The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1875, Page 5

/ NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY; DECEMBER 29, 1875.-TRIPLi SHEET. <THE MUNICIPAL SOOT | , A Vigorous Effort by Earnest Men for Better Government. ADDRESS OF DORMAN B. EATON Constitution and Bylaws of the New Society. On the 15th of December a few of the prominent men of this city met for the purpose of founding a society whose object should be to secure for the city of New York better laws,an honest and efficient administra- tion of its affairs and the reduction of the city debt. On tne following day the society was incorporated, and its certificate approved by Judge Noah Davis, of the Supreme Court of the State, The memberstap has rapidly increased by the co-operation of men of weaith and sterling integrity, until there are DOW seventy- eight names on the roil, Among the names so recorded are those of Jackson 8. Schultz,ex-member of the famous Committee of Seventy, member of the Chamber of Commerce anda merchant in Cliff street; Cornelius R. Agnew, the well known physician ; Theodore Roose- velt, merchant, of Maiden lane, and well known as trustee for several local charitics; Howard Potter, son of Bishop Potter, member ef the Cuamber of Com- merce and of the banking house of Brown Brothers & Co,, Wall street; Dorman B, Eaton, ex-member of the Committee of Seventy, President of the new society, and a lawyer, of No, 11 Fine street; Lewis L. Delafield, lawyer, No, 49 Exchange place; William E, Dodge, Jr., President of the Young Mon’s Chrietian Associatron, and merchant, No. 13 Cliff street; Theodore W. Dwight, lawyer and professor of municipal law in Columbia College Law School; Henry J Scudder, lawyer, No. 66 Wall street; George Cabot Ward, banker, No. 62 Wall street; Parke Godwin, editor ofthe Evening Post; James M. Constable, merchant, No. $81 Broadway; Albon P. Man, Commissioner of Education, and lawycr, No, 56 Wall street; Levi Parsons Morton, of the banking house of Morton, Bliss & Co., No, 3 Broad street; Sant- uel D. Babcock, one of the Committee of Seventy, now President of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, and banker, No, 5 Wall street; George C: Wetmore, merchant, No, 365 Greenwich street; Francis B. Thurber, Secretary of the Cheap Transportation As- sociation, and merchant, No, 116 Reade street; Charles Stewart Smith, merchant, No. 115 Worth sirect; Alfred C. Hoe, builder, No, 10 Liberty place; Sinclair Tousey, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and President of the American News Company, No. 119 Nassau street; Benjamin B. Shermad, one of the Com- mittee of Seventy,and President of the Mechanics’ Bank, No. $3 Wall street; Henry M. Tuber, member of the Cotton Exchan; aud merchant, No. 189 Pearl street; Joshua Hendricks, merchant, No, 49 Cliff street; Benjamin €. Wetmore, lawyer, No. 9 Pine street; George B, Butler, lawyer, Broadway and Chambers stroet; Joseph Seligman, Commissioner of Education, and banker, No, 21 Broad street; Oswald Ottendorfer, editor of the Staats Zeitung; Charles Watrous, lum- ver merchant, No, 102 Wall street; William H. Wiley, merchant, No. 148 Reade street; Henry F. Spaulding, merchant, No, 80 Worth street; Samuel D, Bussell, builder, No, 188 West Houston street; Benjamin W. Floyd, member of the Produce Exchange, and provision packer, No. 263 Broome street; A. R. Whitney, mer- chant, No. 58 Hudson street; Charles G. Francklyn, agent of the Cunard steamships, No. 4 Bowling Green; Isaac V. Brokaw, clothier, Nos. 28 to 34 Fourth avenue; Thatcher M. Adams, lawyer, No. 61 Wall street; Robert M. Streveigh, No. 7 East Forty-fifth street; Barnet L, Solomon, importer, No. 657 Broadway; John B. Cor nell, iron founder, No, 141 Centre street; Elias S. Hig: gins, merchant, No. 84 White street; Samuel Thorne, No. 9 East Forty-fifth street; Edward Salomon, ex- Governor of Wisconsin, member of the Committee of Seventy, and lawyer, No. 4 Wall street; Josiah M. Fiske flour merchant, No. 18 South street; Simon Stern, ex- member of the Committee of Seventy, ex Commis- sioner of Charities and Corrections, No, 362 Broadway ; David Dows, member of the Produco Ex. change, und merchant, No. 20 South street; Havilai M. Smith, carpenter, No. 35 North Moore étreet; Smith Chit, lawyer, No. 15 West Twenty-ninth atrect; Henry Bergh, President of the Socicty for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, No, 100 Kast Twenty- secoud street; Charies E. Whitehead, lawyer, No, 61 Wall street; Rush ©. Hawkins, ex-member of Assem- biy, lawyer, No. 64 Broadway; Hugh Auchincloss, mer- chant, N6. 47 White street; Dr. Stephen Smith, ex-Com- missioncr of Health, No. 29 West Forty-second street; E. Randolph Robinson, lawyer, No. 102 Broadway; Benjamin H. Hutton, merchant, No. 521 Broome street; Henry Clausen, Jr., Vice President of the Brewers and Maltsters’ Insurance Coyipany, and brewer, No. 09 East Forty seventh street; Benjamin T. Tatham, mer- chant, No, $2 Beekman street; Robert Hoe, Jr., press No, 504 Grand street; William H. Appleton, book pubs lisher, No. way; Frederick Schack, ex mem- ber of the Committee of Seventy, Presiaent of the Ger- man Society of the City of New York, and Commis- sioner of Emigration, No. 13 Broadway; Charles H. Isham, leather merchant, No, 91 Gold street; William Steinway, piano manufacturer, No. 109 Fast Fourteenth street; Henry L. Huguet, President of tbe Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, and auctione 112 Duane street; John Stephenson, », 47 Bast Twent p dent of the Gullatin National Bank, 6 Wail street, The society has been incorporated under the name of The New York Municipal Society. The President is man B, Eaton, the Vice President Samuel D, Babcock and the Secretary, Robert M. Strebeigh, CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, We, Jackson 8. Schultz, Dorman B, Eaton, Henry J. Scudder, John H. Sherwood, Theodore W, Dwight, George 0.'Wetmore and Lewis L. Delafield, each of whom is of full age and a citizen of the State of New York and of the United States, desiring to form a cor- poration pursuant to the provistons of the 267\h chap- ter of the Laws of 1875, entitled ‘An act for the incor- poration of societics or clubs for certain lawful pur- poses,” do severally sign and acknowledge this certifi- cate, with the following provisions :— 1. The name of the socicty shall ve “The New York Municipal Society.” 2, The business of the society shall be the acquist- tion and care of such proper amount of real property, | furniture and other personal property as the society | may need; the collection, care and disposition of its revenue; investigation and advice in reference to the increase, censure, suspension or expulsion of its mem- bers, or any of them; the institution and care of any proper suits or proceedings, and the defence of any to which the society maybe inade @ party; the care of the office and place of meeting; the Oxing of salaries; the auditing and payment of claims; the printing an circulating of publications, and such other details of a business character as may be appropriate to the ac- complishment of the object of the society. The object of the society is to secure better laws und honest, eifi- cient and economical administration for the city of | New York; the reduction of taxation and of the eity | debt in said city, aud aiso to aid im securing good municipal and ‘otner Jaws and administration in or | affecting the State of New York, & The number of directors of the society shall ve twelve. 4, The names of the directors for the first year are the following, viz:—Jackson S. Schultz, Henry F. Spaulding, John H. Sherwood, Charles 8. Sinith, Francis 'B, ‘Thurber, Edward Salomon, Sinclair Tou, Thatcher M. Adams, John H. Hall, Will. tam H. Lee, Sainuel Thorne aud Oswald Ottendorfer. In testimony whereof each of the parties first above oamed docs hereby subscribe his name hereto, on this fiteenth day of December, in the year one thousand tight hundred und seventy-five, at the city of New York. JACKSON 8. SCHULTZ, GEORGE C, WETMORE, DORMAN B, EATON, LEWIS L, DELAFIELD, THEODORE W, DWIGHT, HENRY J. SCUDDER, JOUN H, SHERWOOD, Slate of New York, City and County of New York, ss. On this Lith day of December, in the year 1870, be- | fore me personally appeared Jackson 8. Schultz, Dorman Baton, Henry. J. Scudder, John H. Sher wood, Thendore W. Dwight, George 0, Wetmore and Lewis L. Delatield, to me known to be the individu. | uis deseribed in the foregoing certificate, and they severally before me signed the said certificate, aud acknowiedged that they signed the same for the pur- yoses therein mentioned,—HxNRY AnpEN, Notary Pab- ic, Kings County, with certificate filed in New York County. 1 approve of the form of the within certiflcate, and consent to approve of the creation of the corpora: tion, and to tle ping: of said certificate. NOAH DAVIS, Justice Supreme Court, Decesner 16, 1875, ‘RHE CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE 1. —The action of the society shall be limited | to the business and object referred to in the certificate of incorporation, The names of those who are at pres- ent associated with signers of tho certificate are the following:—Jackson 8 Schultz, C. R. Agnew, Lewis B. Brown, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Potter, Dorman B. Katon, Lewis L, Delatield,’ William KE. Dodge, Jr. ; Theodore W. Dwight, Henry J. seudder, George Cabot Ward, Parke Goodwin, William H. Lee, James M, Con- stable, A. P. Man, L.'P, Morton, 8, D. Babcock, John H. Sherwood, George C. Wetmore, Francis B. Thurber, Charles Stewart Smith, Alfred C. Hoe, Sinclair Tousey, John H, Hall, Benjamin B. Shorman, Henry M, Taber, P. Van Valkenburgh, Joshua Hendricks, William B, Hoffman, Benjamin ‘Wei more, J. Bookmau, George B. Butler, F. H. Cossits, Joseph Seligman, ‘witendorier, Charles Watroua, William 4H. a Oewald Wiley, “re | nature applicable, shail be in substance applied for the | writing at the closé of each year, setting | the President and Vice | select a presiding officer pro fem., who shall Henry F. Spaulding, Samuel D.. Bussell, B. W. Floyd, A. RY Whitney, Charles J. Canda, Charles G. Francklyn, Isaac V. Brokaw, Thateher M. Adams, George A. Rob- Ding, Robert M. bh, B. I. Solomon, Jobn B. Cornell, Elias 8. Higgins, Samuel Thorne, Edward Salomon, Josiah M. Fiske, Simon Stern, id Dows, Havilah M, Smith, Smith Clift, Henry Bergh, Charles E. Whitehead, Rush ©. Hawkins, Auchinclogs, Joseph H. Godwin, Stephen Smith, M. D.; EB. Randolph Robinson, B. H. Hutton, Henry Clausen, Jr. ; Benjamin Tatham, Robert Hoe, Jr.; William H. Appleton, Fred- erick Schack, Charles H, Isham, Wilam Steinway, H. L. Hoguet, John Stephenson, 'F. D. Tappen, David Banks, Simon Wormser and Joseph Thompson, who, with those whose names inay be added to make up 100, and their successors, will be the ordinary members of hype ee the name nor the influence of the Society shall be used to promote the private interests of any of its members, or any sectarian or partisan ob- ject; nor shall the policy or acts of any party, as such, be olfensively characterized in debate. ‘Aut. No ordinary member will solicit or accept any office or any nomination for office, municipal, State or federal, while a member of the society, or within ninety days after ceasing to be a member; except that nothing herein contained shall excuse any member from accepting or holding any office or per- forming any public service for which no salary or fees are provided by law. ‘Akr. 4.—No member will request or receive any com- pensation as a meinber, or for service under the bor ns except to the extent that its bylaws may specifically provide, or parsuant to the provisions of a written cou- tract made by the Board of Disagiers in the name of the society, ~! Ant, 5.—Bach member will, whenever circumstances will reasonably allow, attend the meetings of the so- ciety and of its commitices and directors, if bis pres- ence would be appropriate, Akt, 6.—Neither the society, by its own act, nor through any committee, officer or agent, or otherwise, but the Board of Directors alone (and as herein and in the bylaws contemplated) shall baye authority to con- tract ‘any debt or incur any liability. Akt, 7,—The Board of Directors shall have exclusive control of all business, as authorized by law or in the certificate of incorporation; but otherwise than so lim- ited, the society may determiue its own action in par- suit of its objects in a legal manner, provided no such action shall be inconsistent with suid certificate or with this constitution, ART, 8.—Any new subject brought before the society at any mecting, shall, on the request of six members, be, by the presiding officer, referred to a standing com: mittee, or by a vote of ihe society may ve reterred to some special committee, and be reported upon, betore the same shall be further-entertained, or otherwise acted upon, at that meeting of the society, Ant, 9—On the request of one-fifth of the members present, the yeas and nays shall be called upon any question, except as Lo requesting® a resignation, or Voting an expulsion, aud shall be recorded by the Sec- retar; A 10.—Twenty members shall be a quorum for or- dinary proceedings; but no bylaw shall be made, al- tered or repealed unless by an aflirmative vote of at least twenty-five members, andthe constitution ghall not be chunged anless by an aifirmative vote of at least forty members, Aud every change in, or in addition to, the constitution or bylaws must, except as hereinafter mentioned, have been proposed and entered upon the minutes al some regular meeting within ninety days prior to the regular meeting at which it must be finally acted epon, aay Ar, 11,—The ordinary membership shall be limited to 100, and each new member shall be elected by ballot ata regular meeting, and a number of pegative votes, equal to one in tive of the whole number cust, shall be regarded as rejecting @ candidate. But at ‘any time before the Ist day of March, 1876, new members may be proposed and elected and amendments to the by- laws or constitution may be proposed and acted on at special or adjourned meetings as well as at regular meetings, Arr, 12.—The officers of the society shall be a”presi- dent, Vice president, a secretary and a treasurer, each of whom shal! be elected for one year, and they, as well as the directors and members of the committees, shall hold their oilices or piaces until others are elected or appointed and are ready to serve. The treasurer shall be elected by the directors and the outer oflicers by the society and by ballot. An, 13.-—There shall be a board of directors, to con- sist of twelve members, each of whom shall be elected by ballot by the society for the term of three years, ex- cept that the first twelve directors, to be elected next year, shall divide themselves by lot or otherwise, into three clusses, of four each, of which one class’ shall hold for the term of one year, One class for the term of two yours ana one for the term of three years, and the resuit of such classification shall be entered upon the minutes of the directors and of the society, and each year atter such first election of directors four directors shall be elected. The Board of Directors may fill any. vacancy in the Board for the unexpired term, and seven will be a quorum for business, Second—The directors sha!l from time to time choose their own chairman, and shall keep brief minutes of their proceedings, which shall be open to the inspection of the members of the society, and of which a general report for each four months shall be made to the society, and other reports shall be made if called for, Third—The President and Vice President shalt be ex officio members of the Board of Directors and of each standing and special committee of the society, but neither of said officers sball vote at any meeting of said board or committees, nor be counted to make a quorum of the directors, #ourth—The members of the Board of Directors shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee, with the sane rights as other members. Fifth—The directors shali hold at least four regular meetings each year, and such adjourned and special meetings as they may provide for. They and the Ex. ecutive Committee may adopt and enforce rules, which shall be reported to the society, not inconststent with the constitution or bylaws, Arr, 14.—Thero shull be three standing committees, viz, ;—An executive committee, a judiciary committee anda committee of inquiry. The Executive Commit- tee shall be composed of twenty-five members, of whom the directors for the time being shall be twelve, and in addition the chairman of each of the other two stand- ing committees shall be ex officio full members of the Executive Committee, Six members of the Executive Committee shall be a quorum for business, Second—The Executive Committee shall keep brief minutes of its proceedings and shall cause the records of its action at any meeting to be reported at the next meeting of the society for such proper action as the society may decide to take. Ant. 15.—The socrety shall hold a regular meeting on the trst Tuesday next after the l0th day of October of each year and on the first Tuesday of each following month, except the months of July, August and Septem- ber, ‘Second—Special and adjourned meetings may be held or called as the constitution or bylaws shall provide, and there shall be an annual meeting for observing the anniversary of the society, either on the date of the regular Tuesday meeting in December, or within twelve days of that date, as the society may order. _Third—Elections ot officers and directors shall, after the first election, take place at the November meeting or as soon (hereafter as practicable, andthe terins of the new officers and directors elected shall begin, and they shall, except those first elected, enter upon their | duties on the Ist Gay of January then next following. Art, 16—Any member will resign, or he will cease to be a member, whenever it shall appear, as the bylaws may provide, that two-thirds of all the members are of the opinion that his continued membership would net be useful to the society. Art. 17—There may be, im addition to the ordinary members, thirty-five honorary meuvers, of whom at ust fifteen must be residents of the State, and none dents of the city of New York. They shall pos- sess all the privileges of an ordinary member, except that of voting and holding office, and shall be elected for the term ot three years by ballot by the ordinary members ata regular meeting (if elected after the 1st of March, 1876) and with reference to their ability to aid the purposes of the society. Second—Before any person can be voted for as an honorary inember, after March 1, 1876, his name must have been proposed, in writing, at a prior regular meet- ing (held not more than ninety days before such elec- tion) by three ordinary members, and, such proposal must then have been recorded in the minutes; and tt will require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of those present to elect such candidate, Ant, 18,—£xcept in cases for which the socfety shall otherwise order or the constitution or the bylaws shgil otherwise make provision, nothing shall be pub- lehed as being te act or having the sangtion of the society, unless approved by two of the thtce following persons, viz. :—the President, the Vice President, the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and all cases ‘of stich approval shall be reported to the saciety. Art. 19.—The rules of proceedings and debate, as laid down in Cushing’s Manual, as far aé consistent with this constitution and the bylaws abd in their government of the action of this society\and its di- rectors and committees, 1 BYLAWS. Section 1.—The President sAall preside at the meet: ings of the society, preserve order, appoint coumittees whose appointment is not otherwise directed or pro- | vided for, and hg shall generally promote the dbjects of the society. Tht President shall make @ sta@ment in rth the work accomplished and the condition, opporuniti and prospects of the society. Sec, 2—The Vice President shail discharge the duties of the President, in his absence and also Whegever he shill so request, At any meeting, in the abjence of resident, the socie! of the President at the meeting. —The Seeretary (or a secretary pro (er be a member, and will ‘attend the meetings atti keep the records, books and papers of the society, afi per- form such other duties a8 may be assigned td him. | ‘There may be an assistant secretary, to be approted by | | the Secretary and elected by the Executive Comubites, who shall have such salary as the directors maj pro- vide for, Sno. 4.—The Treasurer shall collect, properly keep or | ay out in its name the funds of the society. rhe | reasurer shall make to the society monthly, in Writ. ing, during the period of regular sessions, a brief state. ment of the funds and of the indebtedness of th® so. ciety, and an annual report showing, in detail, itd as. Sets, expenses and financial condition. Sec, 5.—The Judiciary Committee shall consist of five members, whose duty shall extend to all matiers nected with tho improvement of thé laws and legality of their administration, Two members shal! a quorum, r Sec, 6.—The Committee of Inquiry shall consist br nine members, and its duty shall be to make investi tion and Feport coneerning matters) ee ecially refer: to it, ag well as matters to which the society sh direct action to be taken, afd which do not especial belong or have not been referred to any other commit. tee, Three members shall be a quorum, Sec. 7.—The duty of the Executive Committee shall extond generally to all matters not devolved upon tho directors, which are embraced within the objects of the society, and are not especially made thi ibject of cog: nizance by any other committee, And it shall also be the auty of the Executive Committee to consider and mature measures appropriate for accomplishing the ob. Jects of the society, Seeond—Ah nominations of eandiaates for member- ship shall be referred to the Executive Committee, and must be reported favorably, before the society shall vote upon the nomination; and no candidate be reported favorably who has not secured the votes of @ majority of the committee present, which majority, maae in the report, must consist of at least six mem- rs. Src. §—The society may at any time create a special committee, to which any matters not specially devolved upon a standing committee may by vote be referred; and the President may, with the approval of the society or of the Executive Committee, request & member or other persou to prepare a paper or address the society at a time and place and upon a subject to be designated, Sve, 9.—The Executive Committee shall hold regular meetings on Tuesday of each week (unless for cause they shall at any time adjourn over one regular meet- ing day), from the 15tn day of October to the 10th day of June in each year, and also such special or ad- journed meetings a& the cominittee may order. A ee meeting of the committee may be called by the Chairman or the President, with the approval of the Chairman of one other standing committee. Ske, 10.—Special meetings of the society may also be held on the joint call of the President apd Vice-Prest- dent, or of the President and the chairmen of any two of the standing committees; but there shall be notice sent to the city address of each member of all general or special meetings of the society, and like notice shall be sent to each member of the Executive Com- mittee of each special meeting of that committee; and the President may direct that like notice be given of any general meeling, which notices may specify any subjects to be acted upon. 8ro, 11—Notice of meetings of the society (and of the directors or of the Executive Committee, when re- quired to be given,) shall be left at the city residence or lace of busiuess of ordinary members eight hours be- fore the meeting, or be deposited in the city post, prop- erly directed and post paid, eleven bours before such meeting. When a member has no such city residence or place of business, a notice directed to a member at the city of New York shall be sufficient. The meetings provided for in the constitution or byla all, unless otherwise especially ordered, be held at eight o'clock in the evening, Sgo, 12.—Whenever any meeting of the Execu- tive Committee or of the directors would come at the same time that a meeting of the soeiety is held, the latter meeting shall supersede the former, unless the society shall otherwise order. Se, 13.—The right of debate in the society and Executive Committee shall be limited to one speech, not exceeding ten minutes in length, by any mem- ber, on the same subject (and a collateral motion involving only the same matter shall uot be consid- ered a different subject,) unless such right sball be enlarged vy general consent; except that the mover onany motion under discussion shall have five min- utes and the chairman or represantative ofthe Di- rectors or of any committee, whose report is under discussion, shallhave ten minutes, to reply to any objections’ made in debate. But, ‘by consent of the presiding officer, any member may, at any proper time, make a personal explanation, which shall not occupy more than three minutes So. 14.—The order of business, unless changed by vote, shall be:— First—The minutes of the last meeting. Second—The fivancial statement due from the Treasurer, Tiird—Election of new members, Fourth—Any special business ordered for the session, Fifth—Reports of the directors and comumittecs, Sizth—Miscellaneous business, Ske. 15.—No porson, after March 1, 1876, can be voted for as a new member except at a regular meeting, within ninety days subsequent to some regular meeting at which such person was proposed for membership, in writing, signed by three members; and to make such election valid, the name, residence and occupation of the person proposed, and the-names of those proposing him, must have Been regularly entered upon the minutes of such prior meeting. The election shail be by ballot, and two tellers, named by the presiding oificer, shall collect and count the votes und state the result tothe acting secretary in writing, signed by them; and the result, giving the number of votes each way, shall be at once announced and recorded by the Secretary, wno shall thereupon read the record to the meeting. ‘fhe Secretary shall simply inform any candidate of his election; but no member shall, to any greater extent, make any action under this bylaw pub- lic, without the consent of the candidate or member affected ; and there shall be no discussion of the ments of any candidate, nor shall there be, in any report or debaio, any reference to the motive’ or aciion of any member in respect to any election, resignation or ex- pulsion, unless an investigation has been ordered, See, 16.—The voting on the annual election of a Pres- ident, Vice President, Secretary or members of the Board of Directors, or at any meeting to till a vacancy in either said office, shall be by ballot, and a special committee may be elected or appointed to make nom- inations for such office or membership as the society shall order, Sxo 17.—The proceedings at the annual meeting shall be such as the society may direct, not in contlict with the constitution and bylaws, Src. 18.—A motion, under the clause of the consti- tution relating to @ resignation or ceasing to be a mem- ber, or for an expulsion, must, when reasonably prac- ucable, be on at least ten days’ personal notice, ordered. and given through the Secretary to the member to be affected, and when such personal notice is not, in the opinion of the society, thus practicable, the notice of the proposed motion inay be served in the same man- ner as a notice of a regular meeting may be served, and shall be sufficient. If the party aflected shall be pres- ent, he shall be heard at reasonable length, as the so- ciety may determine. before a vote on the motion is taken, and the vote shall be taken by rising only, and the result shall be forthwith announced, recorded and read to the meeting. First—If a member shall omit to resign, as contem- plated by the constitution, he may be formally ex- pelled and shall lose all rights as a member, and the expulsion shall be on such notice and in such manner as the society may choose to order or declare, THE ADDRESS. When aconsiderable number of persons unite them- selves for the purpose of exerting an influence upon public affairs perhaps a due regard for the good opinion of their fellow citizens requires them to make some statement of their views and policy. No apology surely can be needed for adopting the facilities af- forded for corporate action bya law enacted by the last Legislature. And so long as the greater peril of New York shall be from the partisan, mercenary and lawless classes, made more powertul and dangerous by organization, it seems as natural ag it is necessary that all those who would oppose these common enemies of good government should also organize. Indeed, nothing ig more remarkable in our municipal con- dition, or in our public affairs generally, than the elab- orate and Vigorous organization, whether in secret so- cieties, rings or mercenary caucuses, of all the ele- ments opposed to honest. and economical government on the one Side, and the almost utter want of political organization or of united ellort among those, on the other hand, who favor public virtue andecoromy. If itbe THE GRANDEST ACHIEVEMENT of statesmansnip to bring to the front the noblest minds to'lead and to develop the highest average of general virtue and intelligence among a people, certaiuly the next best thing is to $0 orgunize and apply the morality and capacity a people may possess that they sball be | most effective for the public good. Most intelligent per- sons, we think, believe that better government, espe- cinlly in this city, is possible, even belore we shall have reared a purer and wiser generation. If this opinion be unfounded it 1s plain that no reform can now be made, except in the education of our children; but if that opinion be true, then our crushing taxation, our manifold infidelities in office and our imperilied com- mercial prestige may be mainly due to our failure to make the best use of the resources we have, At all events, in the present conditions of our public affairs, | there is certainly need of clear convictions and prompt | action upon so vital a subject. If honest and intel- | hgent citizens by # united effort can secure better gov- ernment and reinvigorate a threatened commerce, it must be admitted that, if they do flot achieve, they do not deserve such results, Every thoughtful man must, in view of our municipal experience, now comprehend that the business properity, as well as tbe personal morality of New York are clésely conditioned upon the character and the econowy of its government. BUT VIGOROUS ORGANIZATION alone is not sufficient, It must be animated by a mght spirit and directed to right ends, We are persuaded that among the essential conditions of success, in an effort for improving public affairs, are these:—1. A well-founded claim to disinterestedness of motives. 2. ‘The use of methods which deserve the approbation of good citizens, 8. The open pursuit of avowed objects Tecognized as important to the general wellare. To these conditions we trust the organizacion and spirit | of this society conform, They are so distinctly set forth in the constitution and bylaws that no statement | can make them clearer. | The following are extracts from the fundamental articles of the society :— Firet—The object of the soctety is to secure hetter laws and honest, efficient and economical administration tor the city of New York, the tion of taxation and of the city debt im said city, ad also to aid In securing good municipal and gpher Jaws and aduinistration in or wifecting the State of ‘ew York. = Neither the name nor the influence of the society shall be used to promote the private -interests of wny of its | bers, or aay sectarian uF partivan object; nor shall the | icy or acts of any party, as such, be offensively character- Tred In'debate. Third—No member will solicit ot accept any office or any nomination for office, municipal, Stare or federal, while a | to atl wember of the soclety, or within iinety days aiter ceasing. be a member; except that notiing herein contained shi excuse any member from accepting or holding any off performing any public service for which no sulury of fee provided by law. It may be too mach to expect that the rare, if not impossible, virtue of absolute disinterestedness will be acvorded to our members, but all reasonable pledges | and RAPEGUARDS AGAINST PARTISAN, SECTARIAN or gelfish action appear to be inserted; and it must re- main for the future to show for what measure of patri- otic and disinterested effort the society will have a claim to be credited, NKCESSITY FOR THR SOCIETY. It may, perhaps, be thought by some, that so sweep- ing an engagement on the part of members not to ac- cept office may tend to deprive the public service of valuable officers, But it i# too clear for argament, that a body likely to have considerable political influence will encounter much damaging prejudice, as well aa come under dangerous tewptations, if the opportunity on the part of its members is freely open to secure office through the use of that influence; and nothing would 80 soon weaken the power of the society to pro- mote official fidelity as the fact that its own members hold lucrative offices, Besides we are of the opinion that a few disinterested and cougageous citizens, acting together against official infidelity, generally, will be able to render quite as useful public serviee ag they could if in office under existing laws; to say nothing of tho still greater service which the independence of their position will enable them to render toward im- }\ proving the Jaws and the methods of administration, IN VIEW OF THR BROAD AIMS tins defined it may be suggested by some that, as Akurming debt and crushing taxation are conspicuous e¥ils which every man of property sees and feels, mem- barsbin mara harmonious aid acon more vieerous could have been secured had the society onty, seg ened to reduce debt and taxation. "In this suggestion is mueh plausibility and some truth. Bphegunat it there are fatal ns. The mere pre n of property is not the highest object of gov- erpm nor are the men of property those who most need pr tection. That feeling, so general as to be sure to influence the majority, which would brand a society as merely selfish, of which the real and avowed aim ‘was to reduce taxes in order to increase the income of accumulations, would not be wholly unfounded; and its measure of justice would be suflicient to impart a most formidable strength to the partisan and mer- cenary demagoguism of the city, which {s sure to be hostile to a society like this. Hesides, we cannot re- duce debts and taxes simply by refusing to carry on the government of the city; and the controlling reasons why that government is now needlessly expensive a to be found, broad and deep, in bad laws, old and new: in false “ theories and’ disgraceful neglect of the duties of citizenship; in methods ot administra- tion complicated and costly; in the babits of paying high es, and of employing a needless number of laborers at excessive rates; in practising the pernicious and partisan method of governing a city, through which inferior officers and laborers, and heavy burdens in many ways, ure imposed upon it, more in reference to filling the treasuries of parties and the pockets of their managers than tor any regard for honest or sominyaieat administration. In short, while bere and there CONSIDERARLE REDUCTIONS IN TAXATIO: can be made through isoiated econom economical, honest and vigorous adminis possible, except through radical measures of retorm as pervading and co-operative in their effects as the me cenary and partisan interests which now prosper by reason of bad administration. The only pasis, therefore, as we are persuaded, on which the society can stand, or ought to attempt to stand, is not that of property or that of a sense of common oppression from taxation, but that of the common duty and interest of good citizens, and the common peril from costly and corrupt administration, If men of thought and men of means and men of mor- als desire to lead—to command confidence and to have the strength of the great mass of honest voters with them—they must never sanction the fallacious theory that honest men who are rich and honest men who are not rich have not a common interest in public economy, and in having able, faithful public officers ‘and agents, It would certainly be but fair that those who pay salaries and taxes should have the power of xing their limits; but no such reform, even, can be brought about until reflecting minds who can demonstrate tis justice bave made a great contribution to pubhe intel- ligence on the subject—a contribution which sball canse it to be better appreciated that honest voters who pay taxes and honest voters who do not have a com- mon interest In that reform. OTHER QUESTIONS. But there were other questions, Should the society be representative in the popular sense—that is, should it have a popular constituency, by whom its future meinbers should be elected, or should it be 80 organ- ized as to be a direct reflection of every grade of inter- est and opinion in the community? It was decided to make the society—and, as we believe, it has been to @ reasonable extent made—so far representative that it 18 neither sectarian nor partisan, nor m special sympathy with any particular occupation, interest or condition inlife; butit is not representative in the sense that it will respond to any temporary change of popular opinion, or that it will treat anything as right or wrong because tho majority so treat it, or make any appeal for support or claim any ‘au- thority simply because large numbers are directly represented by it. The representation to which the society aspires und the views and = in- terests which, if faithful, it will endeavor to promote will be those ‘consistent with good morals and good administration and no other. The society will, therefore, expect only the influence which sach a policy and its own demonstrated fidelity and usefulpess may be able to command. In other words, the character of its membors and the public utility of its work must bo its sole claim upon public contideuce and support. EVILS OF A PARTISAN GOVERNMENT, In choosing to rely upon this basis and rejecting the party theory of the representations of numbers we have not supposed we have surrendered any great or enduring element of power to secure our objects. The people of this city have fallen into their corrupt practices and extravagant expenditures, under the partisan system of city government, whith is based on nuinerical representation and treats the opinions of the majority as sacks ae jaw of right and duty, We have descended in the scale of honesty and pradence, in our municipal affwirs, just in proportion as we haye tamely submitied to the leaders of the majority and have neglected to consider and to insist upou what wisdom and justice and sound principles required to be done. ‘There is now an awakening, a reaction, against this suicidal folly which has brought this city to the brink of rain; and on every band the question 13, What ought to be done? What is the true method of securing faitnful oficers and economical administration’ This is the significant cause of the present popularity of reform measures—of tho late triumph in the city andin the State of the candidates or policy which the people thought most honest or wise—over mere numbers in affiliation with either party, It shows that the body of the people are intelligent and honest enough, when properly addressed, to judge measures and men according to their worth, and that the largest and best constituency which ap ociation for reform can have behind it is the personal character of its members and the wisdom of its policy. 1t was in the light of these truths that the greatest reforms ever accomplished in this city, such as the Board of Health, the paid Fire Department and the new Police Justices? jaw were accomplished. And im Boston, the citizens and the journals representing the better public opin- fon have just elected a Mayor over @ candidate regu- lari, 7 | NOMINATED RY DOTH THE GREAT PaRTiNs. It 1s true that this theory of exerting influence tacitly assumes that the partisan inethod of governing a city ig false and pernicious, and such is the opinion of the society. This is not the time to discuss so broad a subject; but unless such is the true view of the matter it woul seem to be the supreme duty ofall good citizens to de- vote themselves to the city caucuses and to act only through und to support only the methods of parties for improving city admmistration. While the society be- lieves itto be the duty of all good citizens to exert their influence to secure good nominations and to vote for city officers under the party system of city govern- ment while we have it, they yet believe that mumcipal administration ts rather 4 mass of business to be dono on business principles than of politics to be managed by party leaders, and that oconomy and efficiency will never be atiained in our mumecipal affairs until the party system is abandoned and a method of voting and appointing officers and agents +. is adopted upon a basis which shall deny the right and Lmit the opportunities of party organizations to control and make gain in such & The great issues about which parties gather, and as to which 3 THMIR INFLUENCE 18 SALUTARY, are mainly national, and they are in no respect munict- Party action, in regard to city administration, is almost never based on any political principle, and hence is generally corrupt, so far as itis not wholly subse vient to external policy and interes: Our Revolution left the then existing English system of municipal government almost untouched. We have not yet created a municipal system based on republican principles, and