Year: 1874

A Good Chance to Begin Reform.


Two years ago the people of New York
heard great talk about municipal reform,
and were assured that by the election of the
buoyant and waggish Havemeyer they would
secure government Of the old-fashioned,
honest type. Taxes were to be reduced, the
public debt was to be decreased, economy
was to be enforced, bargains and intrigues


were to be discarded, and the citizens were to
enjoy sort of municipal biennium, during
which the Satan of political profigacy was to
be bound hand and foot and official holiness
was to prevail throughout the metropolis. The
result has not come fully up to the anticipa-
tions then cherished by the hopeful. Some
little difficulties in the shape of Grand Jury
indictments and presentments have marred
the reform picture, and the people turn from
the official Charlicks, Gardners, Matsells,
Disbeckers, Nosey Quinns and Sterns of Have
meyers creation, to contemplate debt in
creased more than forty millions of dollars
and a proposed tax levy Of over thirty
five millions of dollars for the next year.
This is not the entertainment to which they
were invited just before the election of 1872


and they would now like change Of pro-
gramme with the coming in of q new city ad-
ministration.


We can have no real reform in the muni-
cipal government unless we begin at the
foundation. The estimates for the year are
the groundwork of economy or extravagance,
Of political profgacy or of honest business
habits, on which we must build, and on the
character Of the estimates will depend what
sort of structure we erect If we deal out the
public money with liberal hand for the
personal benefit of set of scheming polii-
clans who run the municipal departments for
their own profit we shall continue to increase
our debt and heap up the growing pile Of
taxation. If we demand that the business of
the government shall be managed as prudent
merchant would manage his own private
affairs, and allow the departments only such
sums as are necessary to do the work assigned
to them, we shall insure honest government
and shall be enabled to pay our way as we Co.


When the heads of departments find that
they are only allowed enough money to
do their official work in straightforward,
business manner, they will leave off
scheming for power and quarrelling among
themselves to the detriment of the public in
terests. The Board of Apportionment, which
has the power to cut down the departmental
estimates is, therefore, the source from which
must come the first groundwork of q real re-
form. If they are honest and conscientious
officials they will perform this duty without
fear or favor. But their economy, to be useful,
must be substantial A few paltry thousands
saved here and there will give the people no
proper relief. Nearly every department is too
extravagantly managed. On the estimates as
printed we find such jobs as the "New City
Prison" set down for thousands of the public
money. The Finance Department can be
run for one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars at the outside the Park Department can
be well cut down four hundred thousand dol
lars, the Public Works two hundred and fifty
thousand, the Charities and Correction four
hundred thousand, and 80 on through the list.
This is the sort Of reform the taxpayers re-
quire in the outrageous and dishonest esti


mates for 1876. Will the Board Of Appor.
tionment act up to its duty in the matter


or will Il fritter away its time in sill!
squabbles over the pretended saving Of few
thousand dollars? The budget presented b.
the Comptroller yesterday foots up 10 tn


enormous sum of nearly thirty-nine milliol
dollars The Mayor. Alderman Vance an,