New-York tribune., 1879-01-07
MAYOR COOpER's MESSAGE.

and the efforts to secure rapid transit
MAYOR COOPERS MESSAGE.
REDUCTION OF TAXES AND THE DEBT ADVISED
INCREASE OF WATER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Mr>T URGED IN ALL LEPAEIMENTS
MAYORS OFFICE Jan. G. 1879.
To me Common CouncH:
II i. thc duty of the Mayor "tO cOmmunl-
sote 10 IN, Common Council at least once year. gen
era statement Of the finances government ana improve
fneuts of the city" ana to recommend al fu0"
measures a he shan deem eXpedient' This duty WI" pe
pcrforncd when shall have been long enough III once
tn become familiar with the actual condition OF the
yarious departments Of the City Government III 'no
meantime Il will not he out OF place TO make ie" so
sra suggestions indicating the pohcy Whch II seeIs "
mc should be pursued in the municipal administration
Jne public authorities charged With the care OF the
property OF the city, the protection OF lie ana helh
and the snpervision of affairs winch affect the well
being of the whole community. The increase OF Popu
itiop oud resources which has characterized the cy
during the present century should not he checReu
through tie want Of enterprise and wisdom III uzmS
the natural advantages with which New-York is
favored
By Ms commercial relations with all parts OF the Union
ana with foreign peoples, 10y lis manufactures which
have ldy grown to very large volume ana oy l's
subordinate industries, our cItY has thIlNen hitheT'o
and must continue thrive To develop these sources
n wealth and prosperity 10 invite ana accommodate
The lntcIcHtNLt OF tue liOD'4''HV VI 'i N''i'''' ~
attract additional capital, sEll aud labor, 1t Is
necessary that the burdens imposed upon COM
mcrcc by tolls, charges OF eNHcuons ne Hshr
rucd: that the facilities Of our harDor ana
IFS docks and wharves De extended and adapted to mod
trn cbc,p methods of hauGuue bulky prCducts that
our streets bc kept clean aud IA proper condition ior lhe
passage o persons aLd mcchaJ3se taa' life hnd prop
srty br protected; thai the attractions OF our parks ana
pleasure grounds mautamcd ald that in the newer
pari o, the city the plans for 1t, extension be comWe
len>yc and uteh emily adjusted 10 hcuses Tor W"'h
Il VIII be occupied.
1sNATIoN AND TIE CITY DEBT.
These objects believe can he attained at ow'r rate
), taxation than Is imposed, ana without any III
crease OF debt.
The Accomplishment Of these ends is ntrustcd to va
.iou- agencies deriving Their power, from mutllanous
,tatut,, the tendency Of which, iOI many years has
,.cu to alc from the Common -Odncl jurisdiction over
,ue subject Ter another and vest it ~ divers dc
,irncnt-, boards and officers in whom are now found
,nub!nrd both legislative and administrative functions
The power OF det rmnmg the amount to be raised by
taxation which until recently had been retained by the
legislature. is vested in body before unknown 10
,ur rntIirpal afiars-tht Board of Estimate aud A-
loriioDmcGi. Tnis body hxe> the amount OF annual
aXaton ana The appropriations to he extended Dy lne
several boards ana departments among Wuch the tX-
Pctvc AID legislative functions nave been distributed
I'M, r,ult IA complex systcm ia which the limit OF
power Is not always clearly defined and responsibility
uot aiwavS secured. ENpeueucc Will plOhaDy SUI
tenn but al present have proceed IN the discharge
yi our dajie, under the Jaws we find them.
