The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-07
TIE CITY'S NEW OFFICERS.
TIE ORGANIZING or THE MUNICIPAL
GOYERNMENr ron 1870.
Republicans and Anti-Tnmmany Democrats
In Control In the city HaII-rhe Inaugural
Message OF His Honor Mayor Cooper.

NhNsHNho u AhiA mhAof cooper
The Common Council OF 1873 mustered
themselves out OF service yesterday Mt II
! o'clock. Politicians occupied every foot of
| standing room I'm tho Aldcrmcns Chamber and
on the steps OF the private staircase and Green
hackers who have no grccnbacks and working
men who have no work. filed the seats In the
gallery. Eighteen City Fathers responded to
the roll call. Aldermen BGlln. Reilly. Pinckney.
and Waohner. wero not in the Chamber Tho
| clerk read Mayor Ely's last message vetoing n
resolution to permit II. p. Childs and others to
lay wires for conducting electricity under the
| streets. 1t was laid over under the rules. Then
Alderman Gcdncy moved that City Father
| Roberts. the retiring President. be thanked. and
| Councilman Sevin moved thanks to Clork
francis j. Twomey and the resolutions wcro
passed without n dissenting voice. Then
President Roberts made farewell speech. and
Capt Twomey bowed acknowledgment Of the
compliment to himself. At 11:40 the Prcsi-
dents gavel fell and the Board Of Aldermen OF
1873 passed into history.
At ~ o'clock Capt Twomey. Clerk OF the old
Board. called the new Common Council to or
der. William II. Moloney read the County Can
vasscrs' certificate OF tho election OF its mcm-
bers. Then Alderman John j. Morris was
mudc temporary Chairman. and then IA the
roll was called each Alderman arose and named
his choice for the Presidency OF the Board.
Aldermen Nicholas Haughton. J. Graham Hy-
att. Joseph r. Strack. Bernard Kenney, Robert
| Hall. and Terence Herman. Democrats and Al
dermcn John J. Morris. John W. Jacobus. Hen
ry c. Perley. Michael W. Burns Matthew Stew
art. and Frederick Finck. Republicans. named
Jordan L. Mott. and Patrick keenan,. William
| Sauor Thomas Shells. James J. Slcvin George
! Hall, Robert Foster. Thomas Carroll. and John
| Cavanngh OF John kelly,s party. named Will
| Mr.. Morris declared Mr. Mott elected. and the
| new President was escorted To the chair by Al
Motifs speech was brief. He said that " he
who serves the people best. serves his party
Jacob VI, Patterson. Jr an influential Repub-
lean politician. was elected Clerk Of the Com
mon Council John keys nine Aldermen
clerk in the Fire department. Mr.. Morris nomi-
| nQtrd Albert Osborne Of Cornelius Van Cots
Lincoln Club for Sergeant at Arms. and Alder
| man Roberts named James Walsh. who has oc-
| was elected by i3toa Then Aldermen Haurh-
| ton. Perlcy. and Keenan, were sent 10 tell Mayor
| Cooper that the Board was. organized. soon
after their return. james L. Morrison presented
| Office, and William ii. Moloncy read NJ follows:
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
MAYORS OFFICE. Jan. G. 1879.
To THE COMMON Council: II is the duty Of
! the Mayor TO communicate to the Common
| Council. at least once a year. n general state
mcnt Of the finances government. and improve
|
| all such measures as he shall deem cxpedient."
| This duty will he performed when shall have
been long enough in Office 10 become familiar
| with the actual condition OF the various depart
| mcnts OF the city Government In the mean
general suggestions indicating tho policy which
| II seems to mo should be pursued in the mu
| nicipal administration.
| The public authorities nro charged with tho
| care Of the property of the city. the protection
Of life and health. and the supervision Of affairs
which affect the wel-being OF the whole COM
| munity.
