New-York tribune., 1886-01-05
MAYOR GRACES MESSAGE.
Recommendations AND SUGGESTIONS.
DENYING the COUNCIL OF REFORMs STATEMENTS

Mayor Grace's message to the new Board OF
Aldermen was sent that body and read yesterday
Il will te printed in full in 3he Cty Record and 300
copies will be printed in pamphlet form The Mayor
first submits statement showing the work OF the last
Board OF Estimate, with list OF the mandatory apIro
prations which the financial authorities OF the city
can psscise no control amounting TO S22 l,597 H.
Tire Boar Estimate, therefore. can only exercise It's
rover In the interest ef economy with reference TO
? Qi359i,722 SO The Mayor says:
Ono direct result facts IS not only TO increase
the already oncroas burden OF taxation hat IN a measure M
implIr ths efficiency OF the various departments or
cases. To exercise whatever discretion may remain TO
IL very sparingly ana to deny to commissioners nonoy
which they might aivautageouslY The general
iy for this condition OF Affairs has been frequently
pointed out corstirnlloaal ameniinent rsailng Sao
municipal computations ana proAionS special lsSis
ton. is believe. necessary condition prceedeht 10
independent local government
Tae general cost OF the city government is next dis
eusscd Mr.. Grace takes up the charges OF excessive
msde by the Council Of Reform and sayswth refer
once to the difference in cost between New York aud
Brooklyn:
Iu the case OF the Departme OF either city the
per caa cost based upon expenditure estimated az
FOR Brooklyn FOR the 1854 The actual per
capita cost % cents. based upon an actual sX-
accounted for when we take into eonsiterdti1n the
sTs Gcsa sa M % e % t4Sy iS OF this city S
actions na special proceedings to which the elty was
two cities il is ate that she cost per me in NewYork
obrnn this figure for New- York they evidently
divided the total amount expended by the n, ia6er OF
a the streets OF the city be cleaned six times week. n
eEileut that the total number OF miles OF streets
cleaned is six times Tho number tAe c.Iy contains. I
in 1884, actually $4,000 miles OF streets
they cleaned. which. judging from the complaints
from the neighborng city, Is more than can be sad OF
$3.50 a. but $780, while in Brooklyn, upon the same
bnsis tie niie $i2 so so IN the Depart
of ID "
OF population in New York may have been - O9
verified and which are probably the cost for
e,eh Child educated was New-York $l3 20 and in
He follows the comparisons through the various
departments and declares shat in every instance the
figures given by the Council misleading and at
Variance with the facts
Regarding the Sinking Fund the Mayor says:
During ns past year the problem OF the Sinking Fund
has received large share OF public attention In ccnhee-
ton %t The sse Of the % o. ne fecen1 6on 70
an amount equal ID 10 per centum OF the valuation
conty. TIE % exis Ing bond nde6tedGess which already
exceeis lmtcl iucludes the debt out
sivners dual capacity trustees for the city and
11r @ toe In nosri s OF rat e as the "Reminiscences Of the
Snging Fund certain holders OF bonds or the city, t
caSot be aetuced from the Indebtedness without
imparing the Obligation OF the CONTRACT by which the
luz to some - par value as seeniy Tor Lne
which confirms the opinion rendered by the present
Corporation Counsel anon the same question: though not
final seals the difficulties with Thich the authorities
have had eraprls in dealing with the question of new
PARKS. new schools new docks new armorles, n ne"
bridge the Harlem aHd other contemplated in
Troycments.
Legislation in the near futare Is imperatively de-
manded for the Department pf Docks:
On the first May 1888 there 20 the credit Of the
department an unexpendcd balance derived from the
Issue of bonds of $569.505 81, which incluae small
from sundry revenues fhe amount ex xpended from May
OF %3lSoG7 lG I!!iS Will IN
sufficient to the der rtment through the coming
jssne of bonds 1t consequently becomes OF utmost
Importance that proper provision be speedy male Tor
support especially in view OF its intimate connection
with the growth OF the city as the great commercial
II is estimated that between 5000 and 10000 children
deprived OF the al7antage5 which tue pnOIlc
This rntorees the arguments in favor of the con
ception of some plan OF assured eg1ty by which the
present 10 the sinking Fund may be
applied to the satisfaction OF crying wants In connec
ton With the general topic oi education need ony
attenCn given the introduction OF Industrial edu
cation to some extent Iii the system.
The Mayor claims that great injustice Is done to the
cty by the state Board OF Equalization:
The valuation placed upon real es;ate by the local
authorities Ior tne yea lss as hove
ever for tho year lSs5 is 81 123l,9lO4s7 Hence the
hy the local authorities the sum OF $I2 las, 800 And
tie proportion state taxes to be paid by the city and
nearly IL per Of the entire tx This injustice is
Increased by the tact that has no &
before the courts for review upon writ cerorari.
and demands speedy remedy at the hands OF the Legs
iature In this connection II is proper to speak OF the
Board OF ASSESSORS which is Bureau in the Department
az Taxes aud Assessments The duties discharged by
the for the most part call for the exer
cise OF any discretion they are IarGey
their functions are purely OF rontne character and
fore seem highly proper that remedy be suggested
which VIII secure from these officials service OF such
falling that. that the Burssu itself be abolished
The says that the capacity OF the public
charitable institutions Is severely taxed. and that the
State should take stops 90 provide buildings for the
accommodation OF offenders who have committed crimes
which render them liable be the State Prison,
but these institutions instead 1t
ia recommended that the Bureau OF tine Attorney TO the
Board of Health abolished and :he work OF the bureau
be perfornled in the o, the Corporation Counsel
The audit OF accounts IN tAe Police Department the
Mayor thinks should be lone la aae same manuer as in
other departments. and ao attempt will be made to
change this ny the Legislature
The whole number OF bonds Issued to date 'or The new
water supply including tremItlms alnou nts to
Isl 559i92 AS which added the other expenditures
incurred makes total sun thus tar expendei for this
or%ee Which viii engage the attention OF the Com
iissoners In the future involves the e1pediency
During tho past year the tLrOe present Commission
Of Excise have been paSeh 1@es eTass e oassa upon
question Excise Law has been actively agtated
c,rses fG ses are based furnish groud for The general belief
that some method OF excise administration should
alton OF qncsiiou OF high license Any law insreas'
ING tbe license tie sale OF ardent spirits, distin
rujshed from light liquors such beer and wine. is
nsiod uron grounds OF police expediency and meets
my hearty approval
Mr. Grace is outspoken the subject of street ncum-
trauees:
shall hereait decline to ISSUE any permits for signs,
-nosts awning POSTS show through the
Dnrean of Permits Until the decisions reversed
appea shall also no compelled 70 veto any resolutions
,nou tho same general ground The matter should not,
bowever, 40 permitted to rest here There has existed
T., the ast division resi- onsi6y with regard 10
street obstrnctons which In large measure accounts
for the evils from which tbe city Is suffering. The
I,urcau OF continued to Issue permits for
privileges which the courts have now decided are
srnctions which IT is the duty of the 5uieau ot In