The New York herald., 1878-03-08
po,it,c,ap. ana Municipal Reform.

| formation from Comptroller Kelly in reia-
ton to the debt of the city and the balances
in the city treasury. There is nothing of an
Objectionable or political character in the
resolution. 1t seeks to secure official and
reliable information on matters of public
interest and importance, and the preamble
by which it is prefaced sets forth the circum-
stances that render its adoption desirable.
1t has been publicly asserted that while the
statements Of the city Finance Department
have shown q decreased public debt the
debt has, in fact, been increased during the
past year by deficiencies in the tax levy
and by transfers Of paper balances unrepre-
sented by money in the treasury, to meet
which revenue bonds have been surrepti-
tiously issued. Such grave charges certainly
demanded the attention of the Legislature,
and it would scarcely be supposed
that o resolution of inquiry based upon
them would have excited any political OPP
position. Yet Mr.. Brooks proposition
seems to have occasioned an uncomfortable
futter among the republican leaders in the
Assembly Mr.. Alvord and others on his
side Of the House were instantly on their
feet to obstruct its passage and under the
plea of a desire to debate the resolution its
opponents at first succeeded in having it
laid over. Subsequently the opposition was
withdrawn and the resolution was allowed
to pass, but the incident affords an apt
illustration of the manner in which the
politicians are disposed to deal with the
question of administrative reform.
We do not regard this particular resolu-
ton as material, although its introduction
was timely and proper. The debt state
ments made by Comptroller Kelly have
been commercially clear and full, and no
doubt represent correctly the city's fnan-
cial condition. From them we learn that
the net bonded debt has decreased two
millions and half dollars between Feb
ruary, 1877, and the same month of the
present year. and we know that the tax levy
is less this year than last, although we do
not regard it as yet low enough. If the
Comptroller's financial suggestions should be
carried out our debt would continue to de-
crease and the interests of real estate
would speedily feel the advantage of the
change from an uncertain to O definite
financial policy. The Comptrollers reply
to the Assembly resolution will not, there
fore, be likely to add anything to the infor-
nation already possessed by the public in
regard to our improved financial condition.
But the futter of opposition occasioned by
the introduction of the resolution indicates
that the republican Legislature is more
anxious to manufacture political capital in
its professed desire to reform our city gov
ernment than to bestow any real benefits
upon the people of the metropolis.
Although the Assembly hesitated to ask
of the Comptroller the information sought
by Mr. Brooks resolution the Assembly
Committee on Cities has been anxious to OBJ
tain the views of Mayor Ely, Comptroller
Kelly President Roberts and Tax Commis-
sioner Wheeler, the members of the Board
Of Apportionment, as to the expediency of
reducing the salaries of the school teachers,
the police force and the members of tho
fire brigade. The salaries of the school
teachers have already been reduced by the
Board of Education, and it would be
out of the power Of the Board Of
Apportionment to increase them again
if it felt disposed to do so. The
salaries of the police and of the fremen are
not under the control Of the Board Of Appor-
tionment. 1t is evident, therefore, that the
opinions of the members of the Board on the
subject Of the stated reductions can be of
no more value than the opinions Of any
other four reputable and capable citizens of
New York, and the suspicion naturally
arises that the questions addressed to them
by the Assembly committee are designed
for political effect rather than suggested by
the public interests 1t may be said that the
Assembly, having under consideration the
proposition to confer on the Board of Appor-
tionment the power to fix the salaries
of all officers and employees Of the
city government, desires in advance to
ascertain the views of the Board in regard
to certain reductions. But this is very
Objectionable system of legislation. If the
power should be conferred on the Board Of
Apportionment it would be the duty of the
members of the Board to exercise it in ac-
cordance with their best Judgment in the
interests of the city and equitably toward
the city's officers. They certainly ought
not to be required to pledge themselves in
advance to any particular line Of policy, nor
can they properly be called upon to express
their opinion on matters whose considera-
tion belongs solely to the State Legislature,
and which should be acted upon by that
body honestly, impartially and on its own
responsibility.
1t would be boon to New York if
State Legislature would once legislate for
the city government without regard to
politics, simply in the interests of the
people. We might then expect to be left
to govern ourselves and not be subject to
.roarlx Tin larinn of tnunicir raal oflnira