The increase Of population and resources
which has characterized the city during the
| present century should not be checked III rough
! the want Of enterprise and wisdom IN utilizing
the natural advantages with which New York
By its commercial relations with all parts Of
the Union and with foreign peoples. by It's man
| ufactures which have steadily grown 10 a very
large volume, and by It's subordinate industries.
our city has thrlvcn hitherto. and must continue
| 10 thrive. To develop these sources OF wealth
| aud prosperity. 10 invite and accommodate the
| Interchange of the products 81 all countries,
| and 20 attract additional capital. skill, ana la
Dor II Is necessary that the burdens imposed
! upon commerce by tolls. charges. or emotions
| he lightcned; that the facilities 81 our hnrhOr
and its docks and wharyes be exton led and
| adapted a. modern cheap methods Of handling
| and ia proper condition Tor the passage ot per-
| sons and merchandise; that l,i, and property
! be projected; that the attractions Of our parks
! ana pleasure grounds bo maintained; and that
In the newer parts Of the city the plans for its
| extension be- comprchcnsiycly and inicligently
| adjusted 10 the uses Tor which it will bc occu-
These objects | believe can be attained at a
| lower rate Of taxation than is now imposed aud
| without any increase OF debt
The accomplishment Of these ends is ntrust-
| cd to various agencies deriving their powers
| from multliariOus statutes, the tendency Of
| which. for many years. has been 10 take from
| the Common Council jurisdiction over one sub
| pnrtments. boards. and officers. in whom are
now found combined both Legislative and ad-
| mui-tTative functions
The power Of determining tho amount 10 be
raised 10y taxation. which. until recently. had
| been retained by tho Legislature is now vested
| ina body before unknown IN our municipal
| afftirs-the Board Of Estimate and ApportiOn-
ment. This body fixes the amount Of annual
| taxation and the appropriations 10 be expended
| by the several boards and departments among
which the executive and legislative functions
The result is complex system in which tho
! limit Of power Is not always clearly defined and
| responsibility not always secured. Experience
| will probably suggest 10 us the necessity for
| notifications OF this system. but at present We
have 10 proceed in the discharge Of our duties,
! Tho extent 10 which public works paid for
! hy the city and 10y assessments on property
benefited, ought 10 be- prosecuted. In n subject
that will continually force itself upon our atten-
| ton. II is for us To consider. in this time OF
| financial depression and OF heavy taxation.
which Of the improvements required IN the
| upper part oi the city have precedence in the
| order of public necessity
Additional facilities for crossing the Harlem
| River, by bridges or tunnels, should be provided
! from time 20 time "a required. At some points
| this hps long been n pressing public need.
| The work OF repairing and repaving the ways
in those parts ~ the city whore the business by
which II is supported is transacted. aud where
! people actually dwell. should he pushed more
rapidly and adequate appropriations should be
| made tor this purpose.
! An abundant supply OF water Is OF vital i'm
| poTtance. The great reservoir on tho middle
| branch Of the CrotOn, the construction OF which
| has consumed nearly four years Is completed
! and filed The aqucduct should be maintained
| IN thorough repair, and timely consideration
| should bc given to the increasing demand for
water. as the city grows. and 10 measures for
| supuressing waste. Tho additional high SER
! vice works To 10 commenced forthwith will af-
| ford much needed relief TO the elevated portion
OF the city and should DO prosecuted rapidly to
completion.
There are too many city officials and their
salaries arc in many instances excessive. To
| equal2e compcnsauons, to get rid of snecures
| and unnecessary officials. Is n duty demanding
| immediate attention. COmpensations should
| bo adjusted TO the character Of the labor and
| responsibilities imposed. Where discretion
is vested in the local authorities that discretion
| should be exercised in tho interest OF tho pub
| lie Where salaries and Offices needless though
! they may be-, are anchored in provisions Of law.
| legislation hlone can bring relief Whore the
| COMPENSATION Of present ncumhents Il protect
| ed by the Constitution, provision should be
made for reducing the cmolumcnts OF their
| SUCCESSORS.
The heavy expenditures involved in tho adj
\ .a... 4.