USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Municipal history of the town and city of Boston during two centuries : from September 17, 1630, to September 17, 1830 > Part 41
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In conformity to the obligation resulting from this opinion, the Board of Aldermen have constituted the Mayor a connnittee to superintend the making out the voting lists, antecedent to the ensuing spring elections. Under that authority, voting lists are now making out, by the Assessors, in a new, and, it is hoped, a more convenient form.
By this construction of the city charter it is not apprehended, that the labors of the Board of Aldermen will be, in any material degree, increased. The gratuitous labors of that important body of men, who have hitherto fulfilled their duties in a manner so exemplary, ought by every possible precautionary mea- sure to be diminished, in order to remove objections to the acceptance of that laborious and responsible office. But the duty of general superintendence and direction, the exercise of a sound judgment concerning all the great municipal relations of the city, and particularly concerning those which most innnediately affect the elective franchise, naturally belongs to that board ; and, in this case, seems to result from the express terms of the city charter.
Considering the importance of the subject, and knowing that misapprehen- sions existed in relation to it in the community, I have deemed the preceding development due to all concerned; to the Assessors, as well as to our fellow- citizens.
I cannot close this address, withont expressing my gratitude for the support yielded to me, by the recent suffrages of my fellow-citizens, under circum- stances, which put to a severe trial their justice and their confidence. The right to canvass the character and conduct of all tenants of public office and candidates for it, is essential to the existence of a republic, and inseparable from its nature. So long as such animadversions are conducted in a spirit of can- dor and decorum, so long as care is taken to assert nothing but what is true, and to insinuate nothing which circumstances do not justify ; in a word, so long as they procced in subordination to that sublime rule of Christian charity of doing to others, as, in exchange of circumstances, we would wish and think right, that others should do to us, they are not only to be justified, but to be encouraged and applauded.
If, in any respect, this just measure of animadversion has been exceeded in times past, or shall be in times future, so far as the present inembent of this office is concerned, it will be, as it has been, left to the free decision of the
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virtue, intelligence, and high sense of justice of the inhabitants of this city, without interposition, by him, directly or indirectly, of reply or defence.
Ile, who rightly appreciates the nature of this office, will consider it neither as a place for pageantry and display, nor yet as a vantage-ground for the vanlting of unsatisfied ambition, still less as a station for seeking private ends, for advanc- ing personal or local interests, or for the distributing party favors ; but as a con- dition of laborions service, including the performance of very difficult, and often very dubious duties, chiefly to be valued for the opportunity it affords of useful- ness, and no longer to be desired than he shall be able to deserve and attain the confidence of his fellow-citizens, by a diligent and faithful upholding of the true interests of the city, and by a fearless maintaining of every essential principle of publie virtue and honor in the conduct of its affairs.
(G. Page 229.)
THE MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS, JANUARY, 1828.
Gentlemen of the City Council : -
WE assemble nader ciremstances of great municipal prosperity, and with very decisive evidences of the content of our fellow-citizens with the general conduct of their affairs. A brief recurrence to a few of the principal relations of' our city, will, however, be useful, and tend to strengthen public satisfaction and confidence.
During the first years of the city government, its attention was naturally directed to important local improvements, and to the enlarging of our means of protection against the dangers to which all great cities are subject, and which the form of the ancient government was not well calculated to effect. The mber and greatness of these improvements and preparations, together with the short period in which they were executed, led necessarily to the creation of debt, on a seale which excited, in some minds, apprehensions ; cautions men began to fear lest an increase of debt would become the habit of the city govern- ment. The experience of the past year has shown, that it is no less willing to adopt and enforce a rigid system of economy, than the practice of preceding years had shown it to be capable of using, on proper occasions, the public credit. The appropriations made at the commencement of the last year have been respected, with an exemplary strictness. None have as yet been exceeded. To one or two, additions will be required; but in every instance, it is believed, it will be found that they have been occasioned by circumstances, accidental in their nature, and not within the control of the expending authority ; and that they can be supplied by the transfer of the surplus, existing in other appropria- tions. There can scarcely be expected, in any future year, a greater exactness in this respect than the past has exhibited.
The measures adopted by the last City Council to give a permanent and efficient character to the reduction of the city debt; have been attended with all
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the success which was anticipated. Before the current financial year closes, more than one hundred thousand dollars of the preexisting city debt will be discharged. It requires only a steady perseverance in the same system, to place the resources of the city on an enviable and satisfactory foundation.
The diminution of the munber of complaints in every branch of police, indi- cates a very general content with its administration. In no preceding year has the general order been better maintained. Nor, in a population so great, and rapidly increasing, can it be expected that vice and crime should be less obtri- sive, or more restrained.
