The New York Herald Newspaper, January 20, 1874, Page 4

MESSAGE ‘THE MAYOR'S Review of the Past Year’s City Admin- istration, Fiscal and Political. a DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES. ae Enrors of Legislation as They Affect Local Interests. WANTED--A BESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Mayor's Orvicg, Jan. 19, 1874. To rue HONORABLE THE COMMON COUNCIL:— GxnrismeN—On the commencement of another year of oMcial life Ycongratalate your honorable body and the executive departments of the city government on the auspicious cloa@of the one that | ts past, in the Jreedom ot the city from the pesti- | lence by Which some of our sister cities have been aMicted, and im the good order and health which bas very generally prevailed. Sy the charter itis made “the duty of the Mayor to communicate to the Common Council at least once a year a general statement of the finances, government and improvements of the city,’’ and “to recommend aii such Measures a3 be shall deem expedient.” Since my last annual communication to your honorable body the laws relative to the govern- ,| ment o1 the city have been modified in respect of certain details of administration, and, doubtless, im some minor matters, improved. By tne pro- visions of what is called the new charter the opportunity has been afforded to re- construct the personnel of most of the departments through the nominations by the Mayor and confirmation by the Aldermen, The old and vicious system of @ plurality of heads of de- partments is, however, still retained—a system as objectionable as that of independent commissions and almost as irresponsible, The time that has elapsed since the appointment of the heads of the departments has been altogether too short to jus- tify comment upon their acts. They have scarcely ag yet cleared away the rubbish left by their pred- ecessors. In many of them economies and salu- tary regulations have been introduced which have resulted in, and will continue to yield, the fruits of substantial reform. The Mayor goes on to say:—Indeed, the condl- tion of our Hnancial affairs at the period they were assumed by the present tead of the Finance vVe- partment was without parallel in the annals of municipal history. lt was at the commencement of @ transition period from an epoch character- ized by social demoralization, disregard of the obligations of public duty, official neglect, fraud and crime, towards an era aemanding a higher mo- tality and purer and better standard o: public administration, During this period there has been required the vigor necessary to oppose the methods of malevo- Jent- and corrupt officials of the past, and the for- bearance and patience with the mexperience of new incumbents. The task of the restoration of the credit of the city and of protecting the treas- ury has involved one continued, persistent and unremitting contest with claimants of the most desperate and corrupt character. The Mayor shows by tables that there has been ap werease of $10,162,872 30 in the city and county debt from 1869 to 1874 in assessment bonds alone, for which the city holas a direct lien upon the property benefited by the improvements, and that the total increase in the debt from tne 16th of September, 1871, to January 1, 1874, was $14,404,712 71. The greater portion of the bonds Tepresenting this increase was issued for purposes bveionging to a past era, and not velonging to the year 1872 and 1873. After crediting the sinking fund the net increase of the debt is only $9,084,428 69, showing that from money derived from other sources the debt has been kept down to the extent of $5,410,254 02. On the ist of January, 1874, the amount of the sinking (und was..... On 46th September, 18: tund amounted to.... —Showing an increase of.... $5,410,284 02 (Ol this amount oniy the of $646,511 31 was derived from the sale of public property and the payment of mortgages. The bal- 7 72 71, 1s at least in * due to increased vigor in coliecting and husbanding ‘the city revenues.] The expenditures sor maintaining the government of the city and county for the year 1871 were not less than. The oo 8 for 1872 did not 31,500,000 00 2,000,000 00 A fair comparison of the exp wonld show that those of 1575 ar Jess than those of 1871 by more than. 8,000,000 00 It may suit the purpose of those interested in the restoration of a régime of misgovernment to charge upon the present administration the re- sponsibility for an increase of debt and taxation which is the direct consequence 0/ the acts of their predecessors in office. How entirely the present administration is free from any reproach in this Matter may be inferred trom the tact that for 1872 and 1873, in spite o! the bad inheritance of previous years. the current expenses of the government were met by an average rate of 2 70-100 per cent for each year, while in 1871 the actuai as distin- guished trom the nominal rate, was about three and one-half per cent. If the estimates for 1874 seem to reveal a less favorable state of things the difference is only ap- parent. The Board of Apportionment has lound it necessary to appropriate $39,218,945 79 to meet the expenses of government for the present year. Of this amount $24,193,309 16 is required to provide for expenditures already fixed by law. It is sim- ply over the balance of $15,025,546 63 that tne Board could exercise any discretion whatever, and the apportionment of this sum had obviously to be regulated by the growing wants of the city, in pro- viding for its increased area, by the imperative necessities of the current business and the decayed ition of many Of its public buildings and ‘the urgent neea of repairing its thoroughfares. The estimate of expenditures of all accounts tor 1874 18 but slightly in excess of the actual ex- nditures Of jut it will be seen that under the provisions of law the city and county are re- aired to raise during the present ;ear the follow- {hg amounts in excess of those required for 1871. ie State tax is nearly $1,000,000 higher than in 1871. Three million dollars more are xequnea to pay the mterest on the debt. For the redemption of funded bonds nearly $2,000,000 have to be pro- vided, while none were paid in 1871 from taxation. The Fourth avenue improvements demand $1,500,000 and the Police Department $1,000,000 for street ol additions tothe force, &¢, in ex- cess of what to be supplied in 1871. Various additions and im] ments to the city property which would, under the old system, have been paid for by the issue of bonds this year be met out of the proceeds of taxation. Under the apportionment of 1874 the rate of taxa- tion for the year will amount to 3 40-100 per cent on $1,129,139,623, the assessed value of 1873. This is so Digh a rave that it is tmperatively necessary that no jurther appropriations or expenditures should be sanctioned by the Legislature calculated to in- crease the burdens of the city. To prevent apy such ont onorke i mvyite the co-operation of your nme. proportion of requir @ proportion of the State tax ed this year from New York city and county amounts to over twenty per cent of the entire tax levy of the wy, and county, and maintains its usual art, with that collected from the rest of the State. it 18 @ standing injustice to this community that it should be calied upon to pay nearly one-hait of the entire expenses oj the State