New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-11
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

Mayor Hewitt's message this year contains
little of startling novelty. 1t is devoted
almost exclusively to the city finances, and
discusses deliberately and in detail the city
debt and revenue The Mayor announces that
he will prepare later two communications upon
municipal government and municipal improve
ments. These later papers will be looked for
with impaticnce. Mr.. Hewitt never INDUCES
in the stale and commonplace, and on subjects
of so absorbing concern and so vast Importance
be is sure to say many things which will pro-
vide fruitful subjects for debate all over the
town.
The present message dwells with satisfaction
upon the city's excellent credit, and declares
that there is no serious danger of impalring
this credit. Thorough explanations are made
of the reasons why it is impossible now to
reduce the interest on city bonds. Inc mes
sage takes up the increase in the appropriations
for 1888 over those for 1856 and 1851, and
with his usual ability and ingenuity the Mayor
presents an adroit defence of the action Of the
Board of Estimate and Apportlonmcnt. we
do not think that even his arguments, how
ever, will satisfy taxpayers that 1t was
necessary to raise the appropriations from
total of S34 ,343. O22 so in 1887 to $751;
O51 ,O53 SO in 1888. Fortunately the Cen
cral Fund will show a handsome increase OF
more than 100000, and this makes welcome
deduction from the total burden but does not
relieve the Board of Estimate from the respon-
sibility of excessive appropriations Tor certain
Democratic departments The unpreJudlced
and careful critic Of public expenditures VIII not
be satisfied with the reasons presented Tor the
increased appropriations for number OF these
depaItments, and especially is this true OF the
Department of Street Cleaning. The mere TACT
that the present head of that department has
promised to send his resignation to the Mayor
IL the work is not satisfactorily done during
the coming year is by no means Justification
Tor increasing the appropriation more than
| 100000.
Mayor Hewitt repeats the complaints of his
predecessors as to the way in which the Board
of Estimate is crippled by the fact that 1t is
forced to appropriate large amounts Tor certain
departments and certain officials, under exist
ing laws, and has no power to reduce these.
The Mayor says; "The Legislature should
have the power to reduce but never to increase
the expenditures provided for IN the Guy
budget" Perfectly true and well put, and yet
| Mayor Hewitt has joined more than once with
other city officials in urging bills on the Leg
islature for big appropriations for new parks,
new buildings and other OUTLAWS in the city.
Mayor Hewitt agrees with Mayor Chaplin of
Brooklyn concerning the faults in the present
administration of the Brooklyn Bridge. AS
TIE TRIBUNE has declared repeatedly,
The present Board of Trustees Is
an inefficient, cumbersome, unwicldy
body which the Legislature should
sweep away. No sensible citizen of Ncw-I DIRK
or Brooklyn wants big board continued IN
mower to devise new schemes Of eXtrayagant
expenditure of the revenues.
The Mayor holds that the system Of taxation
upon personal property is inJudicious and open
TO serious objections lie believes in abolish
ing that whole system. What he says about
many OF the wcalthest citizens of Newly DIRK
escaping the payment of their proper proper
ton of the personal tax is based upon facts
well known to every one who gives attention
to public affairs But it may be doubted IL
he does not 90 too far in his assertion that
"tbe abolition of personal taxes in this city
would attract to it the capital of the whole
world"
Every part of the document which was pre-
scnted to the Board of Aldermen yesterday
bears signs Of careful thought and dlilgent
nreparatien. The Mayor dcvotcs himself to
the solution Of municipal problems with an
energy and zeal which few Of his predecessors
ever eaualled or approached. This message
IS fir too weighty and lofty document for
81 trivial and inconsiderablc body as the
Board of Aldermen but while nominally ad-
dressed to the small politicians who assemble
at the City Hall, it is really meant for the
highest intelligence and the most enlightened
nnblic sentiment of the community.