Year: 1866

We propose % devote a little space this morning to
an examination of the TaxLoyy for tho City, and to
point out 10 our taxpayers the work accomplished for
retrenchment and reform in this respect by the
Citizens Association.


There have been 80 many persons interested in
swelling the taxes Of our City-so many creatures
feeding upon corruption-so many desirous of suing
the Tax.Leyy with schemes Of plunder TO enrich
themselycs--,hcre have been so many greenbacks
sent from this City to Albany by our corrupt officials
to be used when other aed-that 1t Is matter
Of surprise that the Citizens Association, with no
arguments or reasons TO advance save those which
trnth and Justice afford has been able to accomplish
50 much in the way of retrenchmen and ofprotecting
our taxpayers from the schemes Of officials who have
hitherto justified the assertion that the Tax.Levy
Is a farce.


To one visiting bany from this City during the
last days Of the past session. 1t appeared a If the oi-
cias of our City were paid for attending to duties in
Albany instead Of New.York-ior every officer, from
the heads of departments to the lowest clerks seemed
to be there; each pushing big hcfts and little heits
and all trying TO make the Tax-Leyy as burdensome
as possible for good people and to leave large holes
in it through which municipal rulers could punder
TO their hearts content. But our people owe much
TO the Citizens Association. While the Tax-Leyy
and other matters calculated to produce reform in our
City Government were under consideration in the
Legislature, this Association was always on the
ground, working night and day, through its able ad-
vocates, and striving with all the ZEAL industry and
capacityit possessed to protect the almost defense
less people of this City against the preparation
of tho ruinous rule of their municipal masters.
oft for 10 do. and ha
Citizens Association has done its work well. When
ever City robber endeayored to have inserted in the
Levy some old claim that had been lying dormant for
years, it was ever on the alert to checkmate the
move. II was active, persevering energetic, always
ready to thwart corruption. Through its instrument
talty and ntercesson some of the biggest thes that
had ever disgraced the City Tax-Levy--which had
crept into it in its passage through the Assembly
were stricken out, and thus the taxpayers are saved
hundreds of thousands of dollars in the way of bogus
claims. And, though we hope that it has made many
friends by its persistent and successful efforts in the
cause of reform, on the other hand we know il has
made many bitter enemies in the persons of nearly
all the rogues sharpers, drones, and thieves, who
feast and faten upon official punder in our City.


True, the Tax-Levy, as it now comes TO US is not
all it should be-s not all we could wish it TO be-
True, we still see here and there the devils horns and
the devils hoofs, notwithstanding the subtle efforts at
cOnceament. But, in this in other matters Of this
life we must be content with good more less mixed
with evil The progress which has been made in the
right direction gives courage to hope that in the
future, further steps may be taken to check the
iniquties Of our officials The seed which has been
sown in this present Tax-Levy will undoubtedly pro-
duce in the iullness Of time the proper fruit To be
sure it has been difficult matter to pin our City
Fathers down to certain of money for particular
purposes, and to so feter them as to prevent their
creating debts in excess of the appropriations And
at one time, while the TaxLevy in its transition
state, it seemed if the task were hopeless. But
thanks to pluck, energy, perseverance and right in
spite of the rogues in the Legislature and out of it.
thanks to the Citizens Association-the work has
been done.


To be sure, all this required money, time aud
talent but we have evidence Of what right do if
properly supported when state that not one dollar
was used in the cause Of reform that cannot be honor
ably accounted for-not one cent spent to i'm
has been done openly and abovelboard.


After making the usual appropriations for the seve-
raj customary heads of expenditures, tho City Tax
Levy contains the following two sections % and l0),
prepared aud Introduced hv the Gilycss Association.