government. We are this year required by law to provide $3,644,387 77, by the Issue Of the bends of the city, a4 our portion of an unexplained absence of over see 000 in certain sinking funds ot the State, by the constitution and laws are made inyt- | olable. This infliction will, of course, increase the debt of the city to that extent. Clalms 01 the present year inst the Treasury are audited and paid at the Fimance Department with ij promptness, and, so far a8 that depart- is concerned at least, no just cause of com- int exists with respect to any class of payments, ‘The average time within which bills for supplies, were examined and paid during the year the receipt of the claim in the Depart- eH ment of was two days. The average time eee ee pay rolls of laborers of the past year Rave Be paid was less than three days m the time receipt at the Finance Department. have been In the mi on the Ist of the amount of ptrolier bag smounts to provide the means to nee means This was ae om Bet ween the 1st of January date and the Ist of February, 1874, over $3,000,000 0; bonds mature, and (he means will be provided to pay them. CHAMBERLAIN AND COUNTY TREASURER. duties of this officer have performed. ‘The banks positories of the mone, have made to the Comptroi. jer, promptly and without coercion, monthly re- warns of the interest accrued on the deposited funda, and these have been passed to tne credit of the sinking fund. The amount of interest accrued to the city on their moneys ‘rom May 1 to Decem- ber 31 is $82,477 15. The Chamberlain, who 1s re- quired to give security in the suim of $2,600,000, is allowed by law the sum of $30,000 per annum ior fis own compensation and to provide for all the expenses of conducting his office. The tate Chamberlain, Frarcis A. Palmer, has not yet paid over to the city the tuterest accrued on deposits, He has not yet uccounted ior the com- missions on the amount paid over to the State ‘breasurer. It is believed that the advantages of tis office prior to the accession of the present in- cumbent were, directly and indirectly, not less than $250,000 per annum to its fortunate holder, POLICE DEPARTMENT. The cleaning of the strects has been placed under the management of this department, and it ts very certain that there has been a great im- rovement in the pertormance of this service dur- ng the past year. Itis to be hoped that the ex- peaene will be reduced as the business becomes etter organized. This department, since its organization under the new charter, has exhibited a degree of Vigor and intelligent zeal in the discharge of the impor- tant duties the law devolves upon its heads which promise to give us @ greater measure o/ security to life and property aud maintenance of public order than we have known tn reovat years, LAW DEPARTMENT. Upon the Law Department has been imposed an unusual amount o1 business occasioned by the de- teace of numeroas old claims agaiust the city. It seems to me it would be weil to give to the Mayor the power to employ specia! counsel when, in his opinion, the interests of tne city re- quire it, FIRE DEPARTMENT. The Fire Department proposes, among its ex- penditures for the year 1874, the construction of a fire boat, to ply on the waters of the harbor, pro- perly equipped. The department also contemplates the erection of aerial ladders, a late tnvention, to aid in the bg removal of persons from loity buildings on of the city and count DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND OORRECTION. Great economy and-eficiency bave been intro- duced in the Department of Public Charities and Correction, Expenses have been reduced, sine- cures displaced aud wasteiulness checked. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS. The Department of Buildings under its present head is, by its exertions to deserve it, regaining the jong lost confidence of the public, J think it would be eminently appropriate to con stitute within this department @ bureau for the care and repair of the pubiic buildings o! the city and county, and to transier to it all the powers of this character from the Board of Supervisors and trom the Commissioner of Public Works; and to this bureau should be committed the procuring of supplies for the courts and the ofiices of the gov- ernment not charged with executive duty, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, The Department of Health, under its new head, is doing ali that can be expected, DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS, The work of the Department of Docks has been mainly limited to the reconstruction aud repair of certain piers. Amoitious projects which would have swamped the city have been abandoned, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. Under the charter of 1870 the Department of Public Works was invested with comprehensive powers and duties, simply to keep its then head equal in the patronage oi place and money with it3 then existing rivals aud co-conspiraters. The con- Sequence Was Corruption, intrigue and utter Pot- tenness. Claima are now constantly pouring into the treasury for payment, with the oilictal approval of its late head, that bear the anmistakable indica- tions of fraud and gross corruption. Since the present Comptroiler took office he has raised on bonds aad advanced to this department, for the ora of certain public works, the gum of $11,257, 3e The laws concerning this department have be- come greatly confused, and, asI am advised by the Corporation Counsel, the most serious ques- tions are likely to arise, whether certain vast powers can oe executed iy department or by | the Department of Public Parks. This condition of tie laws arises principally out of the legislation of the last two years, by which it was sought to add to the already too extensive powers of the Department of Public Works cer- tain powers previously executed by the Depart- ment of Parks. Some law should be passed by the Legislature reducing the powers of this department to their | proper limits, to more clearly define these powers, and also to prevent the coniusion and loss which May arise tn case of conflicts of jurisdiction be- tween independent executive departments. ‘The present reservoirs seem to be adequate for the supply of our city with Croton water for some time to come, and there is, therefore, no immedt- ate neccesity for any large expenditure of public | money tn this direction. But the consumption of Croton water hag in- creased at a greater rate than the population, having reached 104,000,000 gallons per day, or more than 100 galions daily to each mbabitant, At no distant day it will have outgrown the capacity of the present aqueduct, the maximum of which is a delivery of 115,000,000 gallons perday, The con- struction of an additional aqueduct, at a period by no means remote, will thus become an absolute necessity. The construction of bonlevards, drives, &c., in- volves enormous expenditures, That alone’ ex- tending from Fifty-niutn street upward, which is not one-haif completed, has already cost the city $6,927,862, It was planned and partially construct- ed by the Department of Vvarks, but by an interpo- lated section in the law of 1872 it was transferred to the Department of Punlic Works. DEPARTMENT OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS. The Department of Taxes and Assessments is en- gaged in making its