New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-02
THE MAYOFS MESSAGE.

tits a custom, handed down from the time
when the Board of Aldermen had the power TO
legislate upon all city matters, for the Mayor to
send to it message at the beginning of the
year reviewing the work of the departments
and making recommendations for future action
This custom has been duly observed by Mayor
Edison, but 1t is curious to note, as a mark
perhaps of the evolutionary period in our city
government, that the Aldermen have not now
any control over single subject treated in the
message read to them yesterday. They are
alone responsible for the steam heating evils to
which the Mayor refers, but it is beyond their
power now to remedy even that nuisance. Still,
the message is not without its uses in concen-
trating public attention upon the workings of
the municipal system.
Mayor Edison has not undertaken to point
out in detail at the beginning of his term the
abuses under which we suffer, or make recon-
meDdaions for particular reforms, but contents
himself with the general statement " that the
improvements of the city have lamentably
failed to keep pace with its remarkable growth"
He naturally finds that this is not due to any
lack of money provided by the taxpayers, but
to radical defects in the organization and
methods Of the city government. What these
defects are he will undoubtedly feel more
keenly within short time. The principal one
he vii! probably realize when he asks the AL
dermen within the next ten days, as required
by the charter to confirm his nominations for
Police and Park Commissioners and to fill other
vacancies. The Mayor looks TO Albany for re-
lief, but we fear he will look a long time and
in vain to the present Legislature.
Some of the opinions expressed in the mes
sage are rather ont of harmony with sound
ideas in regard to the $10,5O0,O00 salary list
of the city. For instance, in referring to the
law of 1880, known as the Public Burdens Act,
Mr. Edison States it as bis belief that Ill patrol
men on the police force should be paid the same
rate of salary; and as tho law applies to the
firemen also, he probably means to include
them, though he does not say so. The law of
1850 grades the patrOlnen according TO length
of service and merit, fixing the highest COM
pensation at $1,000. The patrolmen and fire
men appointed before to passage OF that law
are entitled to 81 200 each per annum. This
rate for them cannot be reduced, owing to we'll
known constitutional restrictions. TO carry
out the Mayors recommendation, therefore, all
salaries would have to be increased TO $1,000.
This would add to the present tax burdens Of
the city nearly threo-quartcIs II million dol
larg a year. An "equallzng" scheme of that
sort was passed 10y tue last Legislature against
the earnest protest Of Mayor Grace and Con-
troller Campbell, but fortunately we had
Governor who promptly vetoed it. The per
CAPITA cost TO this city of its police protection is
now 81 81, as compared with 81 for Boston,
81 20 for Philadelphia, SO cents for Chicago
and an average of 81 % in the cities of the
United States 1t certainly is not because we
are any better protected in New York that our
police system costs propOrtiOnately SO much
more. If salaries could be equalized at a lower
rate than ST. POO there would be no objection
to a change in the law. The applicants for
pIaces have not been reduced in number or the
appointments in average merit, apparently, be-
cause of the reduced pay. 1t is unfortunate
that while Mayor Edison seemingly finds nothing
TO criticise in the Police Department he thus
indirectly encourages tho demagOgues who
fiourished in Albany last winter and who will
be only too ready TO act upon his suggestions.
The taxpayers who do not have entire con-
fidence In the present management OF the Pub
lie Works Department and who have not ceased
to wonder why Senator Grady's investigation
of the department was so suddenly interrupted
lust at the time when it beg an to be interesting