to do so is one of the most pressing and difficult problems of statesmanship, So far as later times have changed the old system, it has been done in the interests of political parties, and not of honest, in- dustrious people, It ought wo be a matter of mdiffer- ence what view @ municipal officer may take of the be or of the Indians, or of other questions of national olitics. Pr tnfortanately, the evidence’ {¢ but tod log? that New York needs greater exertions on the part of its best citizens to make its local government what it should be | oreven much longer endurable It is not merely true that it 18 ruinously expensive, and that itis generally believed to be in most parts inefficient and in some parts corrupt; but there is an almost universal convic- tion among intelligent citizens that the city govern- ment, though having some good officers, is, a8 a whole, not only unworthy of the city and the nation, but a | positive source of corruption. And, more and’ more, business is being driven from the city, and the com: mercial supremacy of New York is seen to be in danger. To some extent that conviction is, perhaps, unfounded; yet there are plain, indisputable facts which give it an | alarming basis of truth. New York, with streets less cleanly, worse paved, and certainly not better lighted than those of London aud Paris, yearly expends more | money per mile of street for lighting, paving or clean- ing than either of those cities. New York, in a sani- tary position naturally far superior to either of those cities und despite the efforts of its Board of Health, bas AN ANNUAL DEATH RATE of more than 28 per 1,000 each year, while the annual death rate of London is less than 23, and that of Paris | Jess than 24 per 1,000, Good government has lately re- | duced the death rate of even Bombay below that of | New York. New York, with a poor population more | dangerously crowded into dark, damp and dismal | apartments than that of any other great city among the | enlightened nations, has yet done less than most of | them to open easy and cheap access to the country, or | to facilitate the erection of small, cheap houses for the | poor. In violation of every principle of public economy and safety, the demoralizing theory 1s officially advo- cated and applied, which holds that laborers on the city | works are not to be paid fair market wages, but such sums, under La ges pie charity, as partisan officials choose to promiso them. London, with a population | of over 3,400,000, is governed at an annual cost of $80,000,000, while New York spends more money upon & poorer government for less than one-third the popu- lation of the English metropolis, s IN OUR POLICR DEPARTMENT, some form of trials for official delinquencies, In officers high and low seems to be almost chronic, and the dis- closures have been such as to cause honest people to trembie at their firesides, Committees appointed by the State to investigate municipal corruption hold ses- sions month after month, and gather evidence as dis- graceful 6 it \s voluminous, Subject for a long time past to laws provably A psa J in number and volume, and more confused and conflicting than thoae applicable to any other city, the statutes relating to New Pork are yet annually increased by amendments and additions more numerous than all the laws annually enacted bi the English Parliament for ory city within the Britis! dominions, For example, in 1873 there were one hun- dred and thirty-three separate laws enacted as cspe- ciaily applicable to the city of Now York, its instiiu- | tions or citizens; and in 1875, after salutat constitutional changes had been made, there were one hundred and thirty-seven such laws enacted, When wo consider that city Assemb! men, who havo to deal with such ‘vast inte’ ests and. multifarious enactments, are elected fora ae Year in smoalk districts composed of a few blocks of honses, where there are uo peculiar interests to be represonted, and where the local party caucus is generally supreme, is there any ground for wonder th: these laws are often crude in conception and confused in language, or that one of the results isan amount of uncertainty as to official authority and of litigation in the courts beyond precedent in ‘any other enlightened country? But the evil of EXCESSIVE AND CRUDE LEGISLATION 8 by no means contined to the city of New York, but ts Sees Seengems me tne, ‘There were, tor example, ifty-one separate faws relating especially to Brooklyn enacted at the last session, forty-seven relating wo Buf- falo, sixteen relating to Albany and twenty-seven re- lating to ester. Within the lifetime of middle- aged men the proportion of annual Jaws relating to cities and villages passed at Albany bas risen from less than one-twelfth to more than one-fourth of all the laws enacted, Even when, in 1870, the Legislature attempted to make a general law for villages it was so defective and bas been so hastily dealt with that it is almost buried in amendments, 1t was amended four separate times last winter, Itis some cunsolation to know that at last public attention @ 80 aroused to our per! from munici- pal abuses thiit a commission was ordered by the last egisiature tO investigate the subject of city govern- ment. At a late day that commission was filled, and useful suggestions may be expected from the able men placed upon it, if they have adequate time for their work; but much more than mere investigation and suggestions are neeaed. Relief from our municipal abuses in- volves an enduring contest between the higher and the lower elements in city lite. And when the facts of our condition are mastered and the experience of better governed cities in other countries has been there will remain the problem of wisely organ! nivipal authority IN HARMONY WITH ovr This will require years of exper abjlity of the highest order, Old bh: government are not easily cha Lerests and the false theories which are the source of so many of our evils have an enduring vitality. The thou STITUTION ve and constructive bits and methods in sands who thrive on official corruption will make a | long and skilful resistance, It 18 only and courageous efforts that our abuses, oF can be removed; aud it is only through constant and a better comprehension of the causes of our false methods thatthe majority can be made first to see and then follow some better way. can reasonably expect is—if faithful to our principles and fairly supported by those having a common interest “in good government—that honest citi- zens may be encouraged, that the iufluences for good may be concentrated and made stronger, that beneficent measures of reform, one after another, may be carried, and that no inconsiderable contribations may be made to that higher, popular in- telligence on political ubjects which is the sole guarantee of republican institutions. And as whatever for good may be accomplished will be for the common benefit, we shull rely upon the aid and sympathy of all good citizens. Our plan for work of public usefaines is bat one of the many ways in which good intluences may be combinea and strengthened, and we shall be ready to co-operate with all fellow workers in the same great field of reform. FEW THOUGHTFUL MEN will fail to appreciate that the problem and peril of good government in New York city is the problem and the peril of every other large city, und, to some extent, of all the cities and villages of the land. In Brooklyn, in Jersey City, in Baltimore, in Washington—in short, more’ or less everywhere— the cities first exhibit and most develop the ele- ments of danger to our institutions; and it is evident that, if we cannot govern cities better, we cannot long govern them at all, and as they go down they will carry the nation with them. Hence the question of good city government should be regarded as a great national question. But here at our doors—where we are blessed with providential advantages which have thus far en- riched us with a nation’s commerce—in this great me- tropolitan city, whose morals, vices, crimes, journals and fashions even are a potent example and inspira- tion for good or for evil over the whole Union, is our first and paramount duty; and it is not less the inter- est than the duty of its citizens, as far as they may, to take care that New York city be well governed and of good repute, an honor ond not a peril to republican in- stitutions. DORMAN B, EATON, President, Rougnr