The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1875, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, TU THE MA¢R'S INAUGURAL, A Glance at ‘ie Finances---Advantages and Requirements of the Metropolis. TH ECONOMY. Nitin ENERGY WI City Improvements Should Be Pushed and Enforced idleness Obviated. GIVE US HONESTY LN PUBLIC WORKS Street Cleaning Should Be Done by Con- | tract Thoroughly---Finish the Bridge. | Ex ey | New York, Jan. 4, 1875.) ‘To THE HONORABLE THE COMMON COUNCIL:— GENTLEMEN—For the rst time in the history of | the government o/ the city the Common Council | Consists Of bul One board OF representatives of the people. Since the year 1807 there bave existed in | tme adminisiration of our local affairs various legisiative bodies, the most prominent of whicao were @ Board 0: Supervisors, a Board of Aldermen and a Board of Counciimen—subsequently known @s Assistant Aldermen. In addition to these boards several commissions were, from time to lume, created by law, in each of which were vested combined legislative and executive powers, The | Fesults of this divuied authority were not satisfac- tory, and the legisiative powers and duties of the | Supervisors, Aldermen and Assistant Aidermen have been conceiirated in the Board of Aidermen, which now aione constitutes the Common Council, | During the period tuat the legislative power of | the government was so divided the Common Coun- ci! possessed bur little influence in Civic affairs, It ‘Was vested With no authority whatever over some | of the executive commissions or departments, the | officers of which had absoiute control in all mat ters relating to tue particular purposes of the government with which they were severally identified, and each department was allowed to exercise powers having @ more material influence upon the weil-bemg of the city than had those Jeft the Common ( ouncil ttsell. This system, as might have been expected, proved most pe:nicious. The source of the power and influence o: the departments being the State Legislature the city was governed at Albany and not in New York. While we Common Council of the city was ignored the Legislature was led to pass upon scheme alter scheme presented by one or another of the departments, designed to in- crease its OwD powers and patronage. On the statute book there 1s evidence conclusive that the officers of the departments thought far more of the influence they could secure and the patronage they could command than they did of tieir oficial duties, They rivailed each other in jealous con- tentions, and their zeal was most prominent tn promoting heir own interests, while they over- jooked those of the cit; The last remnants oi this system should be eraa- teated. Recent legislation, while implying the necessity for sucn @ change, is deficient in the provisions mecessary to secure it, la my judg- Ment the entire legislative powers of the govern- Ment shoud be vested in the representatives of the people in the Common Council assempied, to be excrcised subject to the approval of tbe Mayor. This is a vecessary step toward improving the government ol the city. We require “nome Tule” in ail our local affairs. We can govern our- selves, and ought to be at liberty to do go. Krrors or wrongs committed can be more easily de- tected and remedied here than at Albany. All matters relating to the government should ve tally and freely disclosed, in order that the influ- ence of the public judgment upon them may be directiy felt. Without tms no efficient control in the government can exist, To secure this control your powers shoulda be 89 enlarged as to make tue Common Counci! the real source of all legislation With regard to our loca! affairs. Althongh, under existing laws, the powers of the Common Council are far (rom being such as are necessary to attain Inily the objects: stated, they are, I am advised, sufficient to enable you 'o adopt such measures as wili lead to great improve- ment in our affairs. The charter, section 90, provides that “whatever provisions and regulations * * * may become Tequisite for the tuiler organization, periecting and carrying outofthe powers and duties pre- scribed to any department by this act, shall be provided for by ordinance of the Common Council, who are hereby authorized to enact auch neces- sary ordinances.” Your action in the exercise of the authority thas couierred may be made a test of the policy of conferring still further powers upon Common Council in the government of the city, and the admivistration by you of the trust now confided cannot fail to have either a beneficial or injurious influence upon the fature Management of our affairs. A strict account is certain to ve demanded of you, It shall be my duty to point out to you irom time to time the par- ticular measures which, in my opinion, if adopted by you, will remove some 01 the causes of the pr. IVE DEPARTMENT, Mayor's UrPice, | | ent general dissatis'action with the management | of the depariments in the past, but the responsi- Dility will be with you to enact these and such other provisions a6 may ve necessary to enable the Mayor to require, and, i! need be, compel, from tne several heads of departments, such an administra- tion of the affairs of the city committed to their charge, as will lead to greater efficiency in the future and a reduction of expense in securing it. THE MUNICIPAL FINANCES, What the Mabilities of the city really are I am Rot, at present, in a position to inform you. Pub: le attention has hitherto been directed princi- pally, if not, indeed, exclusively, to tnat portion of the indeoredness which has assumed the ‘orm of one or other of the various descriptions of bonds and stocks issued by tre city. The informa- tion furnished $o me by the Compiroller is to tne effect that this class of indebtedness was, on the 31st day of December, 1574, as 1oliows:— Funded Debt— Payable trom the sinking tund Payable (rom taxation $22,931,563 95.349, 998, $115. 241,557 Te benporey Debt— | ayable from assessments. Payable trom bui Revenue bonds— Payable trom taxation of 1874... ing len Total. Less sinking fund. Total... “$l But, in addition to these amounts, the floating debt which has been variously estimated At from $10,000,000 to $20,000,400. Many of the 187, 980 or no return for the large advances which the city has made for tuem; and this delay, wich operates to the benefit of property Owners who are in arrears with thelr assessments, goes fur to cripple the energies oi the city in carrying on other and | equally important works, which are anxiously de- sired, not only by the parties more immediately taterested, but by the citizens generally. I am in favor of proceeding with our public ‘works at a pace as rapid as is required to keep up With the growtn Of the city; and { consider that sume year, | Thave ascertamed that for several years past the uocaliectea taxes from personal Maen have amounted annually to about $1,000, ‘his ts irrecoverably lost to the city, and no provision has been made, sofar as.1 know, to provide other- wise than as | have explained for that loss. Tue taxes levied and which are collected ere never received within tae year for which they are im- posed, and trequently aterm of years is allowed Lg pass beiore ular taxes are pois. The de- tax lay allowed by law ts extensively taken advantage | this may be accomplished without increasing the of, the only penalty being an increase of interest | debt bejond its present sum. With care and at- upon the taxes 1D arrears, With our expenditures annually exceeding our | out of a large imcome set apart by law to meet them, confusion | to be Ost tention there ought to be no difMicuity in securing, amount Of assessments um; and |, a return sufficient to carry on, a8 in our finance: table, and no skill m man- | extensively as the requirements of the city de- agement can extricaie such a em irom that | mand, all the most pressing of the works in prog- coniusion. The sysiem itself must be changed to | ress or contemplated. view the ter, the secure nprovement in resui