It is a subject of congratulation, that the new arrangements in our health department, whereby responsibility and efficiency have been endeavored to be obtained by the concentration of its powers in the Board of Aldermen, the health physician and police officer, should have resulted in such apparent advantage. Notwithstanding a constant and increasing intercourse with Halifax, a city suffering under the most malign form of the smallpox, - notwithstanding the same disorder has been brought to this city in repeated instances, from that and from other cities, - and notwithstanding it has appeared with some activity in towns in our immediate vicinity, yet by the vigilance of the health department every occurring case has been detected, insulated, or removed. Until the last week, no instance of its having been communicated within this city, is known or suspected. The circumstances of that week have been the subject of a public official statement. Since that publication, only one case has occurred, and that has been promptly removed to the island. Nor is any case now known, or believed to exist within the city.
Although great credit is due to the health physician and police officer, for their vigilance and activity, yet it cannot be questioned that their labors have been diminished and their success facilitated by the general vaccination, which took place under the authority of former City Councils.
The state of the hospital at Rainsford's Island, and its general police, so far as depends on the health physician and island keeper, is very satisfactory. Appli- eations from the local authority of several towns in this vicinity, to transfer their infected citizens to that establistinent, have been promptly granted. The wil- lingness with which those citizens have permitted themselves to be thus trans- ferred, and even the desire, exhibited by some of them, who were individuals of great respectability in their respective towns, to avail of this privilege, in preference to remaining insulated in their own vicinity, strongly indicates the satisfaction of the public with that establishment, and their confidence in the professional ability with which it is conducted.
The general state of the health of the city is not only a subject of devout thankfulness, but is also a circumstance not to be omitted, in estimating the effects of the general arrangements of its police. Tables, founded on the bills of mortality of this city, and constructed on the usual principles, show that for the four years past, from 1824 to 1827 inclusive, the annual average proportion of deaths to population has not only been less than that in any antecedent year, but it is believed less than that of any other city of equal population on record.
The bills of mortality of this place, and calculations made on them for the eleven years, from 1813 to 1823, inclusive, show, that the annual average pro- portion of deathis to population was about one in forty-two.
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Similar estimates on the bills of mortality of this city since 1823, show, that this annual average proportion was for the four years, from 1821 to 1827 inclu- sive, less than one in forty-eight ; for the three years from 1825 to 1827 inclusive, less than one in fifty ; for the two years from 1826 to 1827 inchisive, less than one in fifty-five; and for the last year, 1827, scarcely one in sixty-three ..
Upon the usual estimates of this nature, a city of equal population, in which this annual average should not exceed one in forty-seven would be considered as enjoying an extraordinary degree of health.
Calculations of this kind are necessarily general, and exactness in precise results, owing to the uncertainty in the annual increase of population, cannot be expected. Enough appears, however, from unquestionable data, to justify the position, that, since the year 1823, this city has enjoyed an uncommon and gradually increasing state of general health, and that for the last two years it has been nnexampled.
It will be recollected by the City Council, that, in the year 1823, a systematic cleansing of the city, and removal of noxious animal and vegetable substanees was adopted under their auspices, and have been persevered in to this period, with no inconsiderable trouble and expense. Now, although it would be too much to attribute the whole of this important improvement in the general health of this city to these measures, yet when a new system was at that period adopted, having for its express object this very effect, - the prevention of disease, by an efficient and timely removal of nuisances, it is just and reasonable to claim for those preventive measures, and credit to them, a portion of that freedom from disease, which has, subsequently to their adoption, resulted, in a degree, so very extraordinary. It is proper to adduce this state of things, by way of encourage- ment to persevere iu a system, which has its foundation in the plainest principles of nature and reason, and which is so apparently justified by effects.
I am thus distinct in alluding to this subject, because the removal of the nuisances of a city is a laborious, difficult, and repulsive service, requiring much previous arrangement, and constant vigilance, and is attended with frequent disappointment of endeavors; whence it happens, that there is a perpetual natural tendency, in those intrusted with municipal affairs, to throw the trouble and responsibility of it npon subordinate agents and contractors, and very plau- sible argiuuents of economy may be adduced in favor of such a system. But, if experience and reflection have given certainty to my mind upon any subject, it is upon this : that upon the right conduct of this branch of police, the executive powers of a city should be made directly responsible, more than for any other; and that it can never, for any great length of time, be exeented well, except by agents under its immediate control, and whose labors it may command, at all times, in any way, which the necessities continually varying, and often impossible to be anticipated, of a city, in this respect, require.
In the whole sphere of municipal duties, there are none more important than those which relate to the removal of those substances, whose exhalations inju- riously affect the air. A pure atmosphere is to a city, what a good couscience is to an individual; a perpetual source of comfort, tranquillity, aud self-respect.
