The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-01

VIOLATING TIE CRY ORDINANCES DIRTY
S1RKKrs.-It would appear that city authorities
are proof against all circumstances. The condition
of the streets of this city has been so frequently
commented on In the public press, that it is morally
impossible single member of either board Of our
Common Council can be ignorant of the public
feeling upon this subject. Yet, week after week
are their meetings held, and their stereotype rou-
tine business transacted, and not single word is
uttered, nor single effort made, to remedy this
crying grievance. What can he the cause of this!
What Is the reason that thousands and tens of
thousands of dollars are annually appropriated by
he Common Council for cleaning our Streets and
no care whatever taken that the work Is done
1t is high time that his Honor, the Mayor, and
the honorable body who compose the municipal
authorities, should be summarily arraigned, and
made to account for their dellnquencies by the
public, whose interests they swore to look after
on their entrance TO office, but which they have so
shamelessy and peitinacIously neglected.
We are aware that there is great outcry
raised about the impunity with which the city
ordinances are violated, and it is said that there
are twelve hundred suits of this kind =" in pro.
gress" in the office o! the Corporation Attorney,
all of which have been commenced since the 9Th
of August last. But why should this be the case
Why should these or any other sioatons of the
Corporation ordinances be "in progress" any
where Is there not penalty attached to each
violation of these laws! and has not the mayor, or
the justices, the power to infIct it summary? If
such be not the case, this power should be con-
terred, for il is perfect farce hear of the Cor
poratlon Attorneys office being filled with suits
SIN progress" for a violation of the Corporation
ordinances.
We did expect that the universal Indignation
which the dirty, disgusting condition of our streets
had excited IN the breasts of all--resldens as well
as forelgnels--would have urged our munlcipal
bodies to some little exertion to have the evil
abated But it is useless to expect any change in
the men now in office. The Ethiopian might be
as soon expected to change his skin as the filthy
Corporation that now presides over the destinies
OF New York, be expected to take any steps to re-
move the foul, fehd, and mlasmatlc atmosphere
which they have so long and so passiyey per-
united their constituents to breathe and die In
II is no defence to say that the streets are as
clean now as they were last year. or ten years ago,
or before the present contracts. If the honorable
body cannot discharge the duties which they have
so ardently solicited and so cheerfully accepted,
let them resign men will be found to fill their
places, who, without fear or favor to sway them,
and uninfluenced by political partalties, will do
their duty to the satisfaction of their fellow
citizens
We know Of only one further remedy by which
the present authorities can be forced to do their
duty, viz. for the friends of any of those unforu-
nate beings who fall victims to fever, or any other
OF those diseases which are caught from MAS
matte and putrid exhaatIons, to summon the
coroner to hold an inquest over their bodies; and
should II appear, from the investigation that the
disease was caught from the putrid vegetable or
animal matter which Is to be found in almost
every street the city, or from filthy, uncleansed
sinks or sewers, to bring an action for damages
against the Mayor and Corporation, In proportion
to the value of the services of the individual SUP
posing him to survive till natural old age There
can be no doub! in the world but the authorities
are morally and Justly chargeable with the death of
many of these individuals; and were we upon the
jury to try them, We should, in many cases, feel
ourselves conscientiously bound to return our ver-
dict against them. This is the only further re-
medy we know of, TO bring our authorities to a
sense Of their duty; and we trust some one will
yet be found to try Its efficacy. We have no need
TO wait for cholera for an opportunity. There IS
not day but occur in some part of the city;
and although no coroner's inquest is held, and the
proximate cause of the disease Is never more the
subject of enquiry, 1t is well known to the medical
officers of the city that the causes to which we
have alluded have been manly and directly in.
strumental In producing the death; and these
causes, although known to every Alderman and
81,
city, are permitted to work their deadly effects,
day after day, week after week, and month after
month, without the slightest attempt being made
TO mitigate or remove them.
CITY Politics..