New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-05

Net Debt Including Revenue Bonds....''''''''
Notwithstanding the fact that bonds 10 the extent
OF 1882 $40 50 have been issued for permanent '!
provements during the year. the net cep' oi .n9 go"
shows decrease at the close Of the '"" 40'- "a
S5I4,379 so. ,oo
The rate Of taxation during the year WAS ou' i.y ,
,ovn gratifying continuance of the low rate when
was inaugurated in 1889. .
The taxes PAYABLE in this city in the autumn Vi '
wear are for the purpose of meeting the eNIo"se' "
the CITY government for the year In when thes are
imposed The obligations which the CITY IL io'i"
IN meet for its general expenditures commerce "'U
the month Of January and continue each non.' nv
after while the moneys 10 meet Such oOhsd.'o" 90
not colcctibe until the autumn, ana 'he res"i' = ~
the CITY is compelled to provide itSeh "l'H lu' "
tbe maintenance of the city government ana III 'o
navnen, of lis annual charges by borrowing mree
sums of money, which approached S-oOoo''oo mS'
wear on revenue bonds, which are redeemed WITCH "o
taxes are collected.
Tho city should not be compelled unoer 'he "P''"
ton Of the laws which apply 10 II, hnanc" auiIs'''
ton TO become n yearly borrower In the "'''"c'S "
SINGH An extent for its administrative expenses J."
periods Of panic 1t Is difficult 10 secure inc iu'r'
necessary for such purposes The hhho'' ""
are thus ad minstcTed ~ an unnecessary a'h'di 'e
By way or interest 1870, .,o.,
,reaies a burden which should not be continued lherc
is no good reason why the existing laws shouIu no' o
amended IN enable the assessment rolls Oh P'Po'N
real and personal subject to taxation TO DC prepa'o'
40 that the taxes imposed upon the assessor 'auo"
may he collected In the early part OF the wear hsesd
:, a. tho close This would supersede the system Of
carving on the government III It's ordinary bra'che,
Of administration. borrowed money. nave Ia"
orepared n statement which shows that shhce ''o
wear s44 the city has psd BIZ way OF interest vi
money borrowed I'm anticipation OF It's annual icNS'
carry on IFS financial administration for The hist hic
months of each year. total of over Sl4,oooooo'
THE QUESTION or HOME RULE.
deem II nv duty to again bring TO your attention
,hc oues,ion Of the government Of this city Oy the
legislature Few Of the annual charges OF the Guy
government are subject 70 the discretion OF 'he Io'"l
authorities These charges are 10 great extent HAeu
nv mandatory laws and all bonds issued by the Guy
for permanent improvements are issued In obedience
Ia similar laws The city, Therefore, III respect 10 cs
main expenditures. is governed from Albany 10y Il
Legislature composed 10 great extent Of memUero
who have but little knowledge Of its wants or require
ments and Il large majority OF such lee1ea"fa Hc
frequently politically hostile to It's government. Moe
than this the Legislature has the power TO order the
uavment OF claim, By the city which may have bech
rejected by tho courts which have been aIloNcd
Ia lapse under the provisions Of the statute Of Lina
Hons I'm other words the Legislature Is vested Win
mower by a mandatory act 10 compel the payment By
any CITY in the state Of claims whether the city oc;ls
consider the payment Of such claims advantageous 10
its interests not. The Legislature has also inc
power OF granting valuable franchises 70 private COZ
porauons such the laying of pipes. change OF motor
power OF surface railways and the maintenance OF
telegraph lines.
In most instances the private corporations obtaining
such franchises nay no revenue TO the city, while thtir
property rights receive the protecuon OF au Depart
ments OF the city government. The city authorities
are constantly hdmpered in their efforts to promote
the interests Of tie municipality by the Interference
of the owners Of such franchises Notably Is thls tie
with refe q
payenlen, which are liable TO he up at any time
on the application Of the corporations holding Franchises
10 malntain pipes hereunder This power III tie
Legislature only be taken away by constitutional
Vile i bccve that the interGst OF every city y. IL
thu STATE would be at"anced ly imposing upon cach
Inc tull l., pu.,nility o. It's maintenance the
evils which rave brought TO your attention Couin PC
lal gely remcdicd without removing the sup rv>lON 10y
IL. Legislature over the expenditures Of the NUM-
cipaltits OF the atate \ constitutional amendment
should passed, which would provide tiat hereafter
no law should ue enacted ly nc legislature req,urns
the eAecuon Of any 5ns[ ~2TN or ,e
payment 10y it OF any claiuis bat authority to eAccut
in ,an instance. be vested in the municipal authorities,
Who should be given mil discr ton 10 determine
WIethcr such Improvement, should be made or claims
paid Tpon the municipal authorities approving the
execution Oh such public work Of the PAY IN ut OF SUCH
cIuinI, IN Y should authority 70 the amount
required whole or IN part by ASSESSMENT or taxation
peo2re. mi, would leave the legislature power to
contcl ach city ~ 10 It's eXpendtnres FOR PUBLIC I'M
nature 10 compel such expenditures when IN same
by the officials OF the city
fnr whose benefit IN whose interest the expenditure
NAV be authorized
a further constitutional amendment should provide
that franchises should only be granted by the Leg,
49, ,r any city In this state for the Of It's
s|reets or the slbsuIface under the streets or
any of its property rights, on pay mcft OF reasonable
revenne 10 such CITY, which should be fixed and de
te,u,,ned by the proper municipal authorities. Thus
The div would he enabled to get fair return for The
crantirg OF franchises operating frequently as mo
nnnolics and gathering for private interests
tom, the people Of the city in which the franchise is
Thc injustice indicted upon tits sly hv the state
poarl of EdualZatiOn continues. While the state As
.ossors In accordance with their custom, briefly con
"a vtb the Commissioners Of Taxes and Assessments
regard To the assessed valuations Of this city. they
rsy hut little attention 10 the suggestions made 70
{hcm on the occasion Of the last conference OF the
STAG Assessors Information was submitted 10 them
Tho commissioners concerning the valuation of rCa
n.,.te IN the rural counties. and II was shown that
d. al such counties the assessed valuation was very
,,ch further below the market value Of real estate
thsn In the city Of New-York. This data, however
recevcd no con ration for the state Board o. Equal
iSstlHn repeated the annual injustice done the tax
nayerS ~ This cy bv increasing the valuation Of II,
IN, estate SIG 524lG7. The discrimination against
this cf,y Is such that i called upon 10 nav nearly
- n, Tic story OF this dis