New-York tribune., 1885-01-06
60 s3l,s7l.oo5 II


Tho assessed valuations OF real aud personal estate
last year ,2Os.3i3 II TO this amount we
add SO 100000 Tor the increase OF valuations in ss5
the rate OF tax In the present year will be nearly 23o
This rate however not only subject to increase, but
view Of the recent Constitutional Amendment II Is to
Iegslature The ability OF the Legislature To thus sup
penent the work OF tho Board Of Estimate and Appor
ionment. aud make partially new budget. concerning
which the city. through its chosen authorities has not
word TO I. one Of he evils which can only he RENE
died by such amendment 10 the Constitution or the
have already spoken OF. IL Il the Application
IN one oi lts worst ors oi ths prn'ipr =" ~ @ ,
cipa freedom but direct Interference with our local
affairs By external body. which can result In nothing
but the partial nnliication OF the efforts OF the Boad
Of Estimate aud Apportonment TO secure responsibility
in the making OF departmental estimates ana economy
In this connection reference should also he made 10 tho
Transferring expended balances 10 other accounts
Heads of departments feel little or no responsibility
for making careful aud correct estimates OF the cost OF
administering the several bureaus OF their departments
II they practically al their pleasure get appropra
wears ago unrcservedly condemned this practice and
the recently held that the uncxpended bS
preparation FOR another year Bat the practice sl pre-
walls of transferring balances OF appropriations Tor one
for the current year, which 1, permitted by law re-
gard the practice generally wrong and shall hold the
heads OF departments To the appropriations ~ male
only varying the rule IN OF urgent necessity where
the effects OF DENYING the application would DO
harmful 10 the best Interests or tho city ana not por
mittng Of delay
THE CITY REVENUE.
tits popularity OF system that our annualbudget
shows the estimated expenditures OF the several depart
ents OF the city government. all OF which to bo met
by taxation, and makes reference whatever 10 the
sources of the city revenue other taxation This is
due TO the all other than that from tax
alton passed to the credit OF the General Fund or to
the sinking Fund. The estimated amount OF the General
Fuud il deducted from the amount OF moneys required
be raised by taxation To meet the appropriations, nut
otherwise it 10 part O the budget, and oyar It the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionnent EXERCISES no con
troll There Is thus no direct central responsibility Tor
the realization by the city OF the fullest possible receipts
from It's several sources OF revenue Tho result OF TINS
lax ana unique system s In nv opinion the loss to tile
city Of n very considerable income III the necessity were
felt for raising from the municipal property the largest
sms practicable the as II done In private business
Ing TO "A ninimum the amount be levied In taxes not
only would the Income from these sources be much larger
than present. To illustrate this. may refer to the
matter license fees due the city by the street railway
companies. These have remained unpaid for years and
the gatiOns Instituted by the city have been permitted
to drag along with uncommon slowness as though the
OF the collection ora debt to the city not fully
important As IL would be were the paintif an indvid
ual or private corporation.
paid license fees, with accumulated interest, Is SS33
decision affirming the Judgment OF tho General Term OF
the supreme Court IN one action which has been endng
naIpaad copany for the ann ., Of s7 d9S rs The
amount OF this Judgment has been paid into the City
Treasury license fees accrng In the years 1869
1874 Inclusive, and the claims OF tho city on this
account against the same company for license fees since
1874 than $4,000 The decision OF the Court
OF Appeals confirms the validity OF the ordinances OF
1859 establishing license fees, and sustans the
claims Of tho city against those surface railroads subject
20 the charge OF license their cars strongly n-
cline to the opinion that the Legislature should be asked
amend the Code OF Civil Procedure to gvea pref
10 actions to which the city is party such an
amendment would facilitate the collection OF claims due
the city, and would lessen the aggregate recoyeres in
actions against the city.
In the examination of tho several departments which
propose to have made by the Commissioner OF Ac-
counts, iAhal instruct them particularly to ascerta
whether proper means taken to collect the whole
that the city entitled to receive from the sew
era sources provided by law and the largest amount
which the public property could be made to yield under
the best and most Intelligent management
TAXES.
The following table OF the relative assessed valuation
aud personal for 1883 and 1884, shows
total net Increase for tho year OF S6I, ,62I.l79: