The New York herald., 1844-12-11

1.l.I1n1e11s1lesnu1GrlQ1urE1
Meeting 81 ths Friends sf Municipal Ksfsfsa
A call having been nade through the papers
upon those favorable TO reform in the government
of the city. by portion of the democratic electors
OF the eighth ward, meeting took place last night
at Denman's Hotel I62 varick street. 1t was moi
very large assembly, but the proceedings were
OF an interesting nature. A little after o'clock,
the meeting called 10 order, the following
officers appointed ed:-Chairman-Mr. G. p. Brown
Vice Presidents-G. Boyer, Albert Garnsey, John
B. Spafford and David A. Fowler; Secretaries
John B. Harkins, David p Halstead and John
Bogart
The CHAIRMAN, after reading the call of the
meeting, which was put and approved, said,
that having been honored with that Office, he
he would endeavor to fulfil its duties with impair
Iiality. The question Of reform had been often
raised, efforts frequently made to cure the abuses
which were visible to all, the best selections
made of men TO fill Municipal offices-yet they
mad still been unable to effect the change He was
persuaded, from past experience, that the fault lay
in the organic law, upon which their city charter
was framed Mr.. b. here alluded to the several
charters granted to the citv, from the days Of the
Dutch down to that Of 1870, by which Common
Council was organized, and the first division Of the
city into wards effected. BY this charter the MEM
bers Of the Common Council were elected an.
nnally, and for the same term as the Aldermen
There was, il was true, some slight alterations made
since the formation Of that charter; il was neral
y the same now as il stood at that early day, ante
cedent 10 the American revolution, and the adop-
non OF the glorious constitution OF the United
States, and Of all those adopted by the several
States Should they not have as good govern
ment tor their city as any OF these governments OF
which he speaks; tor certainly the interest -tstake
demand u. Considering that they had to leyjslats
tor 1000 lAh ibltants, and control an immense
amount oi property-was it right, he would
ask, that these vast interests should be COM
mlted to the hands of thirty -four ind ,duas, no.
from the nature OF the duties they had to perform
could not 40 them satisfactorily. To show the i'm
ossibllity OF getting things we'll administered, h+
would take the case of single Alderman-say o
the eighth ward-whose duties were more than
sufficient to eIsross all his time, with listening 10
applications OF a charitable klnd-his attendance
IN the Common Council TO egislate on some i'm
poriant measure, referred to the committee OF
which he is member; then again he has to preside
on the bench, is one OF the county supervisors,
county canvasser at elections, member OF the
board OF health. With such vast amount of busi
ners in his hands, 1t was impossibty to do jus
lice TO the public. These gentlemen should be d.
ves'ed OF their judicial and other OF their func.
tons, In order that they might give matters coming
before them that attention they demand. He
would not further detan them, as there were
others TO follow more competent to the task than
he. lie was satisfied, thar, although the best men
might be chosen to office, yet, under the present
system Of government, they could not act with
iull justice 10 the important interests committed
% lis disposal. A meeting had been held IN the
oh ward, at which an address had been adoyted
and sent forth, which contained many suggestions
that would, ii adopted, be OF the greatest inpor-
tance to the city. II any gentleman had it, he
would be glad procure II and read i to the meet
ing. The Chairman here read the address adopted
at meeting held at Jefferson Hall on the 9th OF
Nov last, and concluded by observing that il
would be requisite to appoint committee for the
purpose OF drawing up resolutions for their adop-
ton, expressive OF the sense OF the meeting.
q m
committee was lift to the Chairman, who forth
with nominated Messrs. c. De Witt, F. Haver-
meyer and F. w. Birdsa, to draft series Of reso-
lullons. The committee having retired,
Elk Alderman WATERMAN introduced 10 the meet.
ing, which he adj at considerable length He be
gan by observing that III, subject which drew them
gether of The last importance to the citizens Of
New York. II was which did not address the pas
sions or prejudices but the understanding was con-
nected with the fundamental law under which they lived
aad as citizens resilient in the eighth ward they to
enquire whether the present government OF the city
hest form OF government which they night have. fi
was then they were in duty bound to sit down and obey
quie y and contentedy but II il was not then was
equally their place to seek better In order TO d. ~
mioe what 1t would be well to survey its history
The fs charter granted 10 this city far back
admiaisraton Of the Grst pgli.h Governor seSeral
Others followed at different periods down to that Of 1870
which was granted by George II. That charter
tha, charter Of that age should for that rea.
be considered In these enlightened times as Ina
q
not be well adapted 10 this republican country The
population oi New York. for whose IL aterdedy
was then only so00 and he doubted whether 1000 able
bodied men could be mustered In the community when
his Montgomery charter was granted Snch ins,ru
ment would not and could not suit the purposes Of th.
city now that had grown to population Of over 400 00
souls They might be told that in 1850 convention sa,
t. amend il and did they might be told OF the aers-
tinns made ny that of 1880 but these changes either
~ 'rifug Of no advantage By the charter OF 1880
you had Board OF Aldermen and one OF Assistants who
sat t"ge,her d were, with the Mayor and the Re
cor6er invested with the power Of taxing the public TIE
charter OF 1880 separated from the B,ar Mayor ano
Recorer, BY wall Of 18th and pss'er and remains till
this day essentially what was When measure is laid
before the Board Of Aldermen now, and passes, IL
goes before the Mayors il he approves Of IT, il is adopt
I'd II he objects to It, the the objections published
IN the newspaper that the public may look NJ il II or
being sgain sent the MAY he still refuses
ton it. can be adopted provided there be ms.rty OF
in such amount to any thing7 Does il do more
than the old Chamber did ? "a voice. "no'J In the old
Board although he had veto. he had vote, and tha
would count one, but the Of the May count.
nothing Thare has not then been any essential modif
Of the Charter of 1880 by Incorporating the veto
iermen Assistants are elected by the same class al
the SINE time and for the term. Now Il be
PLAIN that those two sets OF elected will be operat
"a upon by the same motives am any motives that can
be brought to bear upon the Board of Aldermen bt
nssdi with the same effect upon the Board Of Assistants
There has been provided more much of check
upon the Council by separating the Boards as the
old charter did for the debates being now car
RED on separately neither body gets the full light
this hour under the charter of $780, Tor they made es
sents alteration Of III and he thought he had shown it,
adequacy to mDister 10 the wants VI the inhabitants
this city at the present me from age that
dssimiar IN its wants-it was granted by King who
had little disposition TO grant the people any rights he
could refuse, much less study their interest II must
hen be apparent from what he stated that the organize
ion Of the Boards and the veto Of the Mayor Is deec.
tive In order to show Its defects more clearly they
might compare with more perfect governments--wb
those which had secured the appreciation Of the world
veynnent the Governor elected by the vote Of the
people as the May e in the city IN the former
was invested with veto power; but IL not shadow
II s here adequate to the end for which II IL N,
tended-t, check bad legislation. If bill went before
the President and vetoed required two thirds OF the
senaetc ppcse IT, and that was what yet
" the history Of this country That that salutay
law he hal only TO recall 10 their minds the veto of the
United states Bank Bill by President Tyler Tha was
an effective veto Now IN this city the exigency
occurred in state affairs might arise. The personal
'afey and property OF vast community az stake
and the veto such an one could be nulned
W two-thrds vote Of the Adermen-was rtquir,d to
excpsspa of elutora