Year: 1876

An Important bhAA'


Senator Woodin's bill relating to the local
government of the city of New York, a
synopsis of which we publish to-day, Is o
well considered and important measure. 1t
strikes at the root of many acknowledged
evils, and applies sweeping remedies. There
has hitherto been too much license in the
increase of both the permanent and tenn
porary debt of the city, and the present bill
is designed to work a reform in this direc-
tion By its provisions all legislative pow
ers are vested solely in the Common Coun-
Gil, and no ordinance involving an expendi-
ture of money is to be valid unless passed
by four-ffths of the Aldermen, thus enabling
the minority representation to hold check
on the majority. Limitations are placed on
the increase of the debt, whether temporary
or permanent, and the property owners are
protected against unnecessary or excessive
assessments by the provision which requires
the assent of a certain proportion Of their
number on the front of proposed improve
ment before the work can be undertaken by
the city. The Comptroller is required to
sift down the temporary or assessment
debt; to separate therefrom the amount
for which the city is liable, and to issue
consolidated stock for the same, thus trans
ferring the city's portion to the permanent
debt, where it belongs. BY this means we
shall know exactly how much OF the tempo
rary debt is recoverable from the property
assessed. The contract system is more care
fully guarded than under the existing laws,
and some very desirable provisions are con-
tanned in the bill to prevent any expenditure
in excess of the original amount of o con-
tract. One good feature is the requirement
that the full amount certified as necessary to
complete any public work shall be appro-
priated by the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment before the contract shall be en-
tered into; that this amount shall be in
dorsed by the Comptroller on the certificate
of the department under which the contract
is made, and that the contractor shall have
no claim against the city beyond the sum
thus appropriated and certified.


Other provisions of the bill are aimed at
the prevention of frauds in contracts, by
making the false certifcation of contractors
work or the neglect of duty on the part of
an inspector or superintendent q mis-
demeanor. There are also well drawn clauses
which aim at the better enforcement of
assessments and at economy in street open
ings. The powers of the Board for Revision
and Correction of Assessments are trans
ferred to the Commissioners of the Depart
ment of Taxes and Assessments, where they
seem to belong, provision which reopens
the cases of old street opening commissions
in which exorbitant expenses have been
fastened on the city will create a panic
among the parties in interest. 1t has been
held that the taxation of costs in these COM
missions is conclusive against the city and
precludes any further defence on the part of
the people. Mr.. Woodins law reopens these
cases, declaring a taxation of costs by the
courts to be no bar to further defence, and
allowing the city to contest all such bills on
the merits.


The provisions in relation to the city debt
and its extinction are of much interest, and
will, no doubt, excite considerable dis
cussion. The present sinking fund is con-
tinued, and, after first providing for the pay
ment of that portion of the debt for which it
is specially pledged, is made to extend over,
and is set apart for, the redemption of the
entire city debt. For this purpose the sur
plus of the sinking fund for the payment of
interest on the city debt, the whole income
and revenues of the general fund and all
excise license fees collected in the city, are
to be transferred to and swallowed up by
the redemption sinking fund. The excise
money is thus diverted from the. charitable
institutions, and the income of the general
fund, now about four million dollars, is to
be no longer a credit against the annual
estimates in reduction of the years taxation.
The advocates of the bill, however, contend
that the taxpayers of to-day will not suffer-
inasmuch as the amount they surrender to
the redemption sinking fund will be more
than compensated by the payment of the
city stocks and bonds out of that fund as
they fan due, instead of by taxation. All post
ponement of the payment of matured bonds
is prohibited. The subject is an important
one to our taxpayers, and will be more fully
considered hereafter.


A Converted Actress.