 10 iAi' unlf'9 the
taxes nJw into The Treasury resiiry in gross .is'
d.y Oh weekly slfccut ~ provide 10. taxing up Tie
bonds
-yl.re IS another obstacle also which prevents the
speedy redemption Of these bonds at TIL. time In the
year owing 20 the financial pressure, and the e'io1r-
r.fn.nts o. many 81 or merchants and bu-nc-s men.
the Legislature ht- passed acts within tie ri5' TWO
year, relieving delinquent Taxpayers previous % last
year from the penalty 81 increased rate o. Interest and
PERMITTING them 20 compromise their indehtednc.- y
p.ymenl. n lover rate Of interest. Taxpayer T.I
hay. tie benefit % these sets until Nay D. l-7- B1t
the indications strongly pOiE; 20 another aei
Of the same character, 70 apply 10 tie tA''
81 last year, viii VIII extend the time
for paymen, ard reduce the penalty for delinquency
All tLess has- seriously affect the receipts for taxes
and consequently prevent tine prompt redemption OF The
bonds. The arrear, % taxes account boh Of real and
personal estates ale very large Business men N oa'
for taxation lch can be avoided delayed the
pecta,lon u reef from hr legislature. Al the o.
peuscs Of the CITY Government have be met ;or
months ard To- accounts comp1rrd With iat' year
show reduction IL ..o city dc1t Of S-.5OoCoD. il
appear by The nnire- flloEue:
vt honf.i det February o. elfi7Tai ~
Net bonlol DEBT February -. I7''-.-- 4l3',@'" 90
decrease ............. .............s 25s, rs. -
as TO the transfer Of uncxpeudel balance, the
Board Of Appoltioam,nt. with few exception. has
adhered u the rue such Transfers back II
the preceding wear In a computation 10 The I"g',
balances lapse Ato The CIV ITrlsr' In icw instances
tie Board 81 AploItionmrnt M dcfld'd rom 10 rue
n idle slrdk ~ these tIsn-iers as having been made
y" III i,nd,s ina, oi- i1r,lri,al indebted inc. l.
bii,!gri over ~ the lavish i.-ua ~ revenue bonds
No ,n55, tri. ,,''.rr ,'on for tie sun
drart1n~nial and provisional c-tlmaies are published
", f IN he Iad'rs rcw.asper- o. this civ A. The
clne ~ The year. balance. 81 appropriations appear on
ne book. but they DO noi always rcpr cent sh In ne
tax. necessarily result IN lr-s,ninc The available
amount 81 these appropriation, ana sometimes em,af-
rass the operations Oi the city Government. II ha,
been the policy % le Board Of App"itoum,n, not to
Use these uneNpcndcd halanc"s Whcn made goDd ~
subsequent receipts from ttxaon but Ia require the
departments 10 carry On Their work without thcI IN
Nv cases where seemed me Wiser course 70 max
the tran aud permit the use Of the money FOR some
urgent aud important public woik. the board has ad-
The reduction OF salaries paid municipal officers IL
aqncsion which viii require patient thought on part
~ those To whom u may ht committed by uhe L"sI7d
ture. II involves the consideration OF thugs he-
he efficiency OF tho department tnc experience .4d
qualification. Of the officer the Impotence OF thc Office
III ifs particular functions, the training demanded FOR
proper fnihinen OF It, dnies-a enter !no the maj
determination Of The ComprI-itipn To te ailO"ri. y
cons '' employed by the ety from 10 to 20
per cent Is the first Thought OF crude and
controlled by ignorant and irresponsible advisers,
stands ready 10 nure the credit Of the city, or to inlet
a wound political opponents IN power, because OF
political anmOsitics the result Ol year, OF SINE
Ii.- my H. tD e.
a.. mac in GOOD faf bT ts oricoators II seems To- bc
poorly concealed attempt to cIor from The members
OF the Board disappointment their opinions with view
shape legislation for partisan ends That the Lrsi-a-
iure a. - body would guilty of this not
be believed. But history repeats itself ana where
closely ~ IN methods Tor influencing legislation Inc
members OF the Roard OF Apportogmen, ~ the guar
dians Of the cy's interests, believe arc honesty
can act only within the limits Of existing laws Thcy
authorize payments from the CITY Treasury except
such as are made 0illsatofy by Id@, Livery year, un"
the order OF things, the board has used IL lued
authority totecrtase expenditures ana 10 rG'tiah of
uaVaganccl III me rFera dcpaI mems Sh"uu the Irg
ture place Ia the hands OF The board tnc authority to
reduce aud equalz" salaries have II doubt that power
a. one member OF board have been honOrci by
Offices aud .ny present place by the appointment
and approval OF their direct representatives. by amp
custodian millions dollars the pIblc funds. with
honor aud 10 continue 10 merit the confidence oi the
however as member of the Board Of APP
pOftOnDcnt, 10 commit Inysei III hlfahce 10
line Of action which mature reflection mex
peccd circumstances may change OF modify Certainly,
do not mean TO do anything which viii give schcinng
politicians an opportunity to Impair the clclrn work
Ing Of any department Of the city Government. Ia NY
official action. hold my Opinions subordinate TO the
hgLe,t interests oil the city. AZ head OF the Finance
Department, | favor economy and fohencnArnt Ia
every department of the Cy Government and In every
expenditure Ito behalf"
ST MARY's FREE HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
The St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children,
at No 4O7 West Thirty -fourhst is endeayOrug TO Sc
cure funds 10 erect new building The last annual re-