vaiuations for the coming year}; it is certain that we shailsee an end ot the favoritism that has existed in valuations and in } the system of purchasing exemption irom taxation | of which we have heretofore heard 80 many com- | plaints. In regard to real estate the provisions of law are comparatively definite, and in this county the assessments more nearly meet the requirements of the law than in any other county of the State. A technical compliancé with the law concerning Tea) estate in this county alone would inflict upon our citizens such 4 share of the burden of the State as would be unencdurable, with a very slight chance of alleviation by the action of the State | Board of Equalization. Tne disparity in agsess- Ments upon personal property in this county, as compared with others, is even more flagrant. In eight years the assessments upon the personal property in this county have increased about thirty-seven per cent, while in all the rest of the State the assessments upon such prop- erty have decreased about seventeen per, cent auring the same period. The time—practically about eignteen months—which elapses between the period of assessment and enlorced cellection of taxes upon personal property in this county is the cause of heavy iosses. A revision of the tax laws and the adoption 01 an equitable code by the Legislature would bring to this county essential relief, aud be, at best, but @ tardy measure of Justice. BOARD OF EDUCATION. More than 200,000 children attend the schools in the course of the year. The amount of money called for to sustain our schools for 1874 is very large. iemay be very well questioned whether there are not already too many of the ornamental branches taught in the schools. The children are urged and confused by the diversity of their studies. I am Satisfied that the cost of supplies in form of school books, &c., ought to be reduced. There is no room for doubt tbat the preceding Board left the school buildings ina very dilapi- dated condition, and it wili require a considerable sum of money to bring them up to a fair state of reparation. This has been provided by the Board of Apportionment. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, Tam clearly of opinion that the improvements contemplated in other parks of the city should be upon a Very much less expensive scale than those of the Central Park. Under this department it is proposed to lay out and purchase a parade ground near the northerly end of the island. Tis should be discontinued, From inquiries I have made I am satisfied that,the location of this ground is not at all adapted for the purpose, and that the owners \ of surrounding property would regard it as mighly objectionable, and, in the judgment of some at least of these owners, it would be considered a nuisance, This is no time for millions of expenditure or not strictly indispensable purposes when convenient = inexpensive sites can be had in the annexed strict. we shall run the risk of sacrificing the valaabie results of the past, and shall certainly endanger the prospect of further improvement. if the charter is again to become the sport of faction and the battle ground o! greedy schemers in the Legis- lature. Although the charter in some respects seems to expand the legislative functions of the Common Councill do not discover that these have any actnal existence save on paper. The extensive powers which the law seems to confer on the representatives of the people are practically neutralized by the independent func- tions still exercised by the departments. The legislative body is swallowed up and is largely controlled by the executive departments, Most of the important municipal public enter- prises are placed Ly dt your controi, and are passed by the State Legislature without your con- currence, Your legislative powers ought to be co- extensive with the wants and necessities of our | People, and should control every item of puplic expenditure. I find now, a8 unmistakably as I did & year ago, that the executive departments have no prover connection with each other, are not inter-dependent nor subject to the legislative branch of the government, Their/action is marked a8 little by harmonious co-operation as it is regu- lated by a proper sense of responsibility. There is ho sufficient definition of their powers and duties. 453.515 65 have Leem diahuraed During the year $2: Bach 1s independent and each jealous of the other. 1 would suggest and sek your co-operation to s@- It cannot be stated with too much emphasis that | cure @ change in the organic !aw, so that the Mayor vested the power to be im tor causes Satisfactory to bimseli, the officers whom he has the power to nominate, and that each department | have but one head, to be nomtuated by the Mayor and confirmed by tbe Board of Aldermen. tat police noeeeae eeeleaear ts tta® as supplement the char- ter and serve the public interost whach failed of be re again be urged upon the attenti: ese 3 mtion of the Legislature. Chief among them is the bill nsohidation of for the coi tne city and county gov- ernment, Among the earliest Baers Of 8 revived sentt- ment of reform were those directed against the dose to the treasury and the consequent inorease oi burdens to the general taxpayer Which resulted from the practice of vacating assessments on grounds which the law holds to constitute tech- ical irregularity, These protests have been fre- quently repeated by the Comptroller and by mysel!, sometimes to your honorable body and sometimes to the Legislature, but without result. Corrective legisiation, devised to meet this evil, has en- countered at Albany the organized opposition of a knot of lawyers, whose chie! business it ta to ferret Out faws in laying assessments or awarding con- tracts Jor locai improvements, and Wb #e imcome is chiefly derived from the spoils gathe, ed tn these piratica) raids upon the treasury. Operations of this character have attained such magnitude that they now cost the city about $1,000,000 per annum. There have been, undoubtedly, many cases in which assessments have been laid, im despite of remoustrances, for wooden and other worthiess pavements, where the Iraudulent character of the ordinances on which they were based or the noto- rious jobbery which characterized the awarding of the contracts justified all legal means of resist- ance to their imposition, But the majority of cases beiong to an entirely different catezory. The practice of obtaining orders from the courts to vacate assessments is rapidly on the increase. It is evident that the whole system of making aa- vances to property owners for the purpose of carrying out street improvements needs revis.on and reform, Twenty-tive years ago, a8 Mayor of tue city, I vetoed the resolutions of the Comm n Council of that period which formed the entering wedge of the subsequent gross abuses of the assess- ment system. On December 31, 1873, the outstanding issue of bonds payable from assessments amounted to $21,927,372 30. At the same time the amount of | assvasmentg due, but not collected, was more than $9,000,000, These figures show tne urgent neces- sity of measures to enable the city to promptly meet the large item of its temporary debt as it falls due, I would suggest that, in order to reduce the enormous amount of unpaid assessments now outstanding, the Comptroller be authorized, in re- gard