The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-10
Adjournment of the Legislature on
Wednesday.
A NEW EXCISE BILL
The Constitutional Amendments Before
the Joint Committee.
GROWTH OF THE CITY DEBT
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]


State OF New York and to some Of the causes which
brought about their misgoveramcnt, and showed
some OF the consequences to which such mis-
government would lead. In conformity with
his recommendation the Legislature authorized
him appoint twelve Commissioners to take
the whole subject into consideration and re-
port 10 tho Legislature. Accordingly Governor
Tilden appointed Commissioners Messrs. William
NJ Evarts, William Allan Butler, Oswald Often dorfer
Edward Cooper, Samuel Hand, L. L. Godkin, John A.
Tou James C. Carter, H. r. Dimock. Simon Sterne
Joshua NJ. Van Colt and Martin B. Anderson. All
except last named accepted and ton OF the eleven
Commissioners united in report recommending
OF changes and safeguards to be
known new article oil the State c)nsti-
tuition In relation 10 cities Tho mendations
this report voted upon by the Legislature OF 1871
resulting acceptance Of and passing the amcnd
meni. Before 1t become operative 1t must be
voted upon by the Legislature OF 1878 and by tho
pie at such election the Legislature may direct,
md Il has been surprising to many observers that
this session has advanced without any move toward
the co,summation OF Tho second legislative vote
To day. however, there arrived from New York. by
teegraphic appointment. nine mombcrs OF tho Com
mission appointed in that city TO urge the submission
of the new constitutional amendments to the people
These observation-disclosures hamilton. Jr.; William
II. Webb. Willy Waliach, W. D. Morgan, W. H. Nor
simon Sterne, arthur u. IL. Seugw IL. Olln
and Wheeler f. Peckham-appeared this evening In
the Senate library before the Judiciary committees OF
the Senate and the Assembly, and Mcssrs. Sternc,
PecKham and oiin addressed the Commission at con-
siderable length. Tho formidable evils IN tho gov
ernment OF cities with which the Commission ap-
pointed by Governor Tiden had to deal were
Hrst the accumulation of permanent NUM-
cpal debt; second, the excessive increase Of
the annual expenditure for ordinary purposes. Tho
OF the permanent debt OF the several cities OF
the State, embracing In round numbers q population
OF millions, is upward OF s170 000 000 the
interest upon which probably exceeds eli 900 000
Much the larger part OF this burden the growth OF
recent years and the enormous debt OF tho city OF
New was OF course. thought TO be especially de-
serving OF attention.
GROWTH DEBT.
II was when tue Comm ission made It's report in
1877 after deducting the sinking fund, upward
of Sll3.oo0o 900. and without deducting that
fund, upward of si4o, 100000. In 1910 the
city debt about $40 100000. In 1860 It was up.
ward OF s18 600 ooo increase OF so por cent. In
1870 1t was upward Of s Oo0 oOo an increase OF nearly
400 per cent and IN the six years thereafter
swollen by :he addition OF $4,000 co., This last
large measure duo TO The funding OF tho
preceding floating debt OF over $40 600 ooo legacy
IRON the Tweed cabal ovorthrown in ISL, and
the amount Of the deb, as stated in 1870
The public debt OF the city OF New York; the larger
wasted cInbezzsicd msappliod AS TO the increase
OF the annual expenditure IA tho city u appeared that
able e' valuation Of sss 900 The amount Of ordpary
expenditure was but si2e,727 is. about
and about 81 rs for each inhabitant. THIS was
period Of regularity anu economy. Twenty years
2o2, 600 and the taxable properly 10 upward OF
S25 900 0o0 the annual expenditure was $500 IT'S a.