M. Strenzicu, Secretary. THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS, ARE MATSELL AND DISBECKER TO BE REMOVED? The Centraf Olfice, on Mulberry street, was the scene yesterday of unusual activity. Anxious politicians crowded the lobbies from early morning tl! lave in the alternoon, eagerly waiting for developments None, however, up to the hour of the departure of the Com- missioners, were made known, That the rumors of the removal of Commissioners Matsell and Disbecker, which for the past few days have been filling the air, are founded upon something tangible, appears to be gen- erully believed; and judging from the frequent conferences held with “counsel by the two sub- jects of the rumors, those officmls are as deeply impressed with’ their truthful foundation as any. They preserve, however, a strict silence, and decline imparting to the reporters any information which they may bave relative to the matter. Commissioner Disbecker was closeted a long time with his counsel, Mr. Gerry, and some republican poli- ticians, Commissioner Matsell enjoyed the private visit of the same counsel for an equal space oi time, What all this legal conference means can only be guessed, but good guessers at political conundrums say it means fight. The past history of Disbecker and bis sworn antagonism to Mayor Wickham justify the belief that when ho dies he expires with a struggle, The in- tricacies of thé law are to him whata straw is to a drowning man, and with a characteristic desperation , he mtends holding fast to the slightest support tnat the law may present toward fighting his removal, When the removal of the two Commissioners was first officially agitated by Mayor Wickham, Disbecker, it will be remembered, assumed an attitude of defiance and challenged the Mayor to his best. This position on thi part of Disbecker was even more boldly defined in the pamphlet which he subsequently published, chargin, the Mayor with incompetency. Disbecker had receive the assurance of several of the Albany magnates that Governor Tilden would not intérfere, and encouraged by this, as well as by the discord existing between the Mayor’ and the Governor on other matters, he became more defiant. Now, it iB said, he thinks that bis removal ‘cannot be effected, even with the concurrence of the Governor, and assuming the réle of the injured man, he claims that the law does not permit the removal of an official without cause, and Disbecker, of course, fails to see cause. Commissioner Matsell proposes, it {s believed, to fol- low the course of his younger colleague and hold fast to his position, His invincible argument differs somewhat from that urged by Disbecker. It is to the eifect that were he to leave the Board of Police now the public would believe all the calumny heaped upon him by the press. The redemption of his fair name lies, therefore, in his hold- ing on, and hold on until the last support is gone, he intends, BOARD OF HEALTH. At a meeting of the Board of Health, held yesterday, the following weekly report from Dr, Harris, Registrar of Vital Statistics, was received :— There were 41 deaths reported in this city during the week ending on Saturday, the 25th inst., against the 511 verified for the previous week and against 565 reported and 671 verified in the corresponding weeks of 1874. There appear to have been 18 less deat! s from smallpox last week than in the corresponding week of 1874, and 9 less from scariatina, 4 less from typhoid fever and 29 less deaths of infants under one year of age. Pneumonia and bronchitis, diphtheria and measles last week caused a greater number of deaths than in the preceding week or in the corresponding week of 1874, but the total number of deaths trom pulmonary diseases of ail kinds in the past two weeks appears to be 8 less than in the corresponding fortnight of 1874. The mean temperature last week, as reported by Direc- tor Draper in the Central Park Observatory, was 36.3 | degrees Fahrenheit, with a minimum marked at 30 de- groes below freezing point The course of diphtheria continues to show how sig- nally some of the oldest and most populous districts south of Fourteenth street escape their share of that disease, In the dfteen wards below that stroet, and containing half of the city pgpulation, there have been only 132 deaths in the seven weeks ending on December 18, while there haye been 283 during the eame time in the wards north of that street, In the Fifth ward, in that period, there was only 1 death from diphtheria; in the Tenth, 12 deaths; in the Fourteenth, 7; in the Fit- teenth, 7; in the Seventeenth, 21. Ot the 60 deaths from this disease last week, 88 were in tenement houses containing from 4 to 20 families; 6 were tn tenement houses containing 3 familie: were in tenement houses containing 1 and 2 families; 24 deaths occurred on the first floor of these dwellings, 20 on the second, 8on the third, and 8 on the fourth and top floors. The following 1s @ comparative statement of cases of contagious disease reported at this bureaa for the two weeks ending December 25, 187: —Werk endin, Dee. 18. “Dee. %5, oO 1 13 12 43. 39 1 1 87 29 151 123 Smallpox. 43 36 A QUESTION FOR VANDERBILT. To roe Eorron oF tHe Heraty:— Will you please ask the Vanderbilt monopoly, now that they have their raj!road underneath Fourth ave- nue, why they can’t Ox the street on top? Everything is ina half finished condition, The lamp posts ai but they have only succeeded in giving us light for the distance of two blocks from Eighty-fourth to Righty- sixth street, They have attempted to lay crossings over the avenue, but they have only laid them over Eighty-sixth, Fighty-seventh, Eighty-eighth and Ninety- second streets. At others therie s noteven a path. Inbad and rainy weather it is agony for man to wade through mud up to the ankle, and as for woman it is next to im- possible for them to get over, being very often carried over, As I understand it, the avenue was to be com- pleted the 15th of November. Now why this tardiness and total disregara to the comforts of the inhabitants in the vicinity of Fourth avenue? By challenging the Vanderbilt monopoly in our name you will much oblige THE YORKVILLEITES, New York, December 1875, THE STEAMSHIP INSPECTORS. A letter was received yesterday by the Supervising Inspector of Steamships, Mr, Addison Low, from the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington, completely [etree basing and the local inspector, Mr. John Matthews, from tho charges of malfeasance in lately forred inst them, The letter says:—'‘T regret the reiteration of these unfounded charges in the public press, which makes this vindication of your off- necessary.” cial character dd, and the seltish in- | The most we | | up, | BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT, FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE BUDGET FoR 1876— THE SYSTEM OF TRANSFERRING BALANCES— AN INTERESTING PAPER FROM COMPTROLLER GREEN — TAX STATISTICS — ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS, A regular meeting of the Board of Estimate and Ap- portionment was held in the Mayor’s office yesterda; | Mayor Wickham, Comptroller Green, Alderman Lewid and Tax Commissioner Wheeler were present. A transfer of $1,000 was authorized from contingen- cies in the Corporation Attorney's office to the appro- | priation for salaries. The Commissioners of Public Works sent In a request for atranster of $7,000 from iamp and gas account of 1874 to repairs of aqueducts, &e., for 1875. Comptroller Green spoke against the principle of sue transfers, He presented’ the following statement of bis views, embodying some interesting statisties:— To THE Bosnd oF ESTIMATE AXD APPORTIONMENT :— Nearly a year ago I offered in the Board a resolution declaring it wexpedient. to authorize any further transfers of balances of appropriations for years prior to the yea ou account of the large amount of ‘onal property remaining un which vie; or, in other words, because there n the tre y of which such al balances of appropria ould be paid. No member of tne Hoard was willing to support this resolution except myself. Again at a mocting of the Board on February 3, 1875, ed the resolution, with the same result, the | Fesolution being tnid over on motion of the President of the Board of Aldermen, I then stated that the prod. uct of the taxes levied was bot equal to the amount of the appropriations payable out of taxes, or, in other words, that Wo were not raising and collecting taxes