to all assessments levied prior to Jal 1872, to take prompt and eficient measar their colection, leaving to him some discretion as to those that were imposed ior worthless pave- ments. To correct the past abuse of the system of Vacating assessmen's and to indemnify the city for some of the loss thus unjustly incurred a re- assessment should be had by legislative act in cases where assessments have been vacated on any other ground save that of traud in the execu- ae My the work for which the assessment was levied, In this portion of his message the Mayor speaks in very strong terms against the swindling of the old time, through which old claims which showd ave been satisfied in 1871 are being paid out of he current revenues of the city. The Board of Excise has collected from licenses from the lst day of May to the 3lst of Yecemver, 1875, the sum of $601,449 56. The amount received by the old Board for the whole year ending Apri! 80, 1972, was $337,662 28, and for the year ending April 30, 1873, when the present Board took office, $396,841 56, showing a much larger income in eight months under the present administration than in any one year under the old Board, ‘The net revenue collected by the Department of Puolic Works from Croton water rents shows an | increase over that of 1871 of $285,589 75, and irom vault permits of $24,589 75, while the cost of coilec- tion of both these revennes was reduced from $124,108 43 In 1871 to $58,874 tn 1873, The amount collected by the Bureau of Permits in the Mayor’s ovice for the years 1870, 1871 and 1872, was $111,577, at an expense of $85,116 03, or a income of $25,460 97. The amount collected in 1878 from the same source was $55,779, at an expense of $8,559 44, or a net income of $47,219 56; showing that in one year (1873) the city derived a net revenue from this source greater by $20,000 than it did in the three years previous, ‘rhe receipts for licenses during the past year amounted to $62,519 50, against $54,519 50 in 1872 and $52,997 75 in 1871, or an increase of $9,581 75 over 1871 and $7,035 50 over 1872. ‘The receipts irom dock and slip rents for 1871 were $402,119 03; for 1872, $423,545 23, and for 1873, $463,217 76, or an increase Of $66,098 73 in 1873 over 1871, From market rents and fees there was received in 1871 the sum of $351,185 33, and in 1873 the sum of $343,342 37, showimg a decrease of $7,824 37, which 1s due to the removal of the stands about Wasningion ana other markets. The cost of col- lectng this revenue was $21,589 81 in 1871, and $11,850 in 1873, or a saving during the past year of 9,739 81. : Under the recently appointed Police Justices the sum received from filmes end paid into the treas- ury for the months of November and December, 1873, was $5,589, an average of about $35,000 per year. It is ditcult to ascertain the exact amounts collected and paid over to the city authorities by the preeeding justices, but it is estimated that in no one year has tt reached $4,000, 1 would recommend that the city markets, which yield a fair return over and above the cost 01 their maintenance, should be put in proper repair, and that those which do not yield such a return should be immediately sola. Washington Market ought to be reconstructed and rebuiit. The corporation owns a number of valuable ferry franchises which are practically unproductive. This source of revenue has aiready formed the subject of carerul inquiry, with a view of rendering it proit- able to the treasury. The County Court House ought no longer to re- main in its present condition; trustworthy esti- mates should be prepared of the cost of fiuishing it, and any appropriations made fur that purpose should strictly contorm thereto, so that the work may be immediately and finally executea. On the 16th of May, 1873, 1 nominated to the Board of Aldermen, as required by law, the following commissioners to complete the building, to wit Messrs. Wyllis Blackstone, Jonn P. Cumming, Thomas B. Tappan and Smith E. Shaw. These nominations have been suffered to remain unacted on for more than seven months, The arsenal in Elm street, which is now useless, ought to be put in order for State purposes, It is doubtful whether the new City Prison whose erection was provided for by the last Legis- lature, should be proceeded with at the present time. It seems to me that the present prison can, with slight alteration, be made equal to the wants of the city for several years to come. The pavements of the streets in certain portions of the city are in a wretched condition, and it is, aS a measure of comfort and economy, important that they should be put in repair as rapidly as p sible, and on some plan and by some agency con- sistent with economy and efficiency, f£normous amounts as rents of armories are still required to be paid. Leases made for long peur but involving most enormous rents, ‘still exist. am of opinion that legal steps should be taken to test the validity of these leases and to set them aside, I should recommend the repeal of jaws under which any department 1s authorized to cail tor un- limited amounts of money. No undertaking of a private character or for a private interest should be aided in any way out of the pub lic treasury of the city. That part ot the bill, passed at the last session of the Legislature, relating to the so-called Industrial Exbibinon, which compels the city to make the loan contemplated by the act, or any other loan, should be repealed. By the first of these statutes the city is virtually required to make a present of $2,500,000 to one or more adventurers. For the Brooklyn bridge | have received an es- timate of the amount required to complete the wu dertaking, which shows that $10,000,000 more than has been provided will be required to finish the bridge. The circumstances under which this un- dertaking originated, and the disclosures which have been from time to time made during its prog- rei have not been such as to secure for it the confidence of the public. The city 1s already a stockho!der in this enter- rise to the amount of $1,500,000, and I do not think its prospects are sufficiently flattering to justily any further investment. ‘he question as to the power of the Legisiature to take from the pockets of the citizens of New York $1,500,000 annually, to hand over to a rail- road corporation, to be used for personal profit, as they have done by the aid which the city is com. pelied to give to the New York Central and Har- lem Railroad companies in sinking the track and abating a public nuisance, and the increased vaiue of their property ought, I think, to be tested. Tam informed that schemes are now in progress by the gambling political coteries and their atfilia- tions to again foist upon this city the Metropolitan Police system, with themselves or next friends aa Commissioners, and to influence the Legislature to so reorgan'ze the Dock Department in the same interests as to make this great city, 1ts social life, its commerce and,its industry feeders for their greed, avarice and lust of power. And from the insane mutterings and harmiess howis of their mendacious mouthpiece and other frauds, I think the information is reliaple. Ideem it my duty to take ail Lag and necessary measures in con- nection with yourselves to counteract these schemes and expose their objects, The progress of the city of Montreal in the export trade