roperty owners bave the solution oi the question te, 'y Ow tn no official report which I bave seen has any | fracn in thelr own hands. The assessment debt iniormation been belore the pabitc showing | is exclusively theirs, and, if they desire thas iur- the exient to which the taxes are paid withiu the | ther work be prosecuted, it is but due to the cit, | thac tbis debt owing by them should be paid, ani the city be thus placed in a position in which it can Br. ye) further sums to be applied to new wor Gity snould give the be ascertaimed, of al THE NEW PARKS AND DRIVES, The co! uction Of the roadway or arive ad- joining the Kiverside Park should be at oace pr ceeded with. The property owners in that a trict, under the compuision oj law, bad to pay & large assessment upon their property for the | lands taken to form this roadway and the pro- | unpaid taxes and assess- Ments at the date of such reports, with all other | information which wouid go to present, as clearly | a5 possible, a statement of the real Snancial posi- Lion of the city—its debts on the one band and the outstanding claims due to it on the other—tbat the public may be able to judge, as each successive statement appears, whether avy 1mprovement has been made in our finances since the date of the Statement preceding. A firat step toward turnisi- ing such periodical information is the prepara- tiva, ut asearly ® date as possible, of a balance | ould be improved I am not at present | Prepared to say; but the drive or avenue jorm- | Mpg bts eastern boundary 1s imperatively required, and the construction of tims roadway is bub Sheet showing tue inancial position of the city at | a2 act of justice to those who have the close ot the past year; na {shall heartily co- | paid so heavily upon the understandtug Operate With you in Whatever measures may ve , toat that work should be at ouce pros- ecuted to completion. 1t will secure access to | an extensive tract 01 grownd, the value o/ which | wul be thereby considerably enhanced, and this | increased value Will inure to the veuefit of the City a8 aD accession to its taxable fund. 1 recom. mend this subject to your eariy consideration, and trust that you will concur with me in the propriety oi having the necessary measures enacted for the prosecution o/ the work mentionea, ‘There is a difference of opinion as to the merits of the projects known as the Morningside and Riverside. parks. Were it an open question it may be doubted whether atthe present day the necessary to procure such a baiance sheet, i MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES FOR 1575, The app: opriations (or the year 1875, aa finaliy determined by the Board of Estimate aud Appor- tionment, amount to $36,956,472. This amount, tozether with the sum to be here- | after fixed vy the Board of Supervisors to provide for deficiencies, less a credit of $3,000,000 carried | irom the general fund, will be imposed by tax | during the year upon the real and personal estate oj the city and county subject to taxation, The tax lor the year will be about three per cont upon | mI wie property, she assessed vuln’ (mate of $30,000,472 ‘there has | idea Would be entertained of sudjectung tile city | been appropriated ior— to the expense of laying outapark onthe site Prov! 4,630,949 | Chosen lor the Morningside Park, But work upon the Cae tee ols Gor the ‘Stake 92.04) | road or aveuue running {rem Lith to luzd street, [o(eeopoasyt— Lec rienehees gto) | Known as Morningside avenue and forming tne Payment of stocks und boa 1s falung due, &c.... | proposed boundary of this park on the west, has Fourth avenue improvement been proceeaed with wo a considerable extent. Typable SRaritie. 4 testes 5 | The money already expended in tae construction ‘or a total of $21,191,821; leaving a balance of | of this road will \e eutirely lost to the city ti tie $15,764,650, work is permitted to remain as at present; and, Over tnis sum of $21,191,821 the city autnori- | even if jurther prosecution of that work 18 only tues have reaily uo control. The acts of the Legis- Needin oe delayed, the expense of completing lature, under Which the approoriatiuns covered | it will be much increased, because in its present by the amount are required to be made, are man- | unfinished condition it is subject to great damage | datory, and the Board of Estimate and Apportion- | by the elements. That this avenue Will be a pub- ment Was ® mere mipisteriai agent im carrying | hic benefit when completed there can be no ques- those laws into effect. | tion, “he work upon tt should, therefore, be The balance oi $15,764,650 includes: appropria- | prosecuted without any unnecessary delay. I tions, for salaries alone, in the aggregate amount submit the subject to your favorable consideration of $9,564,931. ihese salaries are divisible into two | and prompt action. classes—th fixed vy acts oi the Legislature, WORK FOR THE HUNGRY. which the city authorities cannot regwiate, and | tp tnis connection 1t may not be tmproper to those Oxed by ihe heads of departments witiin | suggest that the immediate prosecution of the the limit of the amounts appropriated to them re- | work upon the Riverside roadway and Morning- spectively oe sim taarhpowe by the Board Oo! Est- | side avenue will give 1aoor tolmany who areas Appo ent * resent suffering through enforced idleness. It is, The former (those fixed by acts “of the Legis- | f5'pe sure, DO part Of the business Ol government, lature) are as lolows, for— as such, to furnish work for any of ite citizens} Police, including Commissioners and force.....$3,147,400 | but in all large cities the public works provide tor os al ereee. OSC nC cat neha Fr aca (es Lege veayeg the Serene ia wee ponent Oe eee oace peng Ould rincipally upon them for employment ie sus- ee ae pension of these works {3 9 derious mist rtune to elected tothe Common Council. reas st om regen et Of course, it ts not for me now to anticipate lice, Fire and Docks) 229,500 | 2 3 those so dependent. Such persons desire not a ences | charity but honest empioyment, and their me ms ++-$5171,45 | labor, when properly directed, coutributes to the The latter (salaries for subordinates of the de- | Wealth of the city, it ought to be secured when It artments) are as follows is practicable to do 80. Protas ‘epartment. . $235, Tne Manner in which our public works snould be Law Depart Ti carried on, whether by day’s labor or by contract, 140 00) | 18 a subject which must necessarily come beiore +» $00,000 | you, and as to which you will be called upon to nen act.. Apart from those speciai laws passed by the 137,036 | Legislature authorizing the construction of par- Department of Ti 112,300 | ticular works, the charter provides that any work Mayoralty... 85,000 | to be constructed by or on behalf of thé city, at an Pemmon ee Pe a ce ne ‘$1,000, shell be Py contract, on rp eh hee + sealed bids and proposals, unless Otherwise or- Folive Department—Supenintendent, Clerks, &c.. 5448 | dered by @ vole of three-fourths of the members Total... me rs ee $4,393,036 | when or under what circumstances you may con- Deaucting the amounts thus aporopriated ior | sider it for the publie imterest to exercise the State taxes, mterest, payment of debt, Fourth | power thus vested in you, but the circumstances, are issued or tm the first months of the en- | commenced several years since nave made little | Roses park adjoiuing. How or when the park | itself 8) | at almost nominal rents, and the property leased avenue improvemeuts, taxable charities and for salaries, irom the entire appropriations of the year, there remains abaiance of only $6,199,719, Which ts the amount available a8 a fund jor the ordinary purposes of the city government, among waicu the iollowing items of special appropriations are comprised :— ction, repairs, supplies and clea: in my judgment, should be of an extraordinary character, and the benefit to the city snould be clear and unmistakabié, to warrant you in per: mitting @ departure from the rule requiring the public works of the city to be executed un- der contract. But, when let by contract, the work must, pursuant to the provisions of the Suppues tor Department of Charities and Cor- charter, be given to the lowest bidder. Rw mn angelina pall toe ~ Sosio | It 48 worthy of your consideration cwbester ronan een co pubis maak - $0000 | this provision ough} not to modi- Lampe and gas. #- ee pence) ne ? Be | fled. ‘Tne lowest St der is not, 1D every Mainiecuance and government ot parks and instance, aproper person to be intrusted with the places (exclusive of salaries), about.. + 234,000 erformance of the work, and ft may be found tyat plies, buildings, | the mterests of the city require that some dis- < 230,000 | crimination in the matter ougnol to be vested in 183,925 | its oMcers. I must not, however, be understood 16x40) | 88 favoring what are known as special contracts, ) | Lo ali such I am uncompromisingly opposed. ¢ City of New Vork. 150,000 HONEST WORK ON CITY IMPROVEMENTS. encies of departments. 