The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-13

PURITY AMONG ALDERMEN BY the eleventh
section of an act to amend the charter of the
city of New York, it is provided, that no alder
man, or assistant alderman, shall be directly or
indirectly interested in any contract that ex-
presses any consideration whatever, or which is
to be paid under any order of the Common
Council. This is plain and distinct provision
IN the charter. Now, it appears that the third
ward is represented by certain gentleman, who
is called Alderman McElrath. 1t also appears,
that this same gentleman is part proprietor of
the New York Tribune; and it appears also, that,
during the last few months, our contemporaries Of
that paper, have had contracts with the corpora
ton for advertising, equal to six or ten
thousand dollars. Now, we would like to
enquire, whether, under the eleventh section
of the charter of New York, this alderman
and part proprietor of the Tribune, parti-
cipates directly or indirectly in the profits of
these advertising Jobs Some few days ago, our
eminent contemporary proposed bet to us that
their advertising receipts were greater during
the last year than were those of this establish
ment. If we could violate law of the corpora
ton and section of the city charter with i'm.
punlty, and procure jobs in that way for six or
ten thousand dollars, contrary to that charter,
amount of receipts equal to that of our bOasting
contemporary.
But this matter will not stop here. The city
election is approaching-the people Of the third
ward will soon be called upon TO elect for
another year their alderman and assistant alder
man, and then it will become question how
far the present alderman has participated in
these advertising jobs, or to what length he has
violated the provisions of the charter which he
swore to obey on his induction into office. But
the matter ought not TO rest even here, and we
call on some honest, Independent member of the
Board of Aldermen, TO propose resolution, and
enquire whether the alderman of the third ward
has participated in the profits of these adveris-
ing Jobs, IN violation of the city charter; and
this must be done.
The FERRIEs.-The Board of Aldermen will
meet tomorrow evening, and it is expected that
the report in relation to ferries will come up for
action. We have repeatedly had occasion to re-
fer to the numerous abuses connected with our
ferry sys stem in New York-the owners having
for years enjoyed a monopoly, to the manifest in
jury of our citizens in general. New York city,
being situated on a small island, with its i'm
mense population, is blessed with the most pic.
turesqu. scenery in the immediate suburbs
that well be imagined The air is pure.
the river scenery enchanting-yet, should
any of the citizens choose TO take a little
recreation, or breathe little fresh air, he cam
not pass across any of our rivers without paying
an exorbitant sum for his trip-exorbitsnt in
consideration Of the distance and the accommo-
dation. Many of our citizens, in particular the
! laborng classes, who can only enjoy their Sun
/ i
preference to submitting to what they deem an
imposition /; and, indeed, the best commentary
we can make upon the system, is, that during the
summer months, we can take trip to Bulls
Head ferry four miles, and to other spots in the
vicinity of our city for almost the same price
that we are obliged to pay in crossing to
Hoboken, New Jersey, or WILLIAMSBURG, some
few hundred yards. Passengers are taken to
Albany for fifty cents; and when we take these
facts into consideration, why should the ferry
companies be allowed TO enjoy such monopo-
| ly 1t is quite in the power of the Common
Council to remedy these abuses; and we trust
we shall see the day when. the ferrage will not
only be reduced, but free to a-or at least low
| cred to mere nominal sum.
| Such step would greatly enhance the value of
| property IN the immediate suburbs Of this rapd
ly growing metropolis The public look forward
TO the action OF the Common Council on this
subject, with deep interest.
MODEL SERMONS ON MODEL ARrIsrs.-We ex-