Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-03-10
Cornfhoh Council.

Board or ALDERMEN, March 9.-The Board met
at o'cock-the President in the chair. The min
utes oi the last meeting were read and confirmed
| Several petitions and messages from the Mayor,
were received and referred.
Reports-From Special Committee, adverse TO
the scheme for the Corporation to become insurers
ofPremises and goods against fre-Adopted.
In favor OF building pier at the foot OF Troy
street.
In favor of exempting the building belonging to
the Mechanics Banking Association from taxation
Adopted
Nearly thirty other reports from the Assess-
ment Committee were adopted sub sifsntio
An ordinance from the Board of Assistants to Sc
cure the accountability OF certain members OF the
Commons Council, was read first time, and refereed
to a committee. 1t roctes that various powers
involving theeXpendture Of public money, are vest
ed in certain committees of both boards Of the Com
mon Council, denominaed the committees roads
and canals-the committees on lamps and gas-the
committees fire and water-the committees
markets-the committees on public Offices and re-
pars-the committees on fnance--the special joint
committee public buildings and other commit
tees of the Common Council.
And, whereas, by reason oil defect IN the pro-
visions of the existing ordinances, the said commit
tees not required to report their doingS in the
premises to the Common Council, in consequence
whereof the representatives Of the people in the
Common Council are deprived OF afull and proper
opportunity ofexaminng and passing upon the con-
duet of the said committees, who are but their sub
ordinate agents.
And whereas a due regard for the public interest
demands that proper provisions should be made for
strict accountability the part Of the said COM
mittees and Of all other committees upon whom
powers may be hereafter conferred:'
IL then goes on to provide for the accountability
by compelling the committees e. report che board,
who were present such final action together with
the ayes and thereon and makes all such resolu
tlons invalid ualess the same be adopted by Naio-
rity of the members from each Board composing Il
said Committee, and the ayes and shall in a.,
be taken the final action Cf such Joint Com
mttee and entered or endorsed thereon. And if it
involves the appropriation of money, the Comptrol-
Ter shall not issue his warrant pay out any money
thereon, until the resolution authorizing the
signed by majority of the members from each
Board composing the said Committee, shall have
been filed in his otiiec."
The Street Committee reported in favor Of discon-
tinuing the proceedings in the matter OF the opening
and widening of HOomingdale Read. This project
created very hot discussion, at the end of which
the report was adopted
In favor of building additional piers at West
street. Adopted.
From the committee wharves, adverse to per-
hitting Cornelius Vanderbilt to alter the location Of
the New Haven Steamers.
An immense amount of twaGdle and nonsense was
talked the matter, and when the members got
tired, the report adopted.
The report of the Select omaittee, the
port of the market committee, adverse to any inter
ference with the meat was read at length BY the
Chair.
On motion of Alderman Nash, the report was
accepted and the board adjourned.