147,750 There has been a well grounded disaffection with the manner in which some of the pubic re isa | He OMCE9s.:...c0secc0s.00505: us 142,500 b A n Printing, stationery snd blank books. +-+ 142590 | works have been constructed—the pavements, for Reoairing and malicaiuing Croton aqueduct... Laine | instance; and the question recurs, How can we Sehool moneys to corporate schvols. 103,09 | Secure aN improvement in this respect? Some Spempeset repairs w stone pave 460,000, | eeueyeemrns would undouneediy A ee oe sme aine every contrac ade 1 peste 000 | to contain specifications requiring that Revairing and cleaning sewer 7309 | the work, when completed under it, shall Assessments and taxes on Corporation property. 50,0) | be 48 substantial as work of that character can be | Repairin: \d Keeping in order wooden and con- ~ | Made, and to secure this @ different system o/ in- crete pavements $0,000 | spection !rom that now in operation is necessary. How far aii or auy of tue appropriations made | No person should be placed, as inspector, superin- j for the government of the city, not fixed by act of | tendent or otnerwise, in Searte of ey pabiig the Legislature or by contract, are susceptible of | work of the city, no matter of what description it reduction without impairing the efficiency of the | may be, whose character and practical know.edge services required, | cannot at present state. But | of the particular kind of work to be done are not the wuole subject oi appropriations for the govern- | of themselves @ guarantee that thoroughness on ment of the city ts one which shall receive wy | the part of the contractors will be exacted before early and most earnest attention. the work is aliowed to be accepted by the city, CLAIMS AND LITIGATIONS. As thig entire matter of inspection of public The appropriations made for the year being ae- | works is regulated by ordinances passed by the signed to mect and cover every obyect and purpose | Common Council the subject is one which tt is pe- of the government, a provision was very properly | culiarly in your power to remedy. inserteu im the charter ‘that no expense shail be | Many of the pavements south of Forty-second incurred by any of the departments, boards, or | street and those of some of the avenues are to-day oficers thereo!, unless an appropriation shall have | impediments to travel. Our experience has de- | been previously made covering such expense.” | veloped the fact that wooden pavements, as here- | As, therefore, there can be no legal liability in- | tolore constructed, cannot be maintained in such | curred for the city beyond the appropriations law- | @ condition as to make them uselui or safe. All | fu.ly made for the purposes of the government, | the streets and avenues in which this pavement | there ought to be no great difficulty experienced | hag been laid and those in which other pavements | | 10 meetiug our liabilities after ascertaining thut | are in acondition to impede travel, ought to be | | they are proper obligations. Past mismanage- | repavea with trap or granite vlocks—the only | Ment has, no doubt, involved us in a vast amount | classes of pavements which have met the require- | | of usigation, but this legacy of the past can form | ments of our commerce and traffic and the best | No proper excuse or pretext for forcing current | from a sanitary point o! view. The city | claims against tue city to be put into litigation be- | authorities, however, are not in a position to | fore the creditor can secure the amount to which | remedy tne evils from which we are suffering he ts justly entitled. In resisting tmproper claims | in these respects. ‘Yhe charter, section 115, pro- and protecting the city against Jiabilities | vides that “no street, avenue or puolic place in for which it 1s not by law respon. | the city of New York which has been once paved | sible, I shall aid the executive officers | and the expenses thereof paid tor by the owners of tne government with all the power [can com- | of the bt til property by assessmeut shall | mand; but this power I shall as unhesitatingly so | hereafter be paved at their expense, nor shall any | exercise as to secure toevery just and honest cred- | assessment therefor be imposed uniess the game itor @ Speedy settlement of his claim. It shail »e | shall be petitioned for by @ majority of the owmers | my endeavor to see that no unnecessary delay | of the property (who shall also be the owners of | takes place, on the part of the proper oiticers of _ a majority of the front feet) on the line of the | the government, in passing upon claims presented | proposed improvement.” As the city has no | | to them ior adjustinent and settiement, There authority to issue its bonds for paving streets e. must be discrimination; the unjust must be sepa- cept on the security of assessments to be imposed, raved {rom the just; and as to the latter, vexa- | tn all cases where assessments are prohibited the tious and costly litigation will not be permitted. city is prohibited from issuing bonds or borrowing | UNJUST STATE TAXATION. money upon bonds Jor improving or renewing the | claims constituting this indebtedness are in liti- gation. Some—it may be many of them—are Iraudalent, aud all such must be resisted. Those, | however, wnich are not fraudnicnt, ought to be paid. [i the proper officers of the government are | now without authority to adjust and settle such claims it ought to be conferred. Au tuformation | which can be obtained in reierence to this floating Indebtedness | shall direct to be communicated to | you. The time has arrived when, in my judgment, the actual financial condition of the city shoulda be definitely ascertained and pudlisbed 10 detail. ‘TNe taxpayers should be in possession of the full- est information on this subject, and without such information it wiil be impossiole to devise or carry out apy practica: measures of effectual re Our Tevenues tor the ordinary purposes of the government oi the city are from two sources—first, taxation, and second, what is known as the gen- eral fund—the latter Leing atund made up ot all other moneys received by the city not set apart by. law to increase the sinking fund. The largest amount received from the general iuud in any one year has been $3,000,000. Our expenditures are determined by the appro- priations made by the Boara of Estimate and Ap- ortionment, acting tn concert with the Common uncil, Appropriations ure made annually ‘of | the amounts required to pay the expenses of con- | ducting the public business of the city and county | 1m each department and branch thereof, and also of tne Koard of Education.” The amounts 80 appropriated, after deducting the general fund, are declured by law to be the gums to be raised annually by taxation; and in imposing this tax the Supervisors are authorized and required ‘to levy, in addition to the gre. te amount thereof, such sums, not exceeding Fag cent of the said aggregate amount, to provide for deficiencies in the actual product of | the amount Linposed and levied.” While the