TXTFNsION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The extent to which public works. paid for by the city
and by mcnt- property benefited ought to be
prosecuted is subject that Will continually force Itself
mon ou, attention Il consider, in this time
of 0paue Il depression and OF h.avy taxation, which Of
The ovcmrnls required III te upper part Of the cy
,ioI,aI acues for crossing Harlem River. by
bridges or tunnels, should hc proNl-co from liHt 10
time. a. required Al some Poh's lhs HAS ons p'cn /"
Jnc WORK repairing and rcpa'ins he ways IN those
parts of tBr city where the buSi'es uy NhcA II u sup
ported ,rdu-acte1 and wb,Ic people actually dwell
shOuld be pushed more randy, and ad qua'e "ppl'
An abuactut supply OF water l. of Vth Importance
The great reservoir on the ndc branch OF Tie Ci't"n
wears g., completed and hiCt. Inc aqGeduct should he
should h. gwen e., hr increasing demand tor water,
ttr CITY crows. and to measures for supTc'Sus waste
foiib"ifn vii AFFORD much cdcd rcci he elevated
portions OF the city, and should he prosecuted rapidly
10 complexion.
REDUCTION IL CITY OFFICIALS.
There c too many city officials and their salaries
In many instances excessive. 10 cdualzc compcnsG-
tong L. get I'D OF snccures ana unnecessary officials is
q duty demanding immediate attention. Compcnsations
snould adjusted 10 the Character Of the labor and re-,
the local authorities that discretion should be excT,
ciscI in interest OF the puh Where salaries and
oiccs needles, hough they may be, hored pro-
yIsinns Of law legislation aOUr eau bring rCltl where
tbe conn cus.,ion Of present ncumbenIs is protected
hV the con >titutou provisions sh"ud be made for re-
dncug thc emolumcnts Of their The heavy
rKpendrcs involved the administration II justice
IN this " form serious item IN the burden ot taxa
ton. \" good citizen VIII d.sirc 90 e9paITass the
pen-e> reduced without detnment TO the public
servic"
The question Of excise Is IN all aspects, deeply i'm
portanl The laws force framed for tho STATE AT
large should De mod ed Is 10 meet the r'Quir' Acns
Of great metropolis, and secure by the proper rcguI-
tion Of tLy irinc upon which they operate, greater
at Al 10 Ett nt
sT6c rrysrrcs Of the CITY should be more efficiently
collected .cise franchise privilege should be
granted without adequate return to the cy treasury.
No interest Or individual should 0e permitted 10 cEdlc
lus; AMI ca Obligations to the city. Bat II II our duty
10 go further ascertain 10 what extent new sources
Of income can be opened 10y imposing taxa
tion upon ali corrorIIIons and persons WHO
enjoy special privileges and franchises, vnch
do not contribute III III, shape 0f taxation
an amount fairly proporuonod to the profit wic they
derive lroa the pubic bO"niN Without discussing now
for il irpcr to grant exemption from taxation. to
cotnp:oiui~c hXci payments. II j. clear
iLat ;ic opinion Will not long JUSTIFY the eIjoymcnt
Ihr n.,y.-ai.. expenses Of tnc government h, which
they are .roiected and tncl' value - maintained.
IUE CITY BUDGiT
TO Tie annual budget OF TIE Board Of Estimate and
Aproruouwcnt. adopted December 81. 1s7s have not
vet b,c allie tp give such examination woall war
rant review Of is yarOu, items Ia my Judgment uow-
c,rl the action of tbs B1ard IA Wise relieves the
h,aij~ az GcI Srtmeuts nom responsibility ior strict
.c"noI, Try ar as truly bouHd to effect all pfactl-
cable -aNINs al expenditure WITHIN Tie maximum aU-
IOrt"ucd 70 thcin rs II that maximum had not been
uNcd -.
~ AN ucptruaus and officers O the municipal govern
mcTt requiring and expecting from ali hearty coupe
ration Ia tic efficient discharge of their respective
duties.
do not deem il improper TO remind yOn that the re-
suits Of thc late election were brought db0ut by deep
seated I,ficon in the community WIN the man
ageInen; o. city Affairs 10 the extent Oi the power
should remove the causes OF tLis dssat-
lsfaco Where do not possess the necessary power
prOpet Teprt scuaOns should be made TO the l. glsa-
iue iu order remedial measures. TO the de
termination aud the effort TO sccuie an efficient ecOnOln-
zeal and cn .hteued administration OF tue public Dus-
iucss we should subordinate questions Of purely part
san politics, allowing 30 individual or political
riGcrfucr, 10 interfere with the needed work Ot