The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-04
VAN WICK TALKS FAIR
FEATURES or THE MESSAGE OF
GREATER NEW YORK's MAYOR.
He Advises Economy and Warns Sub
to Their Trusts-Advice to Police.

NEW YORK, Jan. S.-Mayor Van Wycl's $
message to the Municipal Assembly, which
was read on the organization of that body
to-day, treated at length of the financial
condition of the greater city. The docu-
ment was accompanied by lengthy tables
furnished him by the controllers of New
York, Brooklyn. Richmond and Queens.
The figures indicated net funded debt of
the entire city of $227, ,453 $50 and an as
sessed valuation of real estate of the en-
tire city of s2,4e4, 1863 1872. ''There is, there
fore" the mayor said, IAN apparent mar
gin within the constitutional limit of further
indebtedness of about s19,O0O,00O'' Contin-
uing, the mayor said: This exhibit of the
financial condition of our city L submit
without further comment than that it must
impress every one with the stern necessity
for the utmost caution in this authorization
of any bond issues until we have provided
a great margin as between the percentage
of our real-estate valuation prescribed in
the constitutional limitation and our out
standing net bonded debt
Regarding the duty of his subordinates
Mayor Van Wyck said Every one in pub
lie station must understand that he will
be held to strict accountability in the hon
est, intelligent and prompt discharge of
such public duties as they may undertake
In no other way and by no other influ-
ence can they retain their position. Fidel-
ity to the pledges on which the suffrageS of
our citizens were asked and secured de-
mands that we demonstrate the advantages
of responsible government, that we prove
that an administration tor which great
political party stands sponsor can be de-
pended on not only to reward merit, but
as well, to deal most severely with betrayal
of that public confidence, including in this
designation not alone every form OF dis
honesty and every degree of ineff1ciency
but also any want of industry and any in
difference to the safety, comfort and con-
venience of the public"
After stating that the citizens would no
longer tolerate or excuse delay in the
rapid transit problem, the mayor said that
the best possible way out of the rapid
transit difficulty was to make the best use
of the present facilities by improvements
and extensions.
The police commissioners had all the
commanding officers and captains in Great
er New York before them to-day. Presi-
dent York said there would be no poit-
ical preference in the department, and that
all laws on the statute books must be rigid
ly enforced. Gambling and lottery laws
were especially alluded to. In regard to
under Mr. Roosevelt, President York said ::
I'VE don't want men detailed on the street
to arrest women for the purpose of dis
covering disorderly houses. That is not
part of your duties as officers, but we ex-
pect you to break up such places and
nunish all violations, whether gambling or
Social The impression has gone abroad
through the public prints that the incoming
of this board meant that there would be an
open city There will be none so far as this
department is concerned, but we Want the
laws broadly construed and literally en-
forced