Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-07
NEW YORK LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS. |

The examination of Mr.. Ireland, the
owner OF the wrecked West Broadway
building, before the coroner brought
out the tell-tale fact that the construc-
ton was supervised" on his behalf
and on that of his cheap architect by
a man who was paid $40 week-less
than bod carriers wages Every
condition for manslaughter was pro-
vided in this job. The verdict of the
coroner's Jury ought to do something
to bring to punishment such greed
and "scamping" and criminal needless
ness.
The Finance Committee OF the
Board of Aldermen has placed the tax
rate for 1896 at 81. 92. This is
thirteen points higher than the rate
for 1894, and the Tammany organs
and politicians will endeavor, of
course, to make their readers and fol-
lowers believe that the increase is one
of the results of the reform admins
tration of Mayor Strong. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The
amount to be collected in taxes this
year was made up by Tammany last
December so that the new reform ad.
ministration has had nothing what
ever to do with the amount
to be raised 1t in turn
will make up the budget for 1896
next December, 50 that, 80 far AZ
expenditures are concerned, no
comparison can be instituted between
the old system and the new one until
this date u year hence. Another point
that must be taken into consideration
is that while the normal increase in
assessed valuations has been at the
rate of $50, 900, 600 per annum it fell
this year to $l3, 6l5, 625, the increase
in real estate values having been only
$32, go, 800, while the decrease in
personality was $40, ,29j. The
Cleveland hard times and certain
court decisions in regard to corporate
property have been the contributing
factors to this reduction. The long
and short Of it is that Mayor S.rong's
administration is paying of II legacy
of Tammany extravaganza
The State Superintendent of Public
Ipu ~, - chat H.. int
duction of new physiologies into the
public schools will entail al immedi-
ate expense of not less than $500, 600.
This money might better be burned
for the good it will do the children Of
the State. 1t will be extorted from
the taxpayers under an act pretending
to promote II better knowledge of the
physiological effects of stimulants and
narcotics, but repl y intended to EN-
able publishing house or combine
ton of publishing houses to snppIant
with their own books the physioiogles
now in use in the schools. Morality
and religion are thus made cover for
the tricks of trade, and worse than
that, for the corruption of Legislu-
lures and for the degradation of edu-
cation. The case is not exceptional
either. In majority of cases the
the books used in the schools of the
country are not used because the
teachers approve them or the public
demands them, but because they are
thrust on the schools hy the agents
and lobbyists OF manufacturers who
have come to look upon the corrup-
ton of public morals and the prosti-
tuition of politics as necessities of their
regular business
Love for his native city is a very
strong characteristic of the average
Gothamite, and when he has lived in
it for many years all the inducements
in the world will generally avail
naught in getting him to consent to
leave it, So the case of old General
John W. de Peyster, one OF the
bluest blooded Knickerbockers in the
town, and long a familiar figure on
the urban landscape, is quite IN ex-
traordinary one. He is going to leave
New York. The general is 81 years
old, and for many decades he has
lived in the old house at'59 East
Twenty street. He is gentleman
of the old school, courtly, but bit
imperious, and he has long affected
the dress of other days. Naturally, he
was very proud of his long descent,
and recently he conceived the idea of
perpetuating in bronze the name of de
Peyster. SO he gave an order for
statue of his great great grandfather,
Colonel Abraham de Peyster, aud in
due time the work was finished. Mean
while the general had got the consent
of the Park Commissioners to have the
statue set up on Bowling Green, which
was accordingly done, and General de
Peyster was happy. His satisfaction
was very short lived, however, for
there arose at once and with great una
nimity chorus of criticism against
the queer looking affair. 1t was de-