New-York tribune., 1885-01-06

ton. ,.oo 1.7s5
snnss. srs: srs: tss q, i month: month"; 1889
NamSs. Of Of. fires Ns tEr 9e 4 months g
1ysrsss loss per per s rs Il Il mSnths 1884 LAS
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.
The adoption Of the Constitutional Amsnu .ha
,,ater,ay change the system OF rais"s iu'u' .a M =.
,roose Of this Department. Heretofore MI MONEY ~
- DISPOSAL either for Improvement o. 'o aooS
~ for account Of administration have Deen la'seu "
VI ' n,h oon M longer be issued. 30 that hereaier
bonus sor this department will have 10 oe taiseu a'
they should SeS o,sr SeSsrnents Its expenditure will
tSns he subjected the scrutiny ana, anu wpPich believe
Board OF dsa Estlai improvenen During the past year
the Department has spent lor % y, sa05 900 ncud-
~ of administration There Is now IN ane
civ Treasury proceeds OF nonus Tor tie cur
Wy IsS5 SgO3 900 meet expenditures LOT ."e IT,
nary sar ,o2T ner existing contracts and liabilities Inc
reTe4nes from this department paid during ane Fnd
ito the (stv Treasury, 10 the credlt OF inc oihAe
was sil9S7ls IL. ... =, u,hortage facilities
shall approve of any increase ol he actually
eaer on lie North East Rivers wncn ha ~ onmcrce
ncessoTv both because the requirements OF eonui @
without wisdom be med,ae source Of Increased
revenue TO the city; but for the i tSo f there
Sad SUif been reiss no DcSIIs Change in the law.
ARMoRIEs
A.. ,,e last session OF the Legislature an act was
,assed chapter 91 OF the laws OF 1914 aieh''ls '
Mu,tary Code of the state Of New-York ana proNi"s
M the purchase of land for Sites and the erection anu
,ih,ar oY srmories In the City OF New-fork, 10
o,n,oda,e the regiments and military organizations
90 Ha ISrst division OF tine state National GUARDS me
~ oct creod snd an anfhSrized the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund to issue Arnory Bonds lot tle he.cssS3
sxnen1it,Ires Upon the application OF the Armoly
Sri 10 the Commissioners Sinking Fund Arnory
bonds have been issued for the sum OF slszV%9o % 70
ar,nory sites for the Sh, l2th ana ga Hesl-
,nens and TO erect armory for the l2th REGIMENT.
The land been purchased for the sites OF an4es o
each of these regiments in the upper part OF the city anu
aeantract has been entered into for the construction OF
an armory for the 18th Regiment. D., -, r,,o,o,o
ola
and ApportiOnment to provide the means Tor tne lur
OF sites and the erection ana l ct by w
including the amount required III the annual eS'"'o "
All Of the sites which have already been selected for
new srnoes located in the upper ana less desey
pCisS in tHe future they should be located lower
and more populated districts In case OF riot OF uSt
snce the peaceabe citizens living in the more crowded
SECTIONS Of the city will be peculiarly liable to be stricken
by fright and panic and should be reassared anu pI o,
tected their lives ana property by the presence OF
militia al a support to the police
FRANCHISES.
Among the powers now vested IN the Common Council
there are none important to the interests OF the city
than the granting OF permits licenses and franchises
Under the general railroad law OF 1854 the con-
sent Of your Board necessary TO the construction OF
any surface street railroad No franchise for any such
purpose should awarded except upon suGb condon'
as Will secure 10 city the largest possible revenue
The proper means TO attain this end conceive TO be the
undertaking adherence TO the plan oi patng az sucn
franchises up public bidding at sufficient Upset price
and the insistence condition OF awaring the iia
ehse that there shall be prompt annual @ rn 1
receipts OF the person or corporation enjoying tne a
ehse shall gye my approval 10 no sGa sacb sond
TONS am convinced that in no way can you perform m
service to the oS c wh0ss oae
providing for tho granting OF sueh rranchises anu
privileges under your control In suon manner
as to AFFORD to our citizens equal opportunity TO enjoy
then and also 10 secure to the city an ae tie
feel il my duty during my present 10 withhold my
from special ordinances and resolutions 70 the
extent that found 1t necessary 10 DO during my
former term OF office.
FERRIES
Thirty ferries running between this city ana
the opposite shores OF Long Island, Staten Island and
the State OF New-Jersey The city derives all annual
revenue from ferry rents Of more than 100000.
larger amount than has before been received.
Within the past year of ferry leases have
been increased rentals The North shore staten
Island Ferry was sold the Staten Island Rapid Transit
Railroad Co. long lease from August last at arenta
aud quarter per cent OF the gross receipts
fIom ferriage besides rent OF $4,000 per annun ior
the wharf property belonging to the city at the foot OF
whtehast. used by this ferry the rent previously re
The receipts OF the Union Ferry Company the FIVE
ferries between Now-York and Brooklyn run by TN.
opening of the River Bridge, May "a 1888 and the
Of the s Ss i sa.
For the year after the opening OF the Bridge ending May
ayS tss eer e oa %
tine year previous making loss OF revenue from TIL
source in The first year after tho opening OF the Bridge
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
sIn my annual message OF 1882 took occasion TO say
whie others endeavorlng to formulate method b.
which remedy existing evils OF the Civil Service In
Nation aud State, am prepared to speak emphacay
the need OF reform In this respect In our municipal
afar The need of such reform Is no less urgent no
than 1t then In the meantime, however the Legs
ure has by chapter 410 OF the Laws or 1884 provided
that the Mayors of cities shall prescribe such regula
may promote efficiency thereof and ascertain
the fitness of candidates In respect to character know
edge and ability for the branch OF the service into which
they seek 10 enter, and for this purpose ne SHAH IRON
tine time employ suitable persons 10 conduct such in
Qures and make examinations and shall prescribe theii
duties and establish regulations for the conduct or per
sons who receive appointments In the said service
Under the already IN OPERATION no Queer or CLERK
other than those especially excepted by statue be
appointed without having first passed an examination a.
70 character and capacity. shall DO whatever Hes III
my power to enforce the law In this regard ana 10 ii
prove the general character OF the Cyil nerNlce aio
Iee assured that with and attention the part o
fair and competent examiners II will ultimately he made
independent OF all partisan political considerations
Whatever, and greater competency the part
the civil OF the city and economy in the
administration OF the several departments The law ha
cast upon the Mayor the responsibility for carrying III
PROVISIONS into enect, aud this responsibility do
shrink FROM Being Irresponsible, 1t be due
only 10 the CITY, but to 10 keep Dy
well informed a. TO the practical operation expert
the enforcement OF the law. aud II occasion shall arise
shall not hesitate TO make changes OF detail or
the necessary officials, observation experienc
shall show TO be proper and as the law will sanction.
In concusion 1 shall confidently rely upon you
efficient cooperation in remedying ohcial abuses,
rendering administration OF city affairs economies
and vigorous and In exercising the powers
us to maintain the present supremacy or the City
EewYork the leading commercial city OF the Unite
WILLIAM z. GRACE. Mayor.