entire amount of the sums appropri- ated isexpended for the purposes or requirements of the year (or by transfer of any surplus to meet other expenditures, it may be, in succeeding there are deficiencies of revenue every For instance, years) year to meet these expenditnres, for 1874 the entire appropriation: 301, tO provide for which there of the general fund, amount- ty the revenu ing to $3,000,000; and second, taxation, amount- ing to 822,391. The sum added by the Super- ‘visors to meet deficience: as $490,425, making & total of $32,212,816 to be raised by taxation. For the year 1874 we spent, or will spend, the enure propriation of $34,822,291, he gen- erai fund will contribute its proportion of the ex- penditure—$3,000,000—but the revenue from tax- ation Will, as it has for some years past, fall short. ‘The taxes are not payable, and are never collected ‘anti the fal) of the year. For the first nine months the government is carried on upon borrowed money—porrowed upon revenue bonds in antict- pal of the taxes Of the year. As the taxes are collected the revenue bonds are paid; the entire issue of these bonds in ay one Year ts paid up eisher before the close of the year in which they | for ls74, this city has to pay $8,912,386, or more t The laws under which this city is required to | pavement of any street or avenue in tue city contribute so largely to the State tax ave so mani- | which has already been once paved. festiy unjust that @ revision of them should AN UNWISE DISTINCTION, persistently insisted upon by the city authorith under the Jaw the property owners alone can Of the entire State tax, amounting to $15,7: | apply the remedy, and it will be well tor tnem to | consider whether, if they delay taking action in | | the matter, the business in the streets upon | | which their property lies may not be driven away | to other localities More javorable because pro- | | Vided with streets better faved. | The law has made a distinction—the reason for | Which it 18 diMcult to percerve—between the pub- than one-half o the whole amount, and’ the law requires that this sum be paid five months beiore tne city can collect or impose acentof it. We have to pay tne entire tax, whether it is received by the city or not. That it never ts all received by us 18 shown, for instance, by the annual loss which the city sustains in the $1,000,000 of personal | lie works of the city which lie to the norin and | taxes which cannot be coliected. The city is | those to the south of the Harlem river. The care required to raise by tax this year, for | of all the streets, roads, avenues and sewers of | the support of the common schools oi the | the city to the south ofthe Harlem river, except | State, $1,381,445, and for asylums and retorma- tories, $414,443. We support our own normal and puolic schools at an annual cost of $3,583,000, and, aishough we never send our children or pupils to other parts of the State, we have in addition to those in public parks and places, is under the su- | | pervision of the Departmeut of Pubiic Works; | whtle the care, maintenance and supervision of the streets, roads, avenues and sewers to the north of the Harlem river, are un- pay for the public and normal schools of the State | der the control of the Department of Pub- | about one-third the entire State tax levied for lic Parks, This distinction ought to be their support. We maintain our own asylums and | abolished. That part of tne city iying to the reformatories at our own cost, and, at the same | north of the Harlem River shouid be accurateiy | time, are compelled to contribute one-half of the | surveyed and the tne of streets, roads and ave: | expenses of ali the asylums and reformatories | nues should be delineated on a plan by which all supported by the State. How far relief in this | building operations im that part of the city can be Matter of State taxation 18 to be obtained through | reguiated, An appropriation has been made by | the proceedings of the committee appointed at the | the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for this last session of the Legislature to investigate and | work and t shall see that !t 1s proceeded with and | report upon the subject may be determined when | completed as early as circumstances will permit, the report of that committee ts presented. MORE BRIDGES NEEDED. | PROSECUTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS The accommodation provided ior crossing the | The present condition of the public works of the | Hariem Kiver is insuMicient. ‘The present bridges | city has attracted of late universal attention. The | at Third avenue and at Macomb’s Dam do not ade- | Subject 1s one which ts not free from dificuity. | quately provide for the increasing travel and All our public Works are carried on witn borrowed | traffic there. Legisiative authority has been ob- | money—partly on the security o! the credit of the | tained for tunnelling the river, but that work can- city and partly on the special security of assess- | not be done immediately ahd ‘the demand ior in- ments to be imposed pon the property more im- | creased accommodation must in the meantime be mediately benefited. That the works which have | met in some other way. An additional briage of & temporary character is urgentiy required and ought to be erected. If there is authority for the | work and the means can be provided no delay | should occur in proceeding with it. been completed on the northern part of the island are or wiil become of vast public benefit is ad- mitted by all. The only question is how tar some Of those works and others which are projected may not be beyond our present reyuire- No other extensive works in this part of the city ments, According to the iniormation fur- | are at present called for. The one work required, nished to me by the Comptroller the city | in addition to those already in progress, and the is in advance on account of the public | new bridge recommended, is the construction of works payable in whole or in part irom | sud-drains through the low lying lands, and this assessments to the amount of $20,851,000. Pur- | is demanded for sanitary purposes. The district suant to the provisions of a law enacted in 1872, | should have the full benefit of our water system. she city has to pay the interest on all money it | The importance of the Croton water aystem can- borrows on account of its public works, without | not be overestimated, Our growing population any claim of relief against tne property benefited. | and the multiplied requirements of the arts and This interest forms a burden in our annuai tax | Of business demand an increased supply of water. levy. And as the interest charged continues until | To provide for the consumption we must look in the amount advanced is returned to the city bythe | advance, and prepare in time the reservoirs re- assessments imposed upon the property bene- | guired for nusbanding the supply. Authority has fited, it 18 mani‘est that the ability of the | been obtained from the Legislature for the con- + J to prosecute its publc works success- | struction of new works in Putnam county in con- fully depends, in & great measure, upon the | nection with our water system. The works au- proper appiication of the machinery required w secure as speedy @ return a8 possible of the aa- | vance! le. Proper attention has not been given im the past to this important feature con- bected with our public improvements. Works thorized have been let by contract, and will be constructed under the supervision of competent civil engineers, CENTRAL PARK ADMINISTRATION, Our Central Park is a property of which we are ESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEKT. gostly proua, The expense ineurrea im constract- | | ag aod ornamenting it has been returned to the | city in th hanced value of the property sur- | | rounding it aod the consequent increase of the | taxable fund of the city, This property has been | Weil administered, and the trust we bave received requires trom us the greatest care in tts