New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-05
TIE MAYORS MESSAGE.
arIRERAL ENFORCEMENT. !"
Gail There Must BE No BlacAcmaiE
Num- on Port Chester.

,.o,or Mcclellan. in his first message to the
0oor5 Of Aldermen yesterday, avoided recon-
..r5;ng anything in the way Of constructive
,tsla+fon or policy. He says that criticism
+,a Police Department has not been unreal
tie He has an appreciative word for Street
[,a.rire Commissioner Woodbury., whose ser
los he has retained, and for Controller Grout
- President Fornes of the Board Of Aldermen
o.. Saws that there must be vigorous and per
.,s-ant effort 10 eliminate blackmail, and in al
- the next breath intimates that the enforce
-nerr of the laws in this cosmopolitan city
sbouId be liberal" IN view of the appointment
., ex-Inspector McAyoy 10 the second place in
che Police Department and the Lexow commit
+aa disclosures concerning him there was consid-
srable surprise yesterday that the Mayor
sbould have said anything about eliminating
,lacl-naiing practices from the Police Depart
nent
It was also noted that in referring TO black
mail and graft" he made mention Of the
hold-up Of the Port Chester road application by
the aldermen or OF the attempt to make the
Pennsylvania road see" certain persons by
blocking the tunnel resolution in the Board Of
Aldermen.
The message was as follows
In compliance with the requirements Of the char
ter have the honor to transmit 10 you general
been furnished 10 by the Controller
intend al this time TO do no more than TO
geneTaIize certain municipal matters, because
] purpose latter 10 submit TO you detailed state
ment or the coaolton ana The needs OF the several
departments OF the city government
/ am to-day duly complying with the time hon
the public at your first legislative session.
For many years the popular interest seems 20
lie health public education street cleaning and the
police. Every public spirited official should be
But I believe that the public mind has been so
absorbed with these evident as well as vital
questions as 10 ignore the equally vital. II not as
apparent, problem Of municipal finance
the municipal government IS shifted TO the people
whole. the questions OF the city debt, the cos-
ot government and Of the system Of taxation under
which We live are Of great concern. and should be
OF the very first interest TO every citizen.
bring nothing but good to the city. A greater in
terest On the part OF the taXpayes-and the entire
are raised and expended must necessarily result IN
an increased share Of responsibility the part OF
The administration and a more direct feeling Of ac-
have given the trust to them.
In this rapidly growing municipality. whose debt
margin is consti1uuonally limited there ought TO
general features, govern all administrations re
gaTdless Of party attachments such policy can
be put in operation only after the awakening or
popular interest in the Importance of the ques-
In a supplemental message shall discuss the
problem at some length, in the hope that may
In initiating public Improvements. the needs OF
the present should be considered before the needs
In Eaueing the financial capacity OF the city when
ernbarkiue upon new enterprises, material neces-
sites should first be met
New-York must be made healthy and clean and
safe before il is made beautiful
] consider that / am exceptionally fortunate in
having as my principal colleagues in the admin
tstration Mr. Grout and Mr. Fornes. Their IA
Iniiarity with the finances Of the city warrants the
expectation that policy Of just conservatism viii
improve existing conditions.
SCHOOLS.
The administration is confronted with most
dficult problem because of the inadeQuacy of the
present school accommodations. The solution OF
this problem cannot wait on our convenience.
! intend 10 give my immediate attention 10 the