New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-18
The New Char,er....No. 2.

TO the Eda0y Of The 7TibAae'
The New Constitution makes It the duty Of the
Legislature to provide for the organization Of cities,
&c and 70 restrics Their porr cftaLat'os, assess
ment. borrowing money, contracting debts, and
loaning their credit TO prevent abuses IN as
easements and in contracting debt &c. Yet the man
feature Of the New Charter is It's placing the Common
Council supreme over the City entirely independent Of
The state LEGISLATURE The Address Of the Convention
declare. the juden, OF its members that they ought
no, 10 endsnger the rights and privileges now possessed
by the City By again submitting them TO Legislative or
deal In view Of this con,rss, between what the New
Constitution requires and what the proposed Charter
allows il u the ess surprising that !, should be actually
provded IN the lin section Of the let article Of the
Charter the Common Council shall power to pass
al sueh proper laws &c for the good government &c
ofthe City as are or ayHo prohibited By the Consttu
tons Of the United states the tate Of New York. &c see
mage Of the official copy printed by order Of the Con
yentOn) This design being understood at the outset
the real operation OF the amendments VII be the more
clearly
Ia the first place there is % be Alderman for each
Ward and an Assistant Alderman for each District OF
certain extent II first % Aldermen and 10 Assistant
Aldermen. The Aldermen shall each have 500 per
annun aud the Assistants $3.50 esch This is very wen
Tor the AZURE 10 see and upon. But the Common
Council may aiterwaTd divide the city into Common
Council Districts each OF which shall siterward have an
Alderman and whenever any asien0nef sal DC s1cpied
by two thirds o. each Board End carried at the election
il rhaN become part Of the City Charter. Very we'll
Politicians want 10 be Aldermen, and Aldermen want
salarles The Common Council VIII Immediately III
crease the number Of Aldermen and two thirds OF the
members will Of course (why not vote 10 increase
their own salaries and then the politicians will carry
al the election. No man who knows how these things
are done can doubt H. There is state Legislature 70
submit il 70 Tor revision and Judgment There is 10 bar
between the Office holders and the people The add
tonsl expense of this measure VIII be enOrmous.-
II Is quite Interesting 10 observe how carefully the Char
ter secures 10 Common Council men all they hare while
providing for what more they may receive Nothing
contained In this Charter shall be construed 10 deprive
any Alderman or Assistant Alderman Of any compenss
ton to which he may be entitled by virtue Of his Office
Again The Common Council shall have exclusive
mower 70 impose taxes the city ID 10 Of Immense
Importance to men Office that they should escape the
terrible Legislative ordeal 10 which they are every
wear subjected at Albany. We oil know that we are
very heavily taxed, and that considerable amount OF
money Is wasted for party and private purposes. And
IL il known 20 some that great Is taken at each an
uua estimate 70 avoid alarming the Legislature By too
bold lace 10 asking for money and much skill 10 re-
ouired 20 put good appearance the various items OF
expend tuTe Ii is known too, that az each session OF
the Legislature a corps Of onclal Gentlemen arc ois
matched 10 Albany 20 lobby the bill through the Leg
slaure and the City Treasury IL duly charged with
handsome bill for the service including the champagne
and oystsrs Now with all this the Common Council
have not alyays succeeded In efecln2 their Object
Some lynx eyed citizen has more than once, by ms pre-
senco al Albany although without the influence oil ON
station obtained alterations 10 the proposed tax laws
QUITS 10 the advantage of the city such experience has
led 10 determination in certain quarters TO escape
possible the legislative ordeal" OF which the Conyen
non delegates complain bitterly. Surely, In vsn the
net is spread in the sight Of sny bird. j. :.