of grain has been, since 1456, upward oi 263 percent. New York, during the same period, has increased but 57 per cent. When the Welland Canal shail be completed, an event expected to | come to pass in 1875, ships of 1,000 tons burden will ass directly from the lakes to the Gulf of St. Pawrence, and it will only be possible for New York to make headway against this rivairy by an intelll- gent and legislative mastery and ‘control ot the transportation problem and such an economy in the administration of municipal and State govern- ment thatthe ratio of taxation will invite to, in- ee of, a8 now, repel capital from our city and Although you have but little power to change these currents, yeta knowledge of the anticipated evil may enable you to avert some of its conse: gesnces, and to the extent of some ol that power invoke your aid in improving our terminal facili- ties, and relusing to assist in the increase of ratl- way monopoly, and ask on to give your moral countenance and support to any practicable scheme which will render the cost of transportation of our surplus products from our Great West to New MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. In order to receive the Mayor’a annual Message an adjourned meeting of the Board took place yes- terday afternoon, the President, Mr. 5. H. B. Vance, in the chair. ‘The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, after which the Mayor's M was received and partially reads Ly the Ee er rears eh vn nsed with an ,000 copies thereof orderes The or nominated Thomas |, Sullivan & city marshal in the place of Mr. Toplanyi, removed, ‘The nomination was laid over and ordered printed. nee motion the Board adjourned until next jonday. BOABD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN. A Memorial to Change the Building * Laws To Be Sent to the Legislatare. Pursuant to adjournment the Board met yester- day afternoon at two o'clock. Mr. Betts, the Deputy Clerk, called the Board to order, whereupon Assistant Alderman Simouson nominated Assistant Alderman 0, M. Olaucy for temporary presiding officer. ‘vhe minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, The “agreement to disagree” between the po- litical factions of the Board is still in vogue, Messrs, Wade and Strack, the republican and democratic Presidents, were absent, as at the previous session. Alderman Healey offered a resointion reappoint ing Wilkam H. Moloney and the other oilicials appointed at a meeting on January 5. Alaerman Simonson moved to —siibstt- tute the name of Constantine Donohue, Considerable filibustering was induiged in on this occasion, The republican members wanted the resolution to be introduced as origi- Dal matter, and not as endorsing the session of January 5, which is held by them to have been ir- regular. Alderman Simonson offered an amendment, that W. H. Moloney and the others be appointed as Cierk, &¢., Which was lost, and the original motion was adopted on a division—11 to 6, Aresolution calling upon the Mayor and Police Commissioners to have the ordnance relative to the sprinkling of salt on railroad tracks by the railroad companies, passed February 23, 1860, strictly enforced, was reierred to the Committee on Railroads, Assistant Alderman Thornell offered the follow- ing preamble and resolution, which was unwni- mously adopted :— Whereas in view of the destruction to whieh life and property are subject in the city of New York by reason Bf the improper and criminal construction of heat paratus in building: i he authorities of the and county are in duty bound to make and enforce suc Jaws as will tend to preserve iite trom sudden calamity, and property trom destruction by fire; therefore, be it Kesolved, That the Counsel to the Corporation be re- quested to prepare @ memorial to the Legistature of the Dtate of New York, praying that the Building law appli- cable to this city be so iin: nded as to provide for a more Perieet construction of buildings and heating apparatus 'Resolyed, That His Honor the Mayor be reauested to forward such memorial to the Senate and Assembly on Dehalt of the Mayor, Aldermen aud Commonalty of the city of New Yor! A document from the Board of Aldermen, pro- viding that the Clerk of the Common Council be directed to send to each member of Assembly a copy of @ resolation from the Common Council, re- questing the repeal of chapter 575, Laws of 1873, which provides for the erection of @ new city prison, Was concurred in. ‘The Mayor’s annusi Message (published in an- other part of the HERALD) was received, and after the reading of a few lines a motion Was made to suspend the lurther reading, which was Degatived by a vote of 10 to 6, A {ew minutes later anovher motion to suspena reading the Message was again deteated by a vote of 9to 8. When the Clerk com- menced to read the Comptroiler’s figures the members wearled of the dryness of the Mayor's Message, and resolved by 13 to 4 not to heat any more ol it, A resolution to print 500 copies was adopted—I4 to 3. A number of general orders were disposed of, and at half-past three o’clock the Board adjourned, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. The regular session of this Board convened on the adjournment of the Board of Aldermen, Super- visor Vance in the chair. The minutes of the pre- vious seasion were read and adopted, after whtch Mayor Havemeyer “put in” an appearance and occupied a seat alongside of Mr. Vance for a few minutes. A number of newspaper bills for advertising election notices were presented and referred. The Evening fost was recommended by tue Com, mittee on Printing as the printing office in which to print the official proceedings, provided tbe existing arrangements are satisfactory to the proprietors thereof, In an adverse case, then the committee 18 to advertise for bids, and award the printing to the lowest bidder, Tue report of the committee was approved. A bill for $354, Irom GC. A. Stetson’s Sons, for pro- viding reireshments to the jurors in the famous Genet trial, was ordered paid. Supervisor Ottendorier proposed that im future arrangements be made whereby jurors may be well provided for at a less expense than $5 per diem, and promised that the Committee on Crim- inal Courts would see to carrying into effect this much desired reform. Heretofore the judges of the Supreme Court order the jurors and the deputy sheriff having them in charge to the Astor House, and the Supervisors have no option but to pay the bil he A number of bills for rent of armories, salaries of armorers and payment of work done were passed upon. upervisor Monheimer moved that the Board meet as county canvassers on the 2ist tnat., to canvass the votes of the Twenty-first district. ‘the Board then adjourned. CITY AND COUNTY TREASURY, Comptroller Green reports the following disburse- ments and receipts of the treasury yesterday :— Diahursements, Claims paid—No. of warrants 72 amounting... $655,681 Pay rolls—No. of warrants... 16 amounting...... "80,417 Totals... 88. Receipts, From taxes of 1875 and interest..... From arrears of taxes, assessments and inte: 864 From collection of assessments and interest 20,792 From market rents and f 1,287 From water rents...... 707 From licenses—Mayor's office. i 2 From sales of City kecord (oie week) i7 From fees and fines District Courts. 