The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-10-28
ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS
OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK.


with submit you for your adoption or rejection the
suit of their deliberations.
Of incons1er Importance, and encompass
ed with many and varying difficulties.
n. cary;ed thew were deeniv imnrasssd Nth .h ~
potapce ofrctanng the present chartered rights of the
city, and to the conclusion that they ought not to
endanger those rights and the privileges possessed
by the city, by again submitting them to Legislative
The convention therefore, determined to retain our
present chartered rights privileges and franchises and
to revise and amend the present charter in such parcu
lars as they deemed the public sentiment demanded
change.
The convention submit to the people Of the CITY
three separate articles for their consideration which,
the convention, have to be submitted to the electors Sc
paratey, and SO be voted upon by them II will, how
ments will greatly mar the harmony and usefulness of
the others, and either does not your approval il
would doubtless be better that all should be rejected
We feel an abiding confidence however, that a care
iul examination of the amendments submitted and
comparison Of them with the existing provisions of the
city charter, will secure for abors your cordial
appreciation and support
y The convention propose
That the corporate name and franchises of the city be
retained rs they exist, except modified by the
smendn ents they have adopted.
the and the heads Of the various Department.
That the powers and duties of the mayor shall be the
same a. now existing That there shall be eight depart
ments for the transaction Of the business of the city, with
appropriate and necessary bureaus.
municipal department to have the general charge
common council ali laws passed BY the same and to have
chargeof the,ses Of the city and may eralty, and to
afhx the same according to law.
The Police department to have the charge of the police
OF the city, under the general supervision of the mayor
The department Of finance, to which appertans all tho
is the comptroller who in addition his general super
vision Of the finances of the city, to make full and de-
The street department having charge of the streets
sewers, &c, and all matters appertainng thereto:
The department Of repairs ana supplies to which is
committed all matters of repair to public property and
the management and control thereof.
The Croon aqueduct department. having charge Of the
nected herewith
The aim: house department having charge of the aims
The law department to which is committed all tho
legal business ofthe city, or in which may interested
The heads of these various departments aye to be
the people for two and the heads Of the
bureaus in the several departments be appointed
BY the mayor, on nomination to and approval by the
The heads Of the various departments and heads Of
bureaus are to appoint the clerks in their respective
omces and all other officers are to be appointed in such
manner as the common council shall direct except
that such appointment shall be made by the common
council or any member thereof
board OF aldermen and assistant aldermen to be elected
annually Zach ward to elect alderman and such
number Of assistant aldermen a. it may be entitled to
The council are hereafter to hold three stated
sessions in each year. and to pass all such laws for the
management good government, general welfare of
the CITY, they may deem expedent not inconsistent
with or prohibited by the eonstitution Of the United
usual powers Of Legislative bodies are conferred upon
TN boards, who together, form the common council
tho city and are in ali cases to act separa.e and dis
tAnct nom each other, and have a negative on each
others proceedings
have imposed many restrictions the powe rs of
attention. and the opei alton Of which will think
duce rigid economy in public expenditure more care
citizens, and just preservation Of personal liberty
The annual charter election is be held at the time
from the expense and vexson upon our ire
quen elections Ii is conceded all hands, that the
change OF the time Of charter election from the time
trey failed in the only object ofhat change-the separs
ion Of our city afans from the influence of general
politics
We believe that better and more competent persons
will be solicited to fill city Offices il they are chosen
the time Of our general election at which time thore
Is then mere generally attracted to the qualifications of
their agents.
serving invioate the faith OF the city fall be
eve, 10 secure cordial appreciation We believe
that our efforts to secure the prompt and faithful
liability OF all the public officers the taking from them
AL lees and perfusi,es Of Office, and securing all
fixed salary, adequate to the services rendered,
public and the individual officer.
We have inserted in the amendments now laid before
you provisions in relation to work by contract for
the city, the effect Of which, We think will be emnenty
useful 1t hos long been just cause of complaint that
none but men Of wealth and influence could obtain q
contract from the city, and that in too many instances
the day laborer through chicanery and fraud was de-
prived of the fruits of his toll Believing that it is
espscally the duty Of the government leg for the
protection of the weak against the mschinatons and
fraud OF the strong, have directed our attention to
the remedies proper correct those evils and
hdenfly hope our efforts in this respect will have
been in vain
The propositions in reference to to the justices of the
city both police and civil are the result of careful de-
liberation, and ii adopted. cannot our Judgement fail
to be valuable Improvements.
The Of the jurisdiction of the civil courts was
and fha pf nf
fees, andthe prompt payment into the city treasury
w ensure fund sasqase, in our judgement nearly
the city from the hitherto great Of maintaining
hem
pense, and prompt and efficient punishment follow the
commission Of crime, by the daily sitting Of the police
courts who will perform all the duties devolvog
the court OF special sessions which meets only
twice in each week and cannot dispose OF the criminals
then ready for trial They have consequently to be de-
taued at large expense to the city the guilty with tbe
innocent; stem alike injurious to the Interests of the
city and the cause OF morsis and good government
we nave also inserted provision for the future
the future TO epgraft upon it a small expense and
little trouble, such improvements time and the
We have thus fellow citizens, briefly called your At
tenion to the most important of the changes which we
eli that their work falls far short of psr.
lection end OF what their constituents may possibly have
e expected at their hands.
The delegates have applied themselves 10 the trust
committed them with all the assduty in their power
and with profound conviction of the importance and
gre q, responsibility OF the duties imposed on them.
the result Of their labors shall tho approving
voice of their constituents the eniion ipdures the
cou6de hope that future our municipal affairs
will be administered as TO advance with rapid strides
the glory and of rcal metropolis and
secuis to every citizen thereof the end and aim Of
true governmentsequal protection in the enjoyment Of
their inaenable rights life, liberty, and the pursuit
OF h. ppinessn
BY order Of the convention
ABRAHAM v. WILLIAMS President.
And Delegate from the Twelfth Ward.
D. T. VALENTINE. Secretaries.
JOIN A. STEWART, ''
. The above is tho address which accompanied the
TO the City Charter published in our
paper OF esterday, from the committee appointed to
prepare me same The following appended to the
document embracing the amendments
DoNR IN CONVENTION.
AZ the City Hall IN the City of New York, the twenty
x'n oay Oh Vctoper, IN the year thousand, eight
hundred ana and of the Independence OF the