New-York tribune., 1884-01-02
CITY EYrENnLTERES.

The time is surely coming when the taxpayers
of this city will organize n revolution against
the system of pillage which has been imposed
upon them as a substitute for municipal govern
mcnt; and we believe that it is coming very
soon. The exposure of the Tweed accounts
raised an insurectiOn few years ago, which
ended in the Imprisonment of two or three
thieves and the flight of a few others; but to our
chagrin we soon discovered that Reform had
not reduced the city budget. We were told
then that the Ring had left debts which we
must pay and that in little while the taxes
could be lowered. Yet the appropriations just
voted tell a remarkable story They amount
to $31,OOOOO0. In 1878 they amounted to
SIS, 200, ,0OO For this increase there Is not even
plausible excuse
LISA fallacious plea that tthelegitimatc expense
of administration rises in proportion to the
increase of population and taxable property.
There are certain items which may be expected
to show a progressive growth; for example, the
allowances for the support of the schools and
the maintenance of climates Of charitable in
stitutions; butmOSt Of the charges IN the budget
ought to exhibit an annual decrease The addi-
ton of ZOE, 900 persons to the population makes
no difference in the cost Of taking care of the
parks; but as the work on those pleasure
grounds advances, the outlay for improvements
ought to diminish. Less and less ought to be
spent for street openings, sewers, paving, etc;
and the salary lists could be cut down cnOrln
ouSly if the heads of departments were reason
ably careful in the selection OF competent and
industrious employees. But an examination of
the estimates shows that the same work costs
more and more every year, and that in some
cases the increased outlay on department is
accompanied by an absolute decrease Of service.
Moreover a system of transfers y has been
established which enables an cXtravagant
official to exceed his allowance indefinitely,
while the taxpayers remain ignorant of what is
going on. The budget has reached IA scandalOus
and prcposterous figure, wholly meXplainablc
except upon the theory of extensive dishonesty
and it is rapidly growing. The increase dur
ing the past year amounts to no less than
s3,4OO,000. One of two things Is close at hand:
revolt or bankruptcy.
To expect any improvement under the present
system of dispensing city Offices is futile. The
public treasury is regarded fund for sup
porting n hail." and the "hall " is an organiza
ton for supporting advcn turers, idlcrs, and
bad subjects in general, at the cost of the tax
payers. IT is to support a" "hall that Mr..
Hubert O. Thompson pays contractors $50
cubic yard for cxcavating rock; and that Mr.
John Kelly fills places of dignity and trust with
ignorant blackguards; and that Mr.. DavidSons
loOters skrmish around the edges of political
trays to pick up plunder and while the sys-
TEN lasts the rapacty of the "hals" must
continually increase. Left to themselves,
these gangs would quarrel and fall to
pieces. But the Democratic party holds
them together. Having allied itself with
them, for State and National enterprises, it has
deliberately made over TO them the taxes of
New-York city as pay for their votes. They
comprise minority even of the Democratic
voters of the metropolis; but against every
attempt of honest men TO set up decent busl-
ness-like administration the whole Democratic
party, from Murray Hill to City Hall Place,
stands in solid opposition. 1t is getting to be a
curious question whether the Democratic party
of Ncw-York can hold itself together much
longer in view of the obvious consequences Of
this conspiracy To compound felony.