3h Totals. $43,170 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. Commissioner Van Nort makes tne following statement of public moneys received by the De- partment of Public Works during the week endmg Saturday last:— For Croton water rent and penalties For tapping Croton pipes..... # For sewer permits. ‘ss For sewer pipe sold to contracto: THE SUNDAY LAW. German Amusement Managers in Coun- cil. At the Germania Assembly Rooms last evening a meeting of the proprietors of the larger German lager beer establishments was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the recent special order of the police authorities in regard to Sunday entertainments, such as balls and tneatricals, which interferes with the usual course and practice of these _ establishments. William Winckel, the manager of the Turn Hall, was called upon to preside, and addresses were delivered by Messrs, Major Saver, Paul Falk and others, severely criticising the action of the Police Commissioners in that direction, and characteriz- ing the same as nugatory. It was, however, ob- served that these spasmodic efforts to enforce an antiquated law is not, in its origin, due to the po- lice authorities, but to a pressure brought to bear on the same by pharisaical and fanatical re- ligtonists and organizations, On motion of Major Sauer @ committee 01 five was appointed to wait upon the Police Commisstoners in the course of the present week to see what can be done to effect @ modification of the rigorous measures adopted by them. The committee was composed of Major Sauer, of the Germania Assembly Rooms; William = Kramer, the Atlantic Garden; Joseph _Hartmann, of Hartmanp’s Hotel; George Eckels, of the Beethoven Maennerchor Hall; Adam Geib, of the Walhalla Hai), On motion @ resolution Was passed to engage counsel in case litigations should result from the action of the police authorities. After the conference of the above namea committee with the Police Com- missioners another meeting will be held to effect a rmanent organization and to take such action as, under the circumstances, may be deemed necessary. ae THE NAVAL STORE TRADE. AD adjourned meeting of the Naval Store Trade was held yesterday afternoon in the Manager's room of the Produce Exchange, to continue the consideration of the rules which at present govern that branch of commerce. Mr. Zophar Mills pre- sided, and the reading of the minutes of the pre- vious meeting having been dispensed with the question as to the shipment of spirits of turpen- tine Was discussed at considerable length. Severai rules were amended so as to meet the requir ments of the trade, but as several important m: connected with the proposed changes were suit left n for discussion the meeting adjourned until to-day at two o'clock, when the rules will be maidared a} enh. YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. AQUATIC. The Course for Next Year’s Colleginte INTERESTING LIBEL CASE. Hace—Saratoga Lake Recommended— | John F. Chamberlin’s Complaint Against George Meeting of 'To-Morrow. ‘To THs Epiron ov tHe HaRaLp:— Tt ts always diMcult to obtain a true and un- biassed judgment concerning affairs of “honor or emolument” for the possession of which commu- nities are striving, The party interested 1s natu- rally prejudiced in his own favor and the accounts furnished by competitors are usually of a strike ingly contradictory nature. In such cases we must divest ouracives of all partiality and render a ver- dict according to thebest of our ability. I would like to state here that whatever Is men- tioned in this letter is authentic, and proceeds from one entirely impartial, I am a college stu- dent, and earnestly hope that tne College Regatta of 1874 will be rowed over the best course that can be offered. With the view of obtaining accurate information regarding the different localities which have dven named as competitors as the course to be rowed upon next July, I visited a number of adjacent towns, and, alter a fair and independent investigation, I pronounce most emphatically for Saratoga, A three-mile straight away course has been laid out by survey, with @ width of almost two miles at the start and 1,300 feet at the finish, High biufts encompass the Jake on all sides except the south— the water is generally very smooth, owing to this peculiar natural advantage, and nothing except @ south wind can ruffle the surface. There are no bars or shoals along the coyrse; and from ‘the grand amphitheatre of binf at the finish the whole course can be seen with ease. ‘fo quote irom (he HERALD, September 12, last:—“Tnis 1s the scene of the grand stand., Situated ag it is on a steep hill- side, every ivot Of the course is readily seen witn a good guass.” And the view is not restricted to this place—for miles tnese Diuffs extend, overiook- ing the lake and commanding the entire course. Saratoga i8 interested in this movement. She has been treated somewhat unjustly of late, and the whole population is desirous of retrieving her lair tame, ‘The Saratoga Rowing Association, which, 1 am happy to state, includes among its members all the best and most ipfuential of the townspeople, having recognized the importance of prompt action, has offered most generous inauce- meats to our colleges to celebrate ‘Regatta week”” in Saratoga, This organization promises to confer on the winners of the race silver plate to the amount 01 $1,000, to be purchased by a joint com- mittee of the association and colleges. All the crews, their boms, 4&c., will be transported gratis to and irom the lake at their pleasure during Regatta week and the period of training. Floats and boat houses will be turnished for all the colleges at expense of said association. AD arrangement will be made with all the hack- men and liverymen in town fixing a reguiar tari@ (at the ordinary prices) for race week. ‘Tliese men obtain their licenses in June, and unless they agreo to the contract said licenses will not be granted. I myseli saw @ legal contract between the associa- tion and the laud-owners about the lake binding the latter to entrust their lands for the Regatta week to the Saratoga Association, and no {ee will be charged Soy peraon desiring to occupy them for the purpose of seeing the races. The jarmers are bound to board the crews at a price not to exceed ten dollars a week per capita; and the crews will be allowed to select such bill of fare as they deem aw Free tuckets from Troy to Saratoga and return will be iturnished to all the competitors in the Taces, A committee 01 the Saratoga Rowing Asso- ciation will be, at all times, at the lake to attend to the wants of the college oarsmen. To insure order & large posse of police will be on nand; and gambling, pool-selling, &¢., will be strictly prohib- ited. Other arrangements are being completed, and Iam assured that, if Saratoga be selected, we shaji have, beyond a doubt, the most exciting and successiul, but yet Seta ean ets that Amer- ica has ever witnessed, passant, the Fair Grounds, situated one and one-quarter miles (rom town, will be engaged; there is ample room for ball matches, running races, &c., and, to close the Jestivitics of the carnival, a grand ball wiil be given be the colleges under the auspices of the associa- on. And now, to silence any opjections, one word more. ‘Troy has been named as a candidate against Saratoga. In the first place Troy bas no accommodations for the thousands who will ve present at the