manage ment. It isa question how (ar, cousiaering ¢! present amount Of the liavilities of the city, it 18 desirable to proceed with new works of construc- | tion in the Park. My own opiuion is, tuat so much | has been done, and done so weil, in this respect, | that for some time to come it will be desirable to follow a conservative course. If the roads and grounds are well cared for during the next few ears, nature Will tp that time do far more to add io the beauty and attracuionsor the Park thad any new works Dow entered upon can accomplisn. AD essential in the proper preservation of the Park is the maintenance there of an efMfictent police lorce, | and this must be secured if the Park is to continue to be the scene Of enjoyment and recreation for all classes 0! our citizens, IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY'S DOCK SYSTEM. ‘The natural advantages of the city, with its ex- tensive water frontage, have secured to it that commerce which has made New York the metro- pols of the country. To develop oD to their utmost the construction of better wharv and piers and of increased terminal facilities for our commerce 1s necessary. Too little tention has «ber ven to important and now, ag @ consequence of this neglect, we find ourselves exposed to the just complaint chat the commerce of the city 1s subjected to inconvenience and expense, as com- pared with that at other ports, Which cannot but operate detrimentally to our interests. Work upon the new docks. as projected, should ve pushed for- rd as speedily as they can be properly built. 1 il aid tn Carrying on these works, as jar as my power and influence extend. There isnot a dollar we invest in this undertaking which will not, if roperly applied, become @ paying investment From the day it is made. The demand for increased accommodation ts so urgent that the wharves when completed can be readily let ata rept whicn will | make a iarge return upon the entire cost, and those reuts, set apart as they are by law to the sinking fund for the redemption of the devt of the city, will become a fund trom which the entire cost of construction Will in due time be met. The present revenue irom our docks is scarcely In excess of $500,000 per annum. Our income irom tnis valua- ble property, even in its present condition, ought to be much larger. Many of our docks and piers, because Of improvident action in the past, are maintained not ior the benefit of the city but for individuals. Leases were obtained trom the city subject iM the pas! has, in many instances, been sub-let, securing an income to the lessee largely in excess Of the amount paid for the property to the city. The whole subject of leasing dock or whari property should receive your early attention, ECONOMY IN COMPLETING THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. ‘The building known as the New Court House should be completed, 1 am opposed to all commis- sions made independent of the regular officers of the government, for any special purpose wiatever. There are at present three such commissions in existence—one for the compietion of this Court House, another for the completion of the Third District Court House, and the third is what is known as the Armory Commission. All three should be abolished, The two Court Houses can be completed more economically and the work upon them can better done under the supervision Of one or more of the regular responsible Officers of the government than im any other manner, There is @ fund available the completion of the New Court House which 1s ample for this purpose, and the work should thereiore be proceeded with, aiter proper plans shall have been prepared and approved of, aud contracts made witp responsivie parties, under suitable penalties for having the work flaished witnin the limitations of tne con- tract. SHALL THE CITY BUILD ARMORIES ? How to deal with our armories is @ question, the answer to which cannot much longer be post. poned, The National Guard 18 a Vaiuable auxill- ury in maintaiming peace and order tn the city, and in view of this the efficiency of the guard must be provided for. To secure this efficiency the various regiments should be turnisned proper quarters, For some time the city has withheld payment of the rents of ail the armories leased trom vhird parties, and all the regiments quartered in such premises are liable, at any moment, to be turned into the street. Tnis state ol affairs ought not tocontinue. The sub- ject of furnisning armories in buildings erecied and owned by the city 1s one worthy of your early consideration; but until provision is made, in this or in some other manner, for providing the regi- ments with permanent quarters, temporary ac- commodations must be secured for them. Th Seventh regiment, which is one of the best, virtually without any armory. The premises occupied by it at Tompkins’ Market were, some months ago, injured by fire and rendered unfit for use, and the damage bas not yet been repaired, The builu:ng is owned by the oer and shouid lon: ago have been repaired. No private property such value would have been allowed to remaiu 80 Many months in @ damaged condition. A lease has been executed by the Commissioncrs of the sinking fund of the block of ground belonging to the city bounded by and situated between Bixty- sixth and Sixty-seventh streets and Fourth and Lexington avenues sor the erection of an armory for tals regiment, It seems but just to tue regi- ment that proper building should be there erected jor them without further delay. 1 consider it my duty toinstitute an inquiry into all the facts and circumstances connected with | leases of armories, and wil communicate to you the measures which, in my opinion, ought to be | adopted to put anend to the present unsatisiac- tory condition ot affairs. IMPORTANCE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. There 1s no branch of the city government upon which the pebue Wellare depends so much as upon the Police Department. Cnarged as it is with the duty of preserving the public peace, it should be 80 administered as to be and to show that it 1s be- youd the reach of political or partisan influence. am in favor ol 5 non-partisan Police Board in the fullest sense of the idea conveyed by that ex- Pression, Our police system must not pe man- aged under party influence or for party purposes. Promotion and advancement in the force snould | not be the result of political influence, nor should this influence be allowea to interiere with discip- line, A ppointments on the force ought never to ve conferred unless the Commissioners are fully satis- flea of the personal fitness and capacity of | the applicant, and merit should be the only stand- ard of promotion from the ranks. There are many radical and wholesome changes in the department which can yet ve made before the force will ex- hibit the discipline and general efficiency which the public 13 entitled to exact from it. This depart- ment, 1n addition to the duty imposed upon it ior | protecting the public peace, 1s charged with the supervision o! elections. The importance of a faithiul performat of this latter duty cannot ve overestimaied, Past experience has informed us as tothe wrong which may be done by a negil- gent and illegal administration of this trust; and there should be nu cause for compiaint upon that | subject again. So faras any power or discretion | is vested in me, my endeavors shall be, in reier- | to this department, to carry tnto practical opera- tion the views above expressed, UNSATISFACTORY STREET CLEANING. The work of cleaning the streets and avenues of the city 1s at present under the care and manage- ment Of the Police Department. This 1s an im- portant matter, closeiy related as it is to the health of the city. The Police Department was established for a very different purpose, and in my opinion it 1s uot consistent with a system of good | government to impose duttes upon any depart. | ment which mast necessarily to a large extent divert the attention ol! the chief officers from the periormatice of the duties with which tuey are | specialiy and more appropriately charged. by the charter the power is vested in you to egulate the cleaning of the streets, avenues, sidewalks and gutters and removing ice and snuw from them.’