New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-28
UoPK FOR THE LLGISLA TURE.


Beneficial legislation for this city is hardly to
be expected Of the present Legislature. Inc
only city measures that have yet received a'ten-
ton at Albany have been such as will increase
expenditures or relieve persons who have ylo-
lated a law from its penalties. Time seems to
hang heavily on the hands OF some OF the men,
beers, however, and If II reform measure could
be devised which would not interfere with
their patronage they might be induced to give
It some attention. Whether or not bill to
change the laws in regard to the special and
trust accounts of the city would prove to he
such measure is questionable. The present
system of managing such accounts ought,
however, to be changed.
Prior to 1864 all stocks and bonds were is
sued by authority OF the Common Council or
Board of Supervisors under acts of the Legisla-
ture passed upon the application OF the corpo-
rate authorities. 1t became the practice OF the
members Of those bodies TO bargain for ap-
pointments and make other demands before
authorizing the issue of necessary stocks to
continue public improvements, and that led to
a change in the law. Authority was obtained
for the Con troller to issue stocks and bonds
upon the requisidon Of department heads.
This change opened the door to the enormous
frauds under the Tweed regime The great in
crease in the debt of the city was due to the in
discriminate manner in which the drbt-con-
tracing power was exercised at that time. The
Board of Estimate and ApporhOnment was
devised to take the place OF the Common Coun-
Gil IN authorizing the issue of bonds and
in the control Of the city expenditures. 1t has
proved great improvement over former meth
DDS, but complete control has never been gwen
to 1t.
Some of the laws passed during Tweed's
DAYS, giving discretionary powers to department
heads in the matter of expenditures, are still IN
force, and these give rise to the special and
trust accounts already referred to. The
heads of some of the departments can OF
their own motion proceed with undertakings In
tho name and on behalf of the city which will
compel the issue of the city bonds it may DO to
an unlimited amount The annual budget Of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment does not
by any means include all the city expenditures
for the year. That Board made all apprOpria-
tion of So, 497 200 for the Department of Pub
lie Works for the present year. AS q mattrr OF
fact the expenditures of the department may be
double that sum under existing laws. In ad-
dition to the appropriation last year bonds were
issued to the amount of $1,O1O,OOO for the
Croton Water Fund, and to the amount OF
81, 900 600 for other purposes. Bonds for
1897, 900 were issued for the expenses of the
Dock Department, and other issues were made
for expenditures elsewhere.
1t is mandatory upon tho Board of Estimate
and App0rtonment to issue these bonds when
ever requistiOn Is made by the department
heads. Why should not the estimates for these
expenditures be made out in detail and sub
mitted to the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment for its approval before any liability is
incurred, the same as for other department ex-
penses9 Publicity and open discussion are the
great safeguards of honest government Why
should the Commissioners Of Public Works. for
instance, be allowed to expend $l,000,000
year in any way he may please, so long as he
technically keeps within the law which requires
this fund to be used for the purpose OF increas-
ing the water SUPPLY And why should the
expenditures of the Dock Department be
charged to the city debt and limited only by
the discretion of the heads of the department
The result of this system was shown in the de-
facations uncovered in that department In
1881. In referring to this subject, Mayor
Grace said in one of his messages: 1.-THE Dock
Department has conducted the most impor-
"tant transactions almost entirely without
"record. 1t has expended over 81, O0O, 900 In
construction and general repairs without
excepting any books to show the details of
@cost." The whole matter was investigated by
a committee of the Assembly but for some un-
known reason its report was suppressed. why
the Tammany statesman who was at the head
Of that committee suppressed the report has been
made the subject Of an inquiry by committee
of the present Assembly at Albany. Had the de-
partment been under the control CT the Board
OF Estimate and Appointment and required