The general confidence resulting from our Fire Department is an ample justi- fication of the great expenditures which have been made, in bringing it to that state of preparation and efficiency, in which it now exists. Besides the sense
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of security it has induced, the direct pecuniary gain to the commmity is capable of being very satisfactorily estimated. Since the renovation of that department, and its establishment on its present footing, the rates of insurance on real pro- perty within this city have been reduced twenty per cent. I am authorized by several presidents of our principal insurance offices to state, that this reduction has been solely owing to confidence in the present efficiency of that department. The saving in this reduction of premium alone is stated by them not to be less on the insurable real estate of this city than ten thousand dollars annually ; in other words, it is equal to a remuneration, in three years, for the whole cost of the department. It is now distinguished not only for the efficiency of its engines and apparatus, but by its exemplary spirit of discipline. The utmost harmony also exists among its members, officers, and companies.
The expedieney and mode of still farther extending our present system of public schools, so as to embrace higher branches than those at present taught in them will, probably, in some form, be brought before the City Council.
In a city, which already expends sixty thousand dollars annually on its public schools, which has a capital of certainly not less than two hundred thousand dollars invested in schoolhouses alone, and whose expenses under this head must, from the increasing nature of its population, unavoidably increase every year, attempts to extend the existing system of instruction must necessarily give occa- sion to much solicitude and reflection. The great interest and duty of society, and its great object in establishing public schools, is, to elevate as highly as possible the intellectual and moral condition of the mass of the community. To this end, our institutions are so constituted as to put every necessary branch of elementary instruction within the reach of every citizen, and to infuse, by the books read and branches taught in them, similar general views of duty and morals ; and similar general principles, relative to social order, happiness, and obligation, throughout the whole society. Such is the present general character of our common schools ; so called, because they are the common right and com- mon property of every citizen. If other and higher branches of instruction are to be added to those embraced by our present system of public education, it deserves serious consideration, whether the duty and interest of society does not require, that they should be added to our common. schools, and enjoyed on the same equal principles of common right and conmon property. In other words, whether the new branches shall not be for the benefit of the children of the whole community, and not for the benefit of the children of comparatively a few.
Every school, the admission to which is predicated upon the principles of requiring higher attainments, at a specified age or period of life, than the mass of children in the ordinary course of school instruction at that age or period can attain, is in fact a school for the benefit of the few, and not for the benefit of the many. Parents, who, having been highly educated themselves are, therefore, capable of forcing the education of their own children ; parents, whose pecuniary ability enables them to educate their children at private schools, or who by domestie instruction are able to aid their advancement in the public schools, will for the most part enjoy the whole privilege. In form it may be general, but it will be in fact exclusive. The sound principle upon this subject seems to be, that the standard of public education should be raised to the greatest desirable
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and practicable height; but that it should be effected by raising the standard of our common schools.
Among the general principles of public policy, by which the prosperity of cities is effected, there is one, which, by many of our citizens, and those of great wealth and respectability, is considered to be onerons and oppressive, and which, it is thought, has a material and injurious influence on the advancement of a city like ours, engaged in an active mercantile competition with intelligent and enter- prising rival cities, in which no such principle of public policy exists. Although the subject properly belongs to the sphere of State legislation, yet as the mis- chief is thought chiefly to affect this city, it seems desirable, and would give satisfaction to a very great class of our fellow-citizens, to have the practicability of a change in this principle submitted to the test of a publie examination:
I allude to the system of assessing taxes on the principle of an arbitrary valuation, without relief.
Although the formal provisions of the law are so framed as to conceal the character of the principle, yet it is practically that which I have stated. It is a valuation arbitrary in its nature, and, in point of fact, without relief.
The character of the principle is concealed by the opportunity which is form- ally given to every individual, if he pleases, to exhibit previous to assessment, perfect lists of his estate. On his neglect of this opportunity the right to doom, that is, arbitrarily to value and assess, is assumed and justified.