? Tats is an extensive grant of legis- lative power, and vests in you fuli control over the entire subject, It appears to me advisable | to relieve the Police Department of the duty | Of cleaning the streets, leaving it charged, how- ever, with the duty of eniorcing such ordinances | | | and regulations in reference to those matters as you may adopt for removing the nuisances of filth, garbage, ice and snow, as Well as obstructions of all kinds, from the streets and avenues, 1 would suggest that, with proper spectfications as to the | work necessary to be done to secure clean streets and avenues, a contract should be au‘horized to be | entered into by responsible parties, either in sep- | arate districts or for the entire city; and that the Department of Police be required to see that she work demanded by tne contract is faithfaily per- jormed, As any contract which may be made can- not extend beyond the year—the appropriation only being for the year—no delay which can be avoided ought to take place before the subject is considered by you. NECESSITY ‘OF AN EFFICIENT FIRE DEPARTMENT, The Fire Department should be maintained in a condition of thorough efficiency. We are tfre- quently reminded, by the untorvinate experience ol other cities, of the disasters to which we ma; be subjected by fire which cannot be controled. Our principal security against such a calamity rests in the training and discipline of our firemen, the completeness o1 the machinery at their dispo- sal, With an abundant supply of water and proper facilities for applying it whe required. Too mucn care cannot be devoted co periecting these va- rious details. Thetr tmportance demands anceas- ing watchfulness, that we may be found prepared for any emergency which may arise, HEALTH DEPARTMENT. The Department of Heaith 1s vested with ex- clusive powers in matters relating to the public hewith, but these powers, under the present man- agement of the department, are not likely to be exercised except for the public good. TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS. In the administration of the Department of Taxes and Assessments a revision is required of the rolls of persona! property subject to taxation. The iact that the tax on personal property falls short, to the extent of — $1,000,000 annually, shows the necessity which exists !or immediate action, 1 will at once communicate with the Commission- ers on the subject, and whatever measures can be taken to obviate this loss shall receive my co- operation. MORE ROOM WANTED IN THE CITY PRISON, Some alterations mast be made to provide in- creased accommodation in what 1s known as the City Prison, The subject has been frequently re- ferred to im the presentments ot grand juries, Action ought to be no longer delayed. I do not recommend the project of érecting & new prison, a4 1am satisfied that, with @ moderate outlay, 7 commodation can be’ secured within the limits of tne present building to meet the present require- ments, The outlay for this purpose should be @ part of the ordinary expenditures of the govern- ment. If the moneys requirea can be provided under existing authority J shall at an early date communicate to you my views in reierence to the mati you approve, the work, which is urge! once commenced, SHALL THE MARKETS BE SOLD? The best plan tor dealing with tue oy. market Property isu subject the consideration of which I earnestly recommend to you. The revenues of city received irom this source orm no adequate return on the value of the investments. Such un- dertakings a8 public markets cap, | think, be ter conducted In the public in“erest in the hands of private individua!s than under city mauage- ment. The subject should be thoroughly investi- gated, and. if it is considered ie, the I~ Missioners of the di Fund should be requested by you to dispose Of ail the market property, un- der the powers conlerred and sudject to she con- ditions imposed by the charter. Io disposing of this property, tf such a course is resolved upon, due regard should be had to the interests of those who have invested in market priviiegés, CONFUSION IN CITY ORDINANCES. The present condition of the ordinances of the ctty bas been # Irequent subject of complaint. Laws bave been passed by the Legislature. after year, which tave had the effect of modifying oF anpulling provisions of city ordinances there- ing and still not formally repealed. ‘The result is that. with regard to many of our ot dinances, it is dificult to determine how fur they t bin effect. T! uould be ay be at ated. m Bances of the city te, ces Of Lc mei weig! and obstruc' amuee: piece Loree catinetae ‘Lions in streets, they are systematically raed. So manifest have been the evils resulting irom this disregurd of authority that the subject, some time since, | attracted the attention of the Bar Association of the city, and after some communication betwee: that association and your predecessors, an und standing wares ‘at by which it was left tothe Bar Assoe: » through a committee of its | membeis, to suggest & revision and _ codifi- cation of existing Ordinances, and to prepare draits o1 such additional ordinances as are needed to meet the requirements of the situa- tion. So faras iam iniormed no progress has been reported by that committee. Furtuer delay in the matter cannot but oe prejudicial to the in- terests of the city, Until that work is completed efficiency in many bureaus of the city government cannot be expected, it should be proceeded with under the direct authority of the city itself, and L therefore recommend that you authorize the Mayor to appoint one or more qualified persons to have tne work prosecuted to compietion as speedily as it can be properiy accomplisaed, When that 18 done and the revision has received your Spproval it will be my duty to see that the police and all executive officers of the city charged witn the enforcement of the, regulations enacted shall discharge their duty fearlessly and [mpartiaily. CITY ADVERTISING AND THE CITY RECORD. The City Record was estabjisied by the charver of 1873 as the official journal of the Corporatio: The design was to do away with the abuses which had grown up in the matter of Corporation agavertising, waotle giving pubiicity to the transac- tions of the Various departments Oi the city gov- ernment, Ali advertisements for the city and the puodlication Of notices required by jaw or ordi- ances to be published in Corporation papers are required to be iserted, at the public expense, only in this journal. Brief advertisements, how- ever, calling attention to any contracts intended to be awarded or bonds to be sold, and referring for 1ull information to the City Record, may be in- serted in two morning, two evening aud two weekly papers, published in the English language, and in one paper published in the German Jap- guage, to be designated annualiy by certain omi- c218 of the city government, ‘The system of Corporatio: ast was not only too expensive, but led to great losses to the city in the matter of assessments vacated because they had not been advertised in all of the Corporation papers, This has been reme- died by establishing the City Re and the paper snould be continued. But tt is & question Whether tne present system 1s not too limite dad ener gufficient publicity of the particular of contracts to be awari 1p. 94 bonds to be gold gad of notices to taxpaye' aa property-holders is given to the public. ‘The priel advertisementa authorized tobe published in the pares men- tioned do mot meet the pu » I, therefore, recommend that authority be conferred upon the officers having this matter in charge to adopt such Dreasures as will give more particular and ex- tended publicity to such subjects relating to the Corporation as May be deemed best ior the public interest. OUB CITY MOST HAVE RAPID TRANSIT. ‘The question of speedy communication between the extremes of the city is forcing itsel! upon pub- lic attention. The schemes are many which have been suggested to accomplish this purpose, but the results huve not been satisfactory, Charters have been granted by the Legislature, conierring valuable franchises, but from these Lo advantage to the citizens generally has resulted. So earnest 1s the desire manifested tor securing rapid transit in the eity thata board of civil engineers, seli- constituted, but including gentlemen most emi- nent in their profession, nas now undertaken to prepare plans to overcome, If possible, the ob- Stacies hitherto encountered. All that I can do, acting within the powers conferred upon me by law, shall be wil ingly done toward accompitsn- tng this much needed improvement. 