Year: 1862

l776 is good enough for us.


Mayor Opdyke's Inaugural Message.


1t is sincerely to be hoped that the time has
come when some ray of light may at length dis
spate the worse than Cimmerian darkness in
which everything connected with our city go
vernment has hitherto been involved With
taxation so oppressive that every property
owner contemplates with dismay the burthens
that annually eat away, for the benefit of spoils-
men and political mercenaries, large portion
of his incomes with charter that empowers
dozen heads of ofdepartments, Independent of each
other, and practically subject to no control, to
plunder the treasury, for the benefit of their
own immediate partisans and followers; with
mischievous lobby at Albany ready to abet at
all times the most iniquitous schemes that may
be devised by the various factions which divide
the metropolis; and with the powers of the
Chief Magistrate Of the metropolis so curtailed
and shorn of efficiency as to reduce him to q
mere cipher, it is next to impossible that
matters, can be made worse, and the expecta-
ton begins to be entertained that they may be-
come better.


In concise, emphatic language Mr.. Opdyke
has represented in his inaugural message the
evils under which the metropolis labors. His
message shows that taxation has quadrupled
within the short period of quarter of CEN
tury, and that from 44-100 of one per cent, in
1885, it has regularly augmented, until
it has now reached the enormous amount
of 18-l00 per cent exclusive of the taxes
paid to the general government, and he ex-
presses just fear lest capital and commerce
may be driven to cities less enormously bur-
thened Unless effective measures of retrench-
ment are effectively enforced. Neither do pro-
perty holders alone suffer from such fearful
exactions. They are more or less directly
shared by all, and all classes are consequently
interested in securing economy in the public
expenditures. The battledore and shuttlecock
game of thieving, that has been carried on be-
tween the State Legislature and the various
departments and Common Council of this city
for so many years has run the annual tax
levy up to twelve millions of dollars. Now,
were the power Of making contracts taken
away from the Corporation; were the Mayor Of
the city rendered responsible for the admins
tration of municipal affairs; were the various
commissions which share the city patronage
put under his exclusive control; and ordinary
economy and wisdom displayed, there is no
question but, for half that sum, enhanced Sc
curity for life and property might be obtained,
and greater efficiency be given to every de-
partment of the city government.


The HERALD has never ceased to present the
form of government Of the United States as the
very best model that human wisdom has ever
devised, and as admirably adapted to the local
wants of this city. Mr.. Opdyke also recon-
mends that the State Legislature should apply the
principles by which the nation is governed to the
metropolis, and that "a single executive head"
should be charged with all the functions Of
administration" and "by whom subordinate
executive officers should be appointed and re-
moved, subject always to the check of an ad-
visory body" and that there should be
Legislature consisting of Board of Alder
men representing one set of interests, and
Board of Councilmen representing another"
A new city charter is, in fact, wanted, by which
the Mayor should be authorized to appoint, with
the consent of the Board of Aldermen, (who
should be elected as the Supervisors now are,
and be clothed with the power of Supervisors
Us we'll as of Aldermen) all other administra-
tive officers whatsoever, and also to remove
them for cause. Nor do we see any reason why
the Comptroller should not be included in the
same category with other heads of bureaus and
departments. With such changes an improve
ment in the city government would be almost
Immediately manifest. Immense responsibility
would devolve of course, upon Mr.. Opdyke
himself, but all parties repose confidence in
both his integrity and ability, and we have no
doubt that under his rule, the city would see
better days. Even the late Mayor, belonging
to an entirely opposite school of politics. has
paid willing tribute to the character Of his
successor, which is heartily responded to by all
good citizens


The great obstacle to reform is to be found


in the rotten factions and cliques, into which the
city is divided. They all have their agents at
Albany and are equally lavish of money, in
trigue, and falsehood, in accomplishing their per-
ncious schemes. Thirsting to mould the city gov
ernment to their own selfish and corrupt purposes,
uelI OpcTdtiOuS uaNO ohcouy uCSuu III bic
lobby of the Legislature, and they will exhaust
every effort to thwart the wishes of those who
desire proper charter for this metropolis, and
who aim at securing financial retrenchment and
municipal reform. Mayor Opdyke has called
attention in his message to the manner in which
these sharks contrive to increase the tax levy,
and to induce the Legislature to lend itself to
improper expenditure Of money from the city
treasury Until this evil is remeded until the
country members Of the Senate and Assembly,
resolve to turn a deaf ear TO the venal hordcs
of interested politicians who swarm up to Al
bany every winter, and determine to legislate
In accordance with the simple dictates Of right
and justice, no essential amelioration Of our
condition need be looked for. We earnestly
trust, however, that the representatives Of the