New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-02

which last year reached the sum Of N| ".,ra ,
e,o- imposeI ugon q suffering community II Is a.
ways claimed by thai Board maj the Na'" -, ,bs
g. 'I. m 80 c,i,sed 10 no made showed
c.usvely that the claim WAS untrue 1hi .'dr -, ~
iouia'tg rofcsts Of the Tax commissioners. are
The time has come, however. when this unjust
discrimination Aga9SL tge c saGd1 If ton
OF me new r2artcr Ilowcycr desirable consolidation
~ ftbi" i-v viii rever con-ent that "a be achieved
sqGh aeree is , 2er eh9 9a' 'o G.srimna
ton in the mater OF TAXATION should De mace
The great trouble win the people Of this cry =
that thu! are governed TOO mH.n II Wa 20 III t.!"
past. There were at one time \ldermen ana ASsst,
ant Aldermen - another time Aldermen ana
Councllmen. a, sul another tine A.dermsn ana
pliated legislative machinery was found TO be- detri-
m.nt4, 70 all public interests and gradual changes
effected until all these Boards were aoohshed
and IS ci 4GB 0G 10 B1 Of the
latiye branch Of the city gov eminent Ihis Is no'
tem was an s5s5iute and Expensive failure and 10
return such d system, after the experience Of tho
past. is only to invite a similar condition or aharS
Complicated machinery is always liable 10 become
disarranged and the machinery OF eovernmert
nIorsorne sv-fen suggested IN the new charter
is open for grave objections. II Is OF improve
ment on the single Board of Aldermen as ii exists
expense 10 the municipality. already heavily bur
dened with taxation. 1t is unwise. and should not
be approved With the veto power vested In the
Mavor the present system simple and compare
lively inexpensive, IS sufficient for the public needs
The enc great objection existing 70 the changes
in The Consolidation act Is that they create new
Offices and borouehs and boards TO discharge duties
gently ana by men OF long experi fence as city
poyes The Consolidate act Is the result Of may
citizens Of this city well Versed with the public
needs, and has been fully adiudcated upon by the
court Of last resort until it is now clearly under
stood by all. II II IS to be radically changed II
should be done only when something better can DE
suggested. IL has been In existence so many years
that IL works as smoothly and accurately as oiled
down vith provisions treating several legislative
branches and boards of boroughs, 1t is as com;
WV Change this system for an experimental one
that is liable to create dissatisfaction and demoral-
iZatiOnr Why set aside the provisions OF code
that has received the Endorsement of tho courts for
- 80 NJ i~ IT, ct.,.,o, 49,. =, crsato ,,en o,
its inception, determined opposition?
AN OBJECTIONABLE POLICY
Government by the people and for the people
should have tendency toward the simpication
and limitation of laws. \ policy which proposes to
increase the number of city departments for the
purpose of distributing among them duties that
have for years been properly and satisfactorily dis
charged by the existing Departments is open 10
serious objection.
How can it be claimed that the Borough Commits
sioners who hold their Offices for a limited time
only to be succeeded by new and inexperienced per-
sons can compare for efficiency economy in the
administration of the duties allotted 10 them with
tne veterans of the existing city departments. who
are thoroughly informed to their duties The
conclusion Is irresistible that such system Will be
IL is Ike placing third wheel 20 a wagon. where
ne service required IS being properly performed by
the necessary TWO wheels
The compilers Of the charter instead of acting on
the theory Of democratic goyemment-"the great
flfF. .afta Fa.ra
proceeded on the idea, rs Ear a. the proposed new
aepttlm.nts are concerned, that the greater the
number the greater the good.
Tn committee which drafted the new charter
worked iaIihinlly and zealousl y during the torrid
neat or last summer to complete IT, The time in
WHlCh TINS was 10 De done SO limited that the
ii liait." lgS" seHu'mth VINO gave 10 II tneli
consideration ana dclIb,raton that il r@9uired II
and Importance Of The new charter requires ample
time and patient invcstleat.on. Taking ali the
facts and circumstances he committee did wei.
ana mas Justly earned the thanks of citizens.
Perhaps If the actual Taxpayers of the city Of
YORK Of to-day were to look into the valua-
| Tons OF the real estate of this city. assessed
millions that the State arbitrarily ADDS to these
valuations annually and realize what the tax
( payers OF this city pay now. and what they would
have to pay and what they would gel. with the
sentimental Greater New-York an actual fact. they
"~uIu ;HiuSe before IL is too late
NcW-f ork OF today contains quite 10000 acrcs-a
ei| , ntsc 'nousn Tor any one municipality II We
| Iw"nty-thrd ard Twenty fourth wards and the
| l'f1 acres recently annexed, tEcr" VIII be- much
! Won o. " ""ne '"l H"ch To- ID" pIid for. not only
! by thc taxpayers of to-day bur OF the future II
our area or acres IS TO 10. enlarged. and bonded
! d'hi gas well as our ta%rs, Is 10 be Increased 10y
annexation, and the debt and taxes are To swell
| every year thereafter. as improvements are made
aud maintenance required. New Jersey and con
nccticu viii hc convenient places. not only to live
| H. hul 10 ulc IN. Tor when dies either %
those states ne escapes the inquitous inheritance
| taN which roh~ not only the living bur The dead
| Let som" other generation have piece of this
annexation; w have tried il twice. ard conse-
| quenty have already had some experience. Let
Us take good care of what We now have and i'm.
| prove some OF our thousands Of acres of uum-
| proved lands and our UNSURPASSED waterfront IA
own.
! Let Us. in po.s BILE get down to home rule and
| personal taxation for local purposes. Let try
! 10 have he state collect the corporation. inner
iiance and other taxes sufficient 10 maintain the
| state This would bring down actual home
| rule and local option on taxation and enable Is
| 20 fix a rea-esiate tax Tor local purposes only
| This would do away with the misnomer Stat,
Board OF EQUALIZATION that now equalizeS annually
millions Of dollars against us
| II this could be realized. then the city OF New
York would actually be the Greater New York. the
! Of the Western Hemisphere and improvement,
could %" made and maintenance guaranteed hsfi
! fable with - importance
GIN R'GtRN LAST DAY ~ .COuuiND
This DE- mo as. day that Naior-Cienefal Thoma.
! II Kruger VIII Command Tho Department OF rhf
! East OF the Armf OF rho Ip.tod States TODAY
General Rp4cr reaches the aso ar which officer
| arr rs;!red from active service Major Genera
Wesley Merritt commanding ne Department o
! the Missouri has 4i'r''N been appointed 10 sue
coed Gtnerel N"'"f ..1 vil report here hefor,
| East vii or commanded hv Maior-i,nersl Nelson
| Mics through tho Adjutdnt General There