10 some extent a remedy has been provided b; tunnelling Fourth avenue above Forty-secon Street. This work, When complete! according to the required plans, with four tracks from Harlem River to Forty-second street, will give an unob- structed course to passenger trains jor or {rom the north, east and west, into and out of tire city. As provided by the law authorizing the improve- Ment, two of the tracks are to be devoted ex- clusively to rapid transit within the city, and as it is probubie that the Harlem River Railroad Com- Dany will soon extend tne four tracks trom Harlem River northerly to the new city !tmits we may soon haye rapid fransit from the sorthern boundary of the city to Forty-secona tem a did tance of ten miles, and over a route which is Dearly the axial line of the city. If fhis work could be extended southerly to tne City Hall, three and one-half miles, the problem of rapid transit would be partly solved. The city’s pro- ortion of the expense of the improvement on ourth avenue 18 $3,200,000. I approve of the ac- tion taken by my immediate predecessor in dis- continuing the litigation connected with this im- provement. The work should be completed as Peery 48 possible, and the obligation of the city should be promptly met. Upon the west siae of the city we have the Elevated Railroad, which, running in connection with trains on the Hudson River Railroad, brings the western portion of the northern part of the island into easy communica- tion with the southern part of the city, I shall watch with interest ail developments in reference vo tuis important subject, and shall aid so far as [ can ail practical measures which may be pre- sented to secure to the city the fuil benefits of rapid transit. THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE SHOULD BE COMPLETED. lam of cen that the work upon the bridge across the East River to Brooklyn shoald be con- tinued. This 1 do not consider an open question. lf it were so the erection of a bridge upon the present site would not receive my approval. The project, however, has now so far advanced that it | sbould, without any unnecessary delay, be prose- cuted to completion, The tower on the Brooklyn side 1g fubstantially finished. On the New York side the tower has been carriea a few jeet above the springing of the arches, and can be completed during the coming working season, The Brooklyn anchorage ts within twenty feet of completion, and will require about three months’ work to finishit. The castings required to support tne cables of botn towers are made. A consolidation of the cities of New York and Brooklyn into one municipality is but a question of tme. When this oridge is completed that union may become a fact. PROTECTION FROM ALBANY LEGISLATION. The practice to whicn I have referred, of oMcers of departments applying for and obtaining special legislation at Albany as to matters affecting par- ticular interests of the city, must entirely cease. It should be your endeavor, as it will be mine, to protect the city against special legislation of any and every kind and form. How injarious it has een in the past cannot be estimated. I find that within the last ten years, by mandatory laws passed at Albany, the city has been compelled to Taise upon its bonds the enormous amount of $50,000,000; and as to the benetit secured to tie city by this expenditure, 1am satisfed that, in every sense, the interest of the city wonid have been more advanced at less than half the outlay if those obligations had been determined by its local government and the moneys raised applied under its own direction to promote, not special, bat the general interest of the city. ‘This is an evil which operates to the tage of the cityin many respects. Tne it affords jor raising money have made it one of the most fruitful causes of the subjection of local sell-government. mon remark with those who have their interests to serve through this class of legislation, that Albany ts the ioe for them to carry on their operations. But this must cease, With your ala I shall, by every means at my command, resist every description of legislation wich affects the local government of this city, and which 1s not promoted by you forthe general good. On this matter we must not permit any compromise—no infinence, Whatever it may be, to a contrary course, should recetve countenance at our han With the view of determining what legislation tt may be advisable to promote to secure tmprove- ments in the government or the city, | recommend that you avail yourselves o/ the experience of the heads of tne departments who are familiar with the operations of the government, and are, there- fore, the better able to suggest where improve. ments can and ought to be eected. The heads of all departments are allowed by the charter the | privilege of attending your meetings and taking partin your deltberations as to all matters relat- ing to their departments, forgactiety: This privilege ought particularly to be taken advan- tage Of a8 to all Measures upon which it is con- sidered desirable to have legislative action, and, by tollowing the course indioated, you are not only most likely to promote the interests O1 the city, in securing the legislation best suited to obtain improvement in the administration ol its affairs, but your action will also have a tendency to produce harmontons action among the heads ot departments themselves—which 18 greatly to be desired. The government of this city 1s a complicated matter, and in attending to its various interests unceasing watchiuiness is necessary. When to act and how to act in discharge of the duties we are required to periorm are questions to be kept continuaily before us, and, relying upon that aid promised to all who, in singleness of purpose and purity of motive, desire to overcome evil ood, 1 will at all times endeavor so t ‘riorm my juty that, under my administration as Chief Magis- trate, improvement in the affairs of the city may be secured, WILLIAM B. WICKHAM, Mayor, oment Of | that, tf advertising in the | It has become a matter of com- | P' BROOKLYN’ ciVIG: ARRAS. Annual Message of Mayor Hunter. The City Declared To Be $33,048,621 in Debt. LESS. BONDS MUST HEREAFTER BE ISSUED, Economy in Public Expenditures i To Be the Rule. ; THE METHOD OF DOING IT, At the meeting and organization of the Common ; Council of the City of Brooklyn yesterday after- noon the Mayor read bis annual Message. After {| Boting the blessings which have been vouchsafed the people during the past year, Mayor Hunter says :— At a period when the country is gradually ree turning to specie payments and a nara money vurrency, financial affairs and economy in all branches of the public service are of more than ordinary importance. THE DEBT of the City of Brookiyn, inciuding all her oblig: tons of whatever character, amounts to the sum Of $35,048,621. Of this amount $11,635,365 is secured by looal assessmenis, and may ve prop- erly styled a temporary dept. With the ex- ception of the assessments laid for the construction of th® Sackett street boulevard, vogether with the improvement of Douglass and Degraw streets, no considerable portion of these assessments is threatened with disturbance either by the Legislature or the courts, and it is