Now, it is notorious, that, in every great mercantile city, such an exhibit would, if made truly, as it respects many, be 'ruinous; that, as it respects very many, it is absolutely impracticable, and that a public annual development of the exact relation of his resources, would disastronsly affect almost every man of property in society, either by embarrassing his operations, or by needlessly exposing his condition to the curious, the envious, or the inimical. When, therefore, the law offers an opportunity to exhibit true lists of their property, as a privilege of which multitudes cannot avail themselves, and which it is the inte- rest of every man in society to reject, it offers a shadow and not a substance ; it is only a formal and not a real privilege. And, when it founds the right arbitrarily to assess, on the neglect of an opportunity of such a character, it exercises in effect a despotie power, not the less objectionable on account of its being veiled under the pretence of being justified by failure to perform an impracticable or ruinous condition. To show that such is the practical character of this principle, it will be sufficient simply to state, that the last year an uneommon number of per- sons and a greater amount of property was exhibited in previous lists than in any antecedent year in this city, yet that out of more than twelve thousand tax- able persons only twenty-six gave in such lists, and in a city the valuation of which exceeded sixty-five thousand of dollars, the amount exhibited in these lists was only four hundred and three thousand. A more direct proof, how nomi- nal and fallacious this privilege to exhibit is universally deemed, could not be adduced. It is, in effect, an arbitrary valuation, and it is withont relief. For if this fallacions privilege be neglected, the Courts are by statute provision prohibited from making abatements ; and in our convention of Assessors, in all cases above sixteen dollars, it is practically a settled principle, that such neglect precludes the applicant from the privilege of abatement.
Did the effect of these principles terminate with the individual, it would be of
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less importance ; but it reacts upon society, and especially on a mercantile com- munity, whose prosperity must necessarily be affected by it, in a greater or less degree.
It should be the settled policy of mercantile cities to allure and detain capital- ists. Of all classes of men, these are the quickest to discern, and are in a situa- tion the most favorable to take advantage of, the relative principles which the laws and policy of different cities apply to their condition. Their activity, enter- prise, and capital, give life and support to the industry of the laboring and mechanie classes. Whatever drives capitalists from a city, or makes them discontented with it, has a direct tendency to deprive those classes of their best hopes. Now, what can have a more direct and natural tendency to such an effect than the certainty that there is no escape from an arbitrary valuation and assessment, except compliance with a condition which is ruinous to some, imprac- ticable to others, and repulsive to all ? Unless indeed it be a further certainty, which in this case also exists, that from such an assessment, once made, there is absolutely no hope of relief!
That this city has lost important and valuable citizens and great capitalists, in consequence of the operation of this principle, is a known fact. How many more have been deterred from uniting their destinies with ours, and have been led by it to place their capital in employ in other cities, it is not possible to estimate ; but that there have been such is also positively known.
Other great cities, our neighbors and honorable rivals, have no such arbitrary principle connected with their system of assessment. Having opened a corre- spondence with the respective Mayors of New York, Philadelphia, and Balti- more on the subject, they have each of them, with great promptitude and polite- ness, transmitted a transcript of the principles and course of proceedings of their respective cities in relation to assessments.
In all of these cities there seems to exist a general content with the principle on which assessment is made, whatever discontent may individually exist in the application of it. In neither of them is any exhibit of personal property required antecedent to assessment. In all of them, previously to finally closing the assess- mient, an opportunity is given to those who deem themselves aggrieved, to be heard, and to have the assessment modified, according to the truth of their case.
The subject has great relations. I refer to it out of respect to an opinion, very general in this city, that our principles of taxation are injurious to its pros- perity. It is a subject worthy of deliberate consideration, and an examination into it would give to many good citizens great satisfaction, even should the result be, that a change was impracticable or inexpedient.
For the renewed evidences I have recently received of the confidence of my fellow-citizens, I can only renew the assurance of a life and thoughts exclusively devoted to understand and pursue their best interests.
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(II. Page 132.)
MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL, RECOMMENDING THE EXTENSION OF THE PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT TO BUTLER'S ROW, AND EXPLAINING THE MOTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THIS RECOMMEND- ATION.
Gentlemen of the City Council :-
AT a meeting of the Joint Committee on the subject of the extension of Faneuil Hall Market, on the 22d instant, the following vote was passed ; and the Mayor was requested to call a special meeting of the City Council, for the purpose of communicating to them the subject and proposition contained in that vote. In obedience to that request, the present meeting has been called.
The vote above alluded to is expressed in the following terms : - " Whereas counter propositions have been made to this Committee, relative to the purchase of lands adjoining the present improvements, now progressing in the vicinity of Faneuil Hall Market ; and whereas this Committee are unanimously of opinion, that it will be for the interest of the city that this Committee should be enabled to meet and close on behalf of the city with one or other of those propositions, thereupon voted, unanimously, -
" That the Chairman communicate the above fact to the City Council, and state to them, that by the power to make further purchases of land to an amount not exceeding two hundred and twenty thousand dollars, great and permanently useful improvements and additions may be made to the proposed market accommodations, without any ultimate cost, and with certain ultimate gain to the city."
In communicating this vote to the City Conneil, I deem it my duty to make such a development of the objects of that. vote as the nature of the subject per- mits, and as the nature also of the power suggested requires.
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