New-York tribune., 1878-01-02
TAXkTfON,

The ax levy for 1877 at the rate OF th:se ana one
s.yh mills The Controller estimates taat Tor the next
fiscal year levy Of two and threc-tonrtns mills VIII oe
sufficient T. j. the lowest annnd rate o the last sixteen
wears and shows the rapid progress when has recently
been made toward sound and healthy condition oil ihe
state finances Il in itself an earnest appeal TO the
Legislature for continued economy in public expend-
lures and for great caution in making appropriations
n the local authorities will pursue similar course. tho
pcope o, the state will soon be relieved to great extent
from, the burden which has so long oppressed them
Many well grounded complaints have been made o' IT.
,o,Ior and casonabe assessments and unequal dis
,rihurou of the taxes The wisdom Of man never
has been and probably never VIII DC aDie 10
dcyse a systcm wholly free from snch de-
fccts II a. nevertheless, the duty OF the Legislature
TO remedy them FAR practicable; but aiter AL Is
done that can be DONE the truth will remain that
Tho only relief from heavy taxation viii be found In tho
u,,ipr off OF all unnecessary expense No stronger In
ccptivo 10 this course should he required than are now
found I'm the depression OF business and the dcay OF
making payments
In this connection note also the great wrongs which
exist in the local affairs OF aad villages There are
too many small offices in The towns, the incumbents OF
which can only be paid by Illegal or cxorbitant
fees and petty exaotions Needless criminal complaints
ami legal proceedings are Instituted that cohstaDes'
Justices and aors may receive the fees OF sueh prose
cutions Services performed and not performed; arc
charged al double rates. and often several times fh'
ful Town Auditors might cut DOWN theSe pis' pu o"n
their full duty, ana 50 Dy tue colsou OF
neglect of those who should prevent II, the people
are Numbered degree even beyond that detecteu IN
the larger cities Town and county taxes might be mncn
esseued II this evil could be reached ana 10 lns enu
sgccst that YOU seek TO cut Un supcituOus OhcreI,
duce these extrayagant fees charge tue expense oi oe
cuminal proceedings upon the county ana pfoNuo ior
their axaon by the County Judge, or some oer com
retrnt officer By kindred measures DceNe an
immense aggregate saving might be effected ID money
as we'll rs morals
RAPID PAYMENT OF DEBTS.
One OF the most gratifying events OF the year has been
he final exttngushment OF the Bounty debt, which be-
cam. due on the 9Th of April last The balance OF tho
debt remaining due that date, after dedueting tho
o,,ount maid in advance and all the exchanges which
had been made OF securities IN the sinking fund amount
al IN 90 OiO 600 the whole of which was duly deposited
IN the Manhattan Bank the place of payment designated
I'm the bonds and notice published that interest
upou the debt would from that date Prc
yious Ia the close OF the fiscal year on the
3Oth day OF September. last tho whole debt principal
and Interest had paid with the exception of si3o
600 which had not presented 10 Ia probable 'hst
n considerable portion OF this may never be e"ed
for The amount however remains on deposit 70 mees
n. Tae debt has been a heavy burden upon the t"A
pav.rs Of the state the whole amount paid by 'nen a
Ing the twelve years which II had to rua eeinS S%So'