New-York tribune., 1902-01-07
THR MAYORS NES.SA GE.
MR.. LOW SAYS BLACKMAIL BY CITY
OFFICIALS MUST CEASE.

Following is the text of Mayor Lows first
message TO the Board of Aldermen which held
its meeting for organization yesterday:
welcome you to your honorable duties as the
legislative body of the city of New-York The
interests with which you called upon to dea!
are worthy of the best services of any body of
men. l congratulate you that il is your priv
ilege to assume these duties at a time when the
eyes of the city and of the whole United States
are centred upon you l beg you Of
my hearty cooperation in all your efforts to
IatiVe body needs the cooperation of the execu-
tive, so the Mayor needs the hearty cooperation
OF the city legislature For this l ask, and l
shall spare no effort to deserve it.
At the present time ii is not possible for me
to discuss the affairs Of the city in a way TO be
OF value but at your first meeting IN February
shall hope 10 send you message dealing with
such matters as may then call for discussion
AT this moment ! wish especially to say
word through you TO the people of the city. 1t
Is widely believed that during recent years a
system has gradually been developed in con-
nection with the administration Of the city that
calls for the illegitimate payment Of money at
every turn. To the historic phrase "blackmail 3"
which originated when rObber barons openly de-
manded money as the price of letting people
alone. have been added, as words of similar evil
omen. the new and expressive terms shake
down" and "rakeoff" Against such iniquitous
system IN all us forms TINS admlnistra ton is at
open war, and l bespeak the cooperation of the
people of the city to bring 1t to end.
II during the next two years any citizen or
any employe Of the city pays money illegiti-
or to secure his rights, he will do 1t because he
wants to, and not because he must. No one
from the largest corporation to the poorest boot
black. need pay one dime for protection from
harm, or to secure just treatment at the hands
of the city government. No labOrer or other
employe need part with cent Of his salary
TO any one, either in out of the city govern
ment The whole force of the administration
will be eXerted, continuously, aggressively and
in every possible way. to prevent and to punish
this sort of niquity.
Any one asked TO make improper payment
for any purpose has only to report the fact to
the Mayor to be of protection and redress.
Persons having business relations with the city
who meet with unreasonable delay in any de-
partment are asked to report to the Mayor with
out hesitation. By itself and without the aid OF
the people and of the city employees the ad-
mnistratiOn do little more than make this
offer. With the cooperation of the citizens and
of the city employees the whole foul system can
be broken up.
1t is only those who despair of securing good
city government in the United States who Will
believe that the practices l have alluded to can
endure. 1t IS only the enemies Of democracy
who believe that these things are inevitable.
/ ask for the cooperation of the people and of
the employees of the city in destroying this In
iquitous system. for the city's sake and for
democracy'S sake.