enough to pay the current expenses of the city and meet the appropriations. Although taxes levied might be enough to cover the estimates of expenses and the amount of appropriations, the amount of taxes actually collected was insutlicieut on account of the impos sibility of collecting many of the assessments for per- sonal taxes. ‘There is a very large year! tlous of persoual tuxes arising, to some extent, from the manner of Persons who are dead or bankrupt are sometimes continued on the tax lists from year to year, Taxes on real estate are mostly collected because they are lions on the property, but |’ personal taxes are lost to the city if the person has no Property to pay them, The amount of uncoliected per- sonal taxes levied in the last fye years, as shown by the table herewith submitted, is $5,541,194 48, The law provides for deficiencies in the product of taxes levied by authorizing the Board of Supervis- ors to add three Yong cent to the amount of the estimates, and 1 have urged upon them the necessity of adding enough, but some ill- advised members of that body are always found ready vo limit the amount added to meet deficiencies in order to make taxation apparently less, The consequences of this course are obvious to any one familiar with the finances of the city, The taxes Cada Cheer to be equal to the current expenses of the year for which they are levied, but the collections fall short of the estimates and appropriations, aud the deficiencies must be pro- vided for by subsequent taxation or by the issue of bonds and increase of the debt. ‘This resul. is inevitable; there is no escape from this consequence of ignorantly tinkering with a measure designed to protect the treasury against a deficit in revenue from taxes by those who are intrusted with au. thority. Dartog the last session of the Legislature a bill was prepared to prevent the transfer aud use of these hominal unexpended balances of appropriations in years previous to the year 1874, which have no reality jn fact, as they represent no moneys in the treasury | now, nor any which will ever be collected from unpaid taxes levied to meet them. This bill passed the Senate, but was defeated in the Assembly. Nota dollar of the balances of appropriations prior to 1875, bow remain- ing unexpended, should be allowed to be used. If they are so used un equal amount must be provided by the issue of bonds, and | again enter my protest against transfers of these merely nominal balances of old ap- propriations, The annexed table exhibits the operations of the tax levies for five years from 1870 to 1874 inclusive, show- ing the amounts added to the tax levy im each year to meet deficiencies in the product of taxation amounting in all to $1,791,611 56, and the actual mount of deficiencies of each year in the collections of personal taxes, amounting in the aggregate in that short period to $5,541,124 48, of which but a emall por- tion can ever be collected. This table also shows the amount of deficiencies arising from remissions - of taxes and for discount allowed for prompt payments to be $767,792 58, or nearly one-half of the amount added to meet deficiencies during the same period. + Lurged that at ieast $526,555 68 should be added for deficiencies for 1875, a sum not less than the law al- lowed, but the Supervisors added only $196,272 52, The deficiencies in the collection of taxes for this deficiency in the collec- year from the remissions of taxes and dis- count’ for prompt payment alone amounted to $179,057 21, or nearly the whole sum added, and, besides, the unpaid personal taxes of this year will amount to a very large sum, leaving a heavy deficit in revenue from taxation to meet current ex- uses of the year. Under chapters 1 and 444 of the Dawe of 1872 over $4,000,000 of long bonds were tssued to take up revenue bonds then outstanding, which, in fact, represented deficiencies in collections of personal taxes in former years, This table also shows that we have been drifting since then in the same direction, for the amount of deficiencies in the collection of per- fonal taxes and discounts allowed by law for prompt paymentof taxes must be made up sooner or later by an increase of taxation or by the issue of long bonds, The refusal by this Board to transfer and use une: pended balances of old appropriations will, to some small extent, go to mitigate this condition of thin, and I propose a resolution to prevent hereafter the transfer of any balances prior to the year 1875. Re spectfully, ANDREW H. GREEN, Coniptroller, STATEMENT of uncollected personal taxes and of amounts added to ‘the tax levy for deficiencies in collections and amounts lost to the treasury by discounts and remissions of taxes in the years 1870 to 1874, tnclusive:— Amgunt added ‘Discount on Amount of for deficiencies, and remission pers'ni taxes wncollected, insolvencies, dc. of taxes. = $493,683 $179,269 $906,588 = 127,012 1,051,078 qi 132,365 1,502,796 807,502 78,307 1,055,198 490,425 250,837 1,025,465 +++ $1,791,611 $767,792 $5,541,124 Further consideration of the matter was laid over until the next meeting. ‘A delegation appeared before the Board from the Now York Juvenile-Guardian Society and asked recog- nition in tl istrilution of the excise moneys. Recorder Hackett and Judge Sutherland also ap peared before the Board and spoke as to the absolute necessity of Increased accommodations for the Court of General Sessions, and showed that no reduction could justly be made in the original estimates ag transmitted by the Judge of the Court of General Sessions. After transacting some further routine business the budget for 1876 was taken upand the different | items read over by the Mayor. Some discussion ensued on changing several of the items. Motions were made to reduce the amonnts for paying judgments from $200,000 to $150,000, $125,000, $100,000 and $75,000, Comptroller Green complained of the evident dis- position manifested by other members of the Board to vote against the insertion of items absolutely neces- sary to carry on the city government, Allusions nad also been made to unnecessary litigation. Two millions bad been recently saved the city by what was termed “annecessary litigation.” He (Mr. @reen) was not going to eit there and participate in such childs’ play. | Mayor Wickham clatmed to be actuated by as hon- orable motives as the Comptroller, He did not believe in demagogism. Comptroller Groen remarked {t was not his fault if the Mayor could not understand a proper financial liey. i Po after alittle further spicy debate the amount was set down at $75,000. Each item in the budget was then passed upon sepa- rately. The following items wore fixed at the amounts set thereafter:— Salarles—Department of Finance. . +++ $180,000, Judgments..... 75.000 Commissioners of Sinking ‘p it “2'000 An item of $2,000 for rent of chambers for City Judge | and Recorder was inserted, | Real ostate expenses + $50,000 | Armorers’ wages. . 10,000 Law departments, contingencies of, . 40,000 | Corporation Attorney, salary of...4. . 6,000 | Department of Public Works .. + 1,434;000 Department of Public Parks. + 495,000 | Department of Buildings. . + _ 75,000 Department of Public Char 1,165,000 | Health Department. + 220,000 Street cleaning. +. 725,000 Fire Departmen! + 1,248,086 | Department of Taxes and Assessments. + _ 120,000 Board of Education ,......... +++ + 8,653,000 Printing, stationery and blank books........ 130,000) Court of General Sessions attendants. . 000 Recorder, clerk and messenger for. . . 8,520, | Oity Judge, clerk and messenger for: 2,200 Commissioner of Jurors and Clerks 18,000 support of prisoners in County Jail 10,000 Clerks and officers of Board of Alde 000 The Comptroller moved to insert an amount neces» sary to provide for the payment of judgment bonds due in 1876. Which was lost, The total footing of the estimates, taki into account the above items. Less general fund estimate,, Total...... Estimate of 157: Estimated redaction.. seeeeees $1,460,049, The Board adjourned sboi after seven o'clock, having sat five hours, They will meet again to-day, A TEACHER'S ALLEGED CRUELTY, Froderick Halzman complained yesterday before the Board of Union Hill (N, J.) School Trustees that his daughter, aged six years, had been badly beaten im the blic school by her teacher, Mies Buchaltz, Chairman Goelz appointed Mesers. Moyer, Becker and Ackerman to investigate the matter aud report at the next mech sag of the Board,