next College Regatta. There are three hotels in the town, and aa these are full the whole time they could not accommodate any large increase in tne number of visitors. Ihad a long conversation witn several rowing men in Troy; they could give me no encouragement, and when 1 Mentioned the offers of Saratoga they shook their heads dubiously and said that Troy would not, could not be so generous. The average Delegates at Hartford width of the river at ‘roy is 850 feet, and there will probably be at the least fifteen crews to enter, Over the course at one point is a@ bridge or pier, which would ne- cessitate some delicate steering tor the crews to pass through the arches with safety. Moreover, the course at Troy, a8 ut New London, is navigable water. Canal boats are constantly passing over the Troy course, and the Trojan cannot prevent this even on Regatta day. Finally I believe that what Saratoga promises she will carry out. Said the HEKALD, Of last September, in speaking of their lJall regatta :—‘The entire programme Was carried out with a promptness never equalled beiore. The three races were despatched in less than two and @ half hours aud everybody was back in town be- fore six o’clock.” The colleges’ delegates will assemble in conven- tion at Hartiord the day alter to-morrow (Jauuary 21), for the purpose of selecting the course for the regatta of 1874, May wisdom direct their choice! New Youkx, Jap. 19, 1874. CG A CHALLENGE TO COLONEL BRAOKETT, English vs. American Cavalry. To THE EprTor oF THE HERALD:— When Colonel Brackett’s letter appeared in the HEnaLp I read it merely as the result of prejudice on his part. I did not think it worthy of notice. I cut it out, and am keeping it for turther use, and there for the present! thought the matter would rest; but it seems still to attract attention. Per- mit me, therefore, to make the following offer. I am an Englishinan, and have not been in the saddle for three or four years, but lam ready to match myself with Colonel! Brackett to ride over any four miles of fair hnnting country, either in England or Ireland, and I undertake to beat him. After that I will ride against him 200 miles, say 100 miles out and home, pace not to exceed a trot, and Iundertake to beat him. I undertake, too, to say that in England and Ireland Colone) Brackett could find 100,000 men who would be ready to make him @ similar offer, and as many more as he chooses. I do not wish to have my name pubiished unless this offer is accepted, but it and my address are at your dispusal to give to Colonel Brackett, if he wants them. lL, New Yor, Jan. 17, 1874. Americans the Best Horsemen. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD: Colonel Brackett is perfectiy right in his compari- son of the riding of the two nations of cavalry. ‘The American cavalry are certainly splendid riders when going over the prairtes, and will ride proba- bly irom sixty to seventy miles per day. Theiren- durance is remarkable, and when in pursuit of Indians thefr pluck is excelient. I have no doubt the Colonel, trom his hotel in Broadway, has seen sample 0: American cavalry in procession, and the lookers-on who have never seen an English cavairy would be struck with their position and attitude in the saddle, 1 question if there is mueh difference in the riding schools of both countries, and | presume all cavalrymen are tanght how to ride. 1 should lke to see a test case—the cavalry of the two nations making a charge similar to the one at Balaklava—and I have no doubt the splendid horsemanship of the Americans would excel. Yours, &¢., GEORGE WADE, No, 96 Franklin street. A Charge on Colonel Brackett. St, NicHoLas Horet, New York, Jan. 17, 1874, To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:— However reluctant it is to me to prove the absurdity of Lieutenant Colonel Brackett’s asser- tions in regard to English cavalry, I cannot help denouncing them as the malignant utterances and vituperations of an insane mind, or one whose Pasta @nd vanity have so far misled him as to raw upon himself the ridicule of all sensible men. Can Lieutenant Colonel Brackett point out one single instance where and when the English cay- alry had been whipped? Judging Colonel Brackett by his unfounded statements one 13 led te the con- clusion that he is utterly ignorant of knglish horsemanship, and, therefore, much less of the achievements of Englisn cavalry in all the bloody engagements in which they have participated, In that case, instead of writing of matters of which he knows but little about, it would have been wiser for him to nave studied more than he has done the unquestionable valor of English cavalry, what they have done and are always prepared to do, Tam ready to prove at any time to Colonel Brackett that he has allowed his prejudices against the English to overpower him or he would never have said anything 80 devoid of common sense a8 he has done in reierence to English cayalry. Re- spectfally, FREDERICK J, ALLAN, _ An ex-OMticer of the Horse Guards, FIRE ON BROADWAY. Consideranle excitement was caused yesterday afternoon by the report that @ fire had broken out in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, It turned ont to be a false rumor, as the fire waa but a slight one, and started In the store under the hotel, conducted b; Mr, Malliard. The cause was & defective fue, an the camage done amounted to but$2,500; insured for 816 Wilkes—The District Attorney Represented by Ex Judge Fullerton—What Counsel for the Defendant Endeavored to Show—The Plaintiff on the Stand. ns The examination in the complaint of Jonn PF. Chamberlin charging George Wilkes with libel, after one or more postponements, came up yeater- day afternoon belore Justice Otterbdourg, at Easex Markets Police Court. Shortly before two o'clock Mr. Wilkes, in company with bis counsel, Mr. Samuel G. Courtney, and Mr. Dittenhoefer, came into the court room, and, after conversing a few minutes with friends that he met, took a seat be- hind the railing and quietly awaited the calling of the case, Precisely at two o'clock Mr. Chamberlin, with his counsel, ex-Judge Fullerton, and Mr. J, D. Noyey made bis appearance, and 80 soon as Justice Otterbourg disposed of a few minor com- plaints the names of “Chamberlin” and “Wilkea’’ were called. By this time the court room was filled, and behind the railing were many anxious faces, Messrs, William Borst and James Irving being among the number. The Justice, asking Mr. Chamberlin if he wasrep- resented by counsel, and being answered in the affirmative, displayed the complaint, which has been published in the HERALD, when Mr. Courtney desired that Mr, Chamberlin be pat apon the stand, as thoy wanted to examine him. Upon Mr. Chamberlin standing up before the Justice the Clerk of the Court began a direct examination, when Justice Otterbourg summarily stopped it, and stated that the complainant might be oross- examined, to which the counsel for the defendant acquiesced, and commenced by asking Mr. Cham- berlin where he was born, to which was an- swered, “In Lausingburg, 1837." Mr, Courtney then proceeded to ask the witness how long he lived in Lansingburg, to which Mr. Fullerton ob- Jected. Mr. Courtney claimed the right to show the history of the complainant and his general reputation, from the time he left his native place to the present period. Mr. Fullerton denied this