about 81 each nbaoitant and actual decrease or
the rate Of tax Twenty yoars ia.cr in $780, marked
decline had occurred through great deterioration
bringing with 1t waste, extravagance and corrup-
ton. still, with population at that time of
upward OF halt miion, and taxable property OF up
of $3.50 600 900, two and halt millions suced
tor the Ordinary annual expenditure exclusive OF In
tercst debt but included all State taxes THIS
IS Tor each inhaotant ana called Tor tax rate Of loss
than per cent In 1877 the annual expendi-
lure for the purpose OF ordinary ADMINISTRATION
exclusive OF interest upon debt as exhibited
By the annual estimate Tor tho purpose Of
determining tho tax levy, amounted to more than
$50 600, 900 or about $50 for each nhabtant aud re-
quired tax OF hearty two yer cpon the
valuation OF taxable property, but this apparent In
crease OF the annual expenditure. shown by the
annual oprstions was lar lees than the actual
crease. Enormous sums were every year cxac,cd
from the properly In tho form OF special ne
easements upon property assumed 20 be specially |
benefited which did not appear ia any form IN the
general buGget The sums thus expended Tor the
opening regulating, grading and paving OF streets
and the construction OF sewers, TO-, &c. Inasmuch
as ths expenditure was not an an nuai but cont,nu
Gus ono, the yearly amount could not DO sisted Tne
Commission thought II equivalent during the last ten
years 10 yearly sum 81 millions OF dollars, ana were
linus confronted with the Tact that the
annual expenditure since $780, as compared with the
increase OF population, was more tnan four hunared
per cent aud as compared WITH the increase OF taxa
bio property moro than two hundred per cent
srKRSK
Ar. SIMON sterne SAID tbat with reluctance no |
felt called upon direct the attention OF the Joint
Committee 10 the amendments rho commission |
which drafted them had boon appointed because tho
unicipal debt OF the several elites had grown so
large 10 threaten the very existence OF the |
government Eariy IN its deibe rntons the commits
son bad come 10 the conclusion that model charter
could not 90 written and go decided that tho object
sought could oGiy DO Obtained In tue manner /
suggested by the amendments Ia question. Tho cry /
which has been raised against the amendments
tho charge Of acknowledgements ftwas not however,
expected that members OF tho Legislature would DO
deceived Tor to them u Is knows tnat the people OF
villages vote the pan uggescd In the amend
onts for cities. board o. finance to represent tho
people who have stake IN tho government
was what was sought ana not tho disiranchise-
mcnt OF any case "Not one single argument" |
said Mr. serne. ''has been made against |
the soundncss OF Inc proposition that the taxpayers
should control the expenditures Of cites.n rho /
speaker referred 10 the CROWN OF the Communal /
element the community, aud said that " 'gn yet
como to pass that the people Of the city would DO /
robbed OF Their property. "Aicr Tweed was SHOWN TO
be robber 900 gave him thor votes Tor |
SENATOR" said Mr s,crnc. 'and after such cx-
ample you cannot say that some OF these mon should
ton against any man, nh by honesty, INDUSTRY
aud irugaity become voters.
senator Robertson here stated. IN explaining his
position the premises, that he MAJ proposed tho
amendments bad not changed bis views, aud would
vote for them again. Mr. stcrDe continued, tina, the
debt 81 New YORK cry grown to such enor-
extent thai the people couia not support u much
longer rney mad found that the debt Increases IN
indirect that ~ IS necessary TO
put effective stop 10 "a at once and forever. No
5ierne thought that on account OF tue outcry thai
been again II these anne nctnents, last tall
there seemed he IN inclination on the oi tho
Legislature, 10 allow them 10 remain unattended 10.
II any such intention existed he hoped that
gentlemen Of the committee would give their attention
10 amendments that were passed last year providing
Tor minority representation IN clues. rome way
should provided Tor the representation OF properly
IN inc Board OF Aldermen. TO TINS end tue speaker
thought u would be we'll 10 divide the cy into nino
or Ten distress, aud gtvo the taxpayers power TO
elect from each alderman at large. Properly, he
said should be represented ~ the Board ana against
She proposition even acmngossm could not RAISE It's
voice.
SIR. PEcKHAM's sPRRCu.
Mr.. Wheeler IA. Pcckham addressed himself 10 shc
underlyiDg principle OF The proposed amendments
with vigOr and warmth. lie said no aware
that the short limo allowed he would DO
unable 10 perfectly develop the sublect which
the joint commission was considering. TO tho