believed that the act passed la-t winter to cure deiecta supposed to exist in J plenty legislation in regard to the boulevard. and streets named wili render abortive the proceedings against those particular assessments. This portion of the city debt may therefore be considered as reasonably secure of liquidation from local sources, aud not likely in any great Measure to become @ Charge upon the city at large. Deducting, then, tii@ teinporary deot from the aggregate 'T have jiven, we have leit as the funded or permanent debt of the city, Jor which the city at large is responsiole, the sum of $23,413,258, In reiation to this funded devs It should Moreover be borne in mind that that Portion of it consis\ing of WATER BONDS, and amounting to $10,620,000, does not increase | our annual taxes, but 1s met by the water reve- Bue, which 11 Micient not merely to pay the interesi, but affords in addition a gradually acc Mulating sinking {und to meet tue principal of these bonds when they become due. Attention is called to the fact that there has been an increase in the debt since December 3}, 1873, of $626,115, A little reflection, however, will deprive this fact of any startling characteristic. The increase of the city debt in each of the preceding three years: was a8 follows, V1z.:— Increase in the year 187 Increase in the year 187: Increase 1n the year 187 Increase in the year 1874 It will be seen, besides, that the incre: is much leas than the amount of water bonds is- | sued during the year for the construction of the Hempstead Reservoir and the extension of the water supply alone. There has been an issue of water bonds, for these purposes, of $608,000 during 1874. From the Oguree and experience of wie Jast year I am satisfied that we can go on and fill up our sabscription to THS KAST RIVER BRIDGE as rapidly as it may be properly required without any addition to the yolume of our vonded ovliga- tions, provided we prevent the inauguration of any costiy new enterprises and arrest expendi- tures upon old ones, in relation to which we need arest. Let us butid the bridge without increasing the debt, A plain statement will show how easil this can be accomplisued. Last year we issue bonds for Kent avenue basin, $56,000, and for boulevara purposes $175,000, Both these expen- ‘ditures are at an end, and we shall therefore have | a saving here o1 $231,000. Of the $608,000 of water bonds issued, during the past year $427,000 were used for tue’ Construction uf ‘the reservoir in Hempstead valley. The appeope is uom for this work is now nearly exhausted, and the work is im condition to ve used and tested. It we stop all ex- penditures in this direction during the present year (and I shail discuss that subject further on), we shail effect a retrenchment of $658,000 on the issue of bonds in 1874. In additton—ior reasons assigned in my veto message of February 28, 1874—I think @ reduction might also be effected in the expendi- tures for water distribution, but ido not care to press this point, for it will be Observed that by ceasing Work on the reservoir there will be in the issue of bonds 1m 1875 the 1ollowiug retrenchmentg ‘ on 1874:— Kent avenne basin 8h boulevards... braid On reservoir. 27,000 $68, Total.. Add to thi bridge, viz. and we shali heve...... to expend on the bridge @uring the present year, without increasing the volume of the city debt. The future of our country and the existence of free government depends greatly upon our system of common schools, that system of education Which reaenes all classes—in which none are de- nied that which benefits equally the rich and the poor—which opens the door to wealth and ponor to all alike, The success and happiness tn life of the great body of the people rests mainly in th degree of education and cultivation which wil’ enable them to estimate their own rights and privileges and properly respect the rights of others, There is no department of our public affairs where the welfare of all classes of our citi- zens 18 more beneficially allected than in the suc- cess of our public schools, Tie general manage. | ment ang progress.of our schools under the direct cure of the Board of Education have been satisiace tory. The number of scholars attending the pablio schools in the last year was over 80,000, | Number of teachers employed. eeteeee 95 Number of school house: + 50 Value o1 school property ons $3,510,000 Reformation siouid be effected in the affairs of the truant Home. The practice of justices of the peace of sending juvenile offenders against the criminal law to this institution should be stopped. There are now accommodations for 150 children, and cominitments should be limited, as the law provides, to traants. This is the only philan~ Ubropic institution under the control of the city, and it should be our pride to make it a model. [ entreat the earnest co-operation of your honor. able body iu the eifort to obtain from the national government a portion of | THE WALLABOUT LANDS for the construction of a public market. This loca- tion will afford connections with the East River and the railroads on Long [sland and relieve our dealers and the isiand farmers from the necessity | of going vo New York for a market. It is a matter of serious Consideration whether we have not, in our edourts at ornamentation, neglected the more importaut commercial interests involved in the improvement o/ tne city’s docks and wharves and dn affording every possible facility to trade and commerce with our people. For more than fiiteen years our city has been the spoil of Albany legislation. Commission alter commission has been foisted upon us, re~ gardiess of the will of our own people, and filed by men agreed Boon as part of the bargain froay Which the original legislation arose without reier- ence to tueir fitness, integrity or stauding at bome. Our city has in @ great measure been & mere dependency under a foreign yoke. Tnese | Commissions, clothed with virtually irresponsible has spent upon the Park and the boulevards not Jess than $12,000,000. ‘Tne Water Board, Per- manent Board of Water and Sewerage Commis- sioners, or Board of City Works, have incurred bonded obligations to the extent of about TEN MILLIONS directly on the city, and about $5,000,000 for which local assessments are laid, And every special commission appointed to construct new streets, or repave old ones, has been distinguished by extravagance, and has left @ legacy of deot for the people to meet and pay. It is sale to say that the amounts squandered by the improvidence o! either of our grand commissions during their com- paratively brief existence would far exceed the entire waste connected with the city government proper, from its organization to the present day. it is hot surprising, therefore, that after more than fifteen years of suffering ana loss consequent upon this wasteful, irresponsible and undemo- cratic form of government, the people of our city should have declared with almost unbroken unan- imity in favor of local povernmeny and home rute, We have nowa population of 500,000 people—a@ people educated by free schools and enlight- ened by all the agencies of modern civilization, If Brooklyn 1s not capable of governing itself and selecting its own rulers, then it 18 useless to aavo- cating popula vernment anywhere in the world, * * Tms, { assure you, 18 with m matter of principle and not of personality. £ snall not permit myself to be governed by indi- vidual preference or prejadice. If by moderation, bya considerate regard for the judgment of others, and by an unselfish desire to serve the city I can ald in bringing about a full enforce- ment of the charter it shall be done. The oppor- tunity to inaugurate a complete city government, controlled not by the State at large, but by the eople of the city themselves, is now belore us. ye must meet it, or stand belore the people con- victed of ing betrayed our principies and broken our piedges. jet_us do our duty, and bring all ore Per ate, ana affairs of the city under the contro: of the city governinenr. |