right and said that in every Properly conducted examination no such latitude was allowed. This was the case of the people against the defendant, and it was for the latter to prove his allegations. Mr. Dittenhoefer answered Mr. Fullerton in the same strain that Mr. Courtney had inquiged in, and intimated that Mr. Fullerton was representing the people without the authority of the District Attorney, when this question was settled by Mr. Fullerton showing the Justice arequest of Mr. Phelps for him to act in the matter and protect the interests of the people. Justice Otterbourg decided to sustain the objec- tion. Counsel for the defendant continued his arga- Ment respecting the admissibility of such ques- tions, in the course of which he made strong com- ments upon the reputation of the plaintiff, tending to impeacn his cnaracter for honesty, and supple- mented his observations by allegations that plain- tiff on previous occasions was guilty (according to views of counsel) of committing similar oifences as Charged in the alleged libel. Mr. Fullerton, in replying to the observations of Mr, Courtney, said tnat he did not object to his asking any questions as to the allegations com- plained of, and that the statements made by coun- sel could only be indulged in, so far as he saw, for the purpose of gratiiying @ morbid cu- riosity. Counsel should confine himself in his comments and in his examination of the witness to the particular and specific charges as stated in the alleged libel. The next question asked by Mr. Courtney was, “Where did you go when you left Lansingburg ?’” ‘The same objection was raised as before, and the same arguments were indulged tn as before by Messrs. Vourthey and Dittenhpefer why the ques~ tion should be admitted. “Justice Otterbourg sustained the objection. The following questions were then asked the witness:— Q. How long did you live in Lansingburg? Ob- jected to, and objection sustained. ¥ What was your business snd occupation in eterno Objected to, and objection sus- ined. Q. Did you ever livein Chicago? A. No, sir; B passed through there, and stopped @ hitue while. . With your brother? A. No, sir. ‘he witness then admitted that he had lived ia St. Louis in the years 1855-6, and that he was then eighteen years of age. Counsel tor the delendant then asked irom what place he left to go to St. Louis, which was objected to as not essential. The question was admitted, and the witness said that it was Louisville. Then followed other immaterial questions re- garding the length of time witness lived in Louis- ville and his occupation there, all of wluch were objected to and not allowed. rt, Fullerton—Prove the truth of the libel. Mr. Courtney then ascertained from questions asked, where Mr, Chamberlin lived in St. Louis, the street and the number, and desired to show his business there, to which Mr, Fullerton objected. and advised If they desired to show that the wit- hess kept a certain place in St. Louis, let them amend their libel by another Cede and then the witness would seek his redress in the proper way, In this country there was no man too hign for the Court to reach and none so low that he could not seek and obtain its protection. The questiens were not admitted. ‘. Counsel for the defendant asked many more questions relative to the witness’ knowledge of dis- Teputable piaces and games in St. Louis, but Justice Otterbourg did not deem them pertinent to the complaint and libel, as charged. Mr, Fullerton commented upon the attempt to annoy the wit- ness by such questions, and when Mr. Courtney aamitted the fact that in the Ce eg publication there was a mistake of ten years, Mr. Fulierton ad- vised them that they could “go about and prove che ett a charged in the libel at any time in fe. The witness in his surther examination satd that he had been employed on the steamboat Fashion, on the Mississippi, as a barkeeper, in the years 1855 and 1856, and that he came to New York tm 1865. The examination was then adjourned until Friday next. “PRINCE HAL'S” SUCCESSOR To-Day’s Election in the Twenty-first Assembly District. The contest for the election of an Assemblyman im the Twenty-first Assembly district waxed very wrathfal last evening in all the various strong- holds of the rival candidates in the district. For several Weeks past there has been going on in this uptown district 4 miniature campaign, all the for- malities usual on grand political occasions being brought into service. Assemblyman Genet’s most sudden disappearance was buge affair for the politicians in the Twenty-first Assembly district, all of them now 1 pet @ chance to put forth their power in support of favorites under circumstances which, if the ‘‘Prince’’ were only “alive,” they never should have got. Poor Harry, with the guilt upon his brow, is, happily for himself, indif- ferent to all the powwow over the successor of his disgraced and degraded self, being, no gene content to try as best he can to keep his head’ under water. The contestants, however, have been, in accordance with well-known regulations of human nature, making merry over his downfall, ang the “Prince” that was has become, during the past two weeks, the mere trickster politician, who “went back upon himself,” who endeavored, so far as he could, to bring obloquy upon the demo- cratic party, and who has become a Goer } rascal and @ renegade. All this sort of thi has been going on during the canvass omens, the friends of Messrs, Allen (republical Sullivan {Apollo Halt) and Crary (Tammany), who have been fighting a big battle for their respective can- didates under the acknowledged principles ot elec~ tioneering laws, and everybody knows what such laws are. Last night was the culmination of the exertions of the friends of the rival candidates, and, as 18 usual on the eve of battle, the enemy, tI less demonstrative than on ay tae occasiol was more terribly in earnest. But the meaning the election yet remaing to be developed, and to- day will tell what sort of prce’* they are up in the Twenty-first Assembly district. peasants Shan RR ne NAVAL FUNEBALS IN BROOKLYN. ‘The funeral of Captain James Trathen, late of the United States Navy, took place yesterday alter- noon, from the residence of deceased, No. 125 Second place, South Brooklyn. He entered the navy early in life, and continued in the service until he was fifty years of age, resigning just be‘ore the breaking out of the rebellion. He, however, re-entered the service when the war was in prog- ress, and, while in command of the gunboat Mount Vernon, participated in the battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and served in other naval engage- ments. His total service in the navy amounted to nearly filty ae The funeral services took place at St. Paul's Episcopal church, Kev, Dr. T, $s. Drowne officiating. The funeral of Midshipman Robert D, Stevens, who died on board the frigate Colorado, at Key West, Fis, on the Sth inst., also iook place, irom the residence of his father, No. 69 High street, yesterday afternoon. The services were performed by Rev. Drs, Schenck and Pycott. De- ceased was a native of Brooklyn, and was chosen as a cadet, having passed the best competitive ex- amination for the position in 1868, He served two years on board thé sloop-of-war Kansas, and gave pr mise Ol a bright future in the professian whick adorned when death intervened,