New-York tribune., 1885-01-06
INFLOW READS HIS MESSAGE
BRooKLYNs CONDITION SATISFACTORY.

Of
Mayor says in his term Of ONCE no burden mas poen
nro,ected into tho future Of which the present
does not bear it, proportionate part Al
reference to the Constitutional Amendment
limiting the debt Of cities, the message SHOWS .na'
Brookyn has now nearly moro net deot than
nerm,ts n the law be interpreted that the gross
debt mot deducting the amount in the Sinking Fuho
.ball not exceed 10 per cent OF the vaiuauon'
the city con issue no now oohos p
fore 1891, while II the net dept oS .~No"
"a the basis IL is likely that In 1889 tho city can io
new obligations This the assumption that the TAX
,I ,oirotion remains unchanged, and in Mr.. LOWS
INDIGNANT IL ought by no to be increased ior
we can better afford to defer public improvements IN
yolvog the creation Of debt than 10 haston 'a y
by increasing the basis OF valuation. In thS
permt me TO say that II may be good law 10 cohS'"0
the constitutional Amendment as applying TO the gross
deb hut certainly It Is not good sense AS the ne"
amend,nent DESTROYED the emergency clause OF the
charter the Mayor urges that tho Legislature
reenact It, He also urges application to the
for power to carry out some plans OF rehei rcr tue
flooded districts" One way would be by the TAX levy
and another by using
TnE ARREARS LAW.
In regard TO the new Arrears law after showing INC
effect OF its operation far the Mayor says Ut mas
yindicated its efficiency in two vital particulars First
and best induced almost one to pay up rs
er than to allow his property to go to SALE second
shown itself able to attract buyers our
are faced therefore. for the first time IN eeNeh
with the Certainty that in order keep undisputed con-
troll of their property for OF ssS or m o Se rv
than this the terms OF redemption are SO severe ~
upder To nrGs iSe hammer snd as we believe the title
follows If the property is not redeemed In accordance
Of affairs in all parts of the city and and
giving careful calculation showing that the
IS 7S9 900 the Mayor adds This would Indicate that
much rougher estimate Of last year was da oc
from these uncolectable claims for local improvements
and The like Great as this loss no ngurs s can
believe Is only remains na s sew secure 20 aw
which shall the amount of current arrearages 10
figure that shall be purely nominal
THE BRIDGE
OF the Bridge Mayor Low says
For the year ending November 80 1884. the ngires
on the maintainancc account show as ioilo"s'
Total receipts; 4SSSS 90
~, ,,r,,c. . sl4a55 90
The net result figures canuot but be disap
pointing. The receipts are qnc A. nirge a. co na'o
been expected under the conditions as TO con
nectons with other lines of travel at both ends OF the
structure But the expenses unhappy are even larger
than a year ago seemed probable. No DOUBT The eN
eur again and hope results OF the present year may
be more satisfactory. The Bridge must earn f222oo
wear In order TO prov ide the sinking Fund required ny
law for the bonds issued by the two cities and should
So Brooklyn must insert into her tax eyy eacn
wear i'm addition 10 S705 600 already inclnded Tor
Interest any difference between her share Of tbe earn
ncs and $4,000 the amount required oy law 20 10 be
bonds IL has seemed strange TO me AWAY mat some
OF those whpare most clned TO COMPLAIN o
tax rate demand "a policy for the Bridge at once WIN
out waiting time to bring 10 us added strength wch
woud increase onr tax levy by part least, not the
| whole of the Sl5OO0O required every year for the
sinking fund. We how raise IN each levy F'opooo on
account OF the Bridge and my opinion this Ia enough
OF this sum 10000 Is interest On bonds Issued To pay
interest during the long period OF construction prior 10
the opening of the Bridge cannot believe II wise or
just to compel the next few years TO pay ths
on account SS Ci bndre 5ns m Ihe tine When its
smallest aud its expenses are heaviest ahu III hd
dtion 70 compel them To discount the Indirect encg OF
the bridge upon the citys CROWN III tne lu'ie .r
element ia every great matter ana the DIldee ior
the present In my opinion ought to be run 50 a. TO 80.
cure from largest revenue possible consistent WIN
good public service In regard 10 the present iotn o
believe il should completely changed soon as pos
sible. giving place 70 much smaller Doaid Ia eNeS
success destined TO reflect increasing glory upon
the Two Ge %nG s assSdn be S 0 the Desesssry oca
attitude Of crci,ine details ana ENJOY hihipy .he
citizens privilege OF dcghting In tho wonder ana the
beauty O! the Bridge itself
PUBLIC WORKS, HEALTH, SCHOOLS
The message sets forth that the City Works Depart
ment has completed new water main for the Eastern
District and has made satisfactory progress IN the "orK
OF increasing the water supply by 100000 gallons
day. sewers have been kept clean and important I'M
proyements made the Farmers Market has been re-
moved from Fulton-st. to the Wallabout The Health
Department has done much to put tho city In proper
condition II cholera should come all the wells in the
city have been and sunken lots hed The death
rate has decreased from % per thousand In 1883 to
2l "a in 1854. Tie police force has been Increased
| by nifty men, and two fire engine houses and one
nre truck house have been built The year showed an
Increase OF 254 IN the number OF new buildings and al
increase Of 81 92s,s77 IN their cost The total nnmbe
Of new buildings put up was 29l8 ana thflr vue ~
S22,329 The number OF new Duhdhss slshti! eheeeus
number erected in NcwiOrk In tho same Intervals
though they doubtless smaller and much less costly
The increase III the IN inc pubic school
the three years has been lO2i7 slthgs nearly ali
In primary grades. Many improvements In the school
houses have been made and the character and quality OF
the teaching has been Improved The scheme ot free
divduai checks has been successfully introduced The
Mayor says that this record Of things done
pie as 1t is credtable to the Board Of Education
The members who have given 50 much OF Their time Il
the accomplishment or THIS great Work, Win no other
reward than the satisfaction coming from public duty
well performed entitled to the gratitude Of the city
The proposition OF the president OF the Board ta the
minimum school age should be six instead OF nve years
approved by the Mayor, and lie adds: a." notice Will
satisfaction that is turning its attention
the Of study especially with The view or Obyi
are Two directions in which The public schools Brook
Iyn certainly ought to begin soon 10 moyein the drec
ton of the kindergarten for the little children and OF In
dusIia education for the older boys and girls / thnl
well especially OF teaching sewing 10 the girls par
Of their public school course"
CIVIL SERVICE AND RAPID TRANSIT.
Concerning the work Of the Civil Service Commission
crs the states that AIS places in the varou
departments, with salaries amounting TO Sl1GG,ss6
were open to competitive examination. Mr. Low refer
TO records OF the work Of the Commissioners In thes
words: "No examine these records and no
feel the Civil Service system, properly admins
isered differs from the old system Of personal selection
and personal preference widely day differs from
darkness There fairness and openness about II nc
cuarly American and snackDg of all that Is best tn
American love OF fair play and the American demand 70
equal treatment Of all citizens. Nearly GOO applca
tions for open competitive examination for fort
places in the Fire Department with public records o
every question asked and answered with physical test
adapted To the special work which is to be done, Civ
promise In uy Judgment OF good fremen for the depart
ment and OF fair play toward all applicants ] con
fden that the civil service system will commend itscl
: to the plain people more and more IL comes to b
better understood know II has improved the publi
service OF Brooklyn already by freeing appOintin
officials of immense pressure their lime and thoughts
by securing better clgss OF In and b.