The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-05

rrR.- For some time pest tho Com noe Councu Of
this city have BEEN eaesy-d IN eig,stisg ssd pre-
pairing rome alterations 80 the cry charter. The"
labors have been conyls'ed. aud the n~xt ss-P "
to submit the amendments WHICH they PROPOSE 90
the Legislature and sis-rw ards the voters Of the
city. tor their approval
We have examined the smc ninssts TO the char
ter, that have been thus cPo-ed BY inc Commea
Council, and glad 10 T~fre've that they rH''
body many q the suggestions and improvements
which we have Frequently fcihied oct ss nscessary
for the proper sdministrstoa at our mun,cigai
affairs The principal feature 10 The proposed re-
form is the diusicn 81 the city gevemmes, laio
Departments, which viii be div ded into bureaus.
over which will pfeside diH-vas officers, usder
whose direction will come the various ds,ies noe
pericImed by committees This rsovi.ios. a ssally
adopted, will bring into HE . system Of respcs-
sibihty that has long been very much needed The
several heads Of departments will be answerabls
tor the manner in which they mall perform their
duties; and IN csse 81 any malieasanc~ m the dis
charge Of any Of the functions OF the government,
the public will at once know where the blame a.
taches, and whom 20 hold responsible.
There Is enc point, however, which does not
meet our appreciation. The thiry-h1t section Of
the proposed amendments provides thai all officers
OF the city OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. administrative,
or judi shall receive q stated salary, or p~
diem allowance, Tor their services. % be fixed by
the Common Council We do not see why the
Legislative branch should form an exception to
the rule. We certainly think the members 81
both boards Of the Common Council ought 20
be paid for their time and services, as well 40 all
other members OF the city government. II 10 un-
reasonable TO expect men 10 devote evening after
evening in attending to the Interests OF the city,
without compensation. On the whole, however,
we are pleased with those amendments, as far as
they 60; and are Satisfied that il they be adopt
ed by the people, they will break up many Of the
abuses which now exist
| Reform has long been needed IN the admins
tratlon Of our municipal affairs. There no
earthly reason why the expense Of conducting our
city government Should amount TO the enormous
sum OF three millions Of dollars per annum-a sum
much larger than is required to conduct the
government OF any State in the confederaoy, evea
the most populous. Such sum cannot be re9uir-
ed, If our city affairs justly and properly ad
mlnistered Why, we would ask, does il happen
that our Aims House costs muchl Why should
the paupers, not only OF our own city, but Of the
contiguous States, be fed and pampered in ldeaess
properly conducted, could be made to support IL
self, and even be made source OF revenue to the
city. As that department of our municipal govern.
ment Is now organized. 1t offers inducement to
the dissolute lazy, and indolent to enter Its por
tails, SO that they can live the fat Of the land
without work. Why did not the Common Couu-
Gil take measures to organize work-house in
connection with this institution We hope they
4 r Ill
but cannot procure employment, or are too lazy to
do 1t, should not be burthen on the industrious
portion of our citizens.
The DESTINY OF THE PopK.-Why should not
public meeting be called in this city, by all
true Catholics and all generous Protestants
willing to Join In such a movement, for the
purpose of making arrangements to invite his
Holiness the Pope to take up his residence
hereafter In this great metropolis, and thus avoid
the excitements, disturbances, and revolutions
which must agltate Europe, and especially Italy,
| tor many years to come?
In less than fifty years New York will be the
greatest cities the sun ever shone upon. Colec.
tons might be made here and elsewhere throSgh-
out the Christian world, for the purpose OF raising
in this neighborhood, and make it the centre OF
Christendom for the next thousand years.
This may appear a visionary project, but it Is
not 80 when we come to examine 1t infinitely.
According to all accounts, st. Peter made Rome
the centre Of Chrlstendom throughout the world,
in his day, principally because it was the leading
capital OF the civilized world, and the head of the
great Roman empire yet the popedom has not
been always in the same spot For seventy years
1t was removed to Avignon, in the south of France;
and if that removal was legitimate, another and
better one to New York would be equally 80. Here
His Holiness and the College OF Cardinals might
live perfect safety, and attend to their religious
duties and restore the Catholic church to the same
purity and moral influence which it exercised and
enjoyed in the first centuries of its history The
religious rights Of the Catholics are as much re-
spec!ed by the law institutions, and habits OF the
American people as any other class of Christians,
and the same feeling would be extended to the
Pope himself, should he conclude to make this city
his residence, and the centre Of the Catholic
church. He would certainly receive more respect
and be tier treatment from the Protestant Christians
here, than we may suppose st. Peter received from
the Roman pagans among whom he resided.
There are many fine sites which might be selected
to build Vatican upon, on the banks OF the North
rlver. Marble is plentiful at Sing Sing, and all
that would be wanting would be money to build
the requisite habltation, and the Pope to come over
and take up his residence therein.
Let us get up public meeting embracing these
views, form committees, and send deputauon to
His Holiness to ascertain his opinions, solve his
doubts, and give his latter days some repose, OF
which there seems little prospect for him, wherever
he may be in the Old World In the present agirated
state OF Europe.
THEATRICAL LITERATuRH.-We perceive that
Mr.. Macready has recently received new play,
which has been expressly written for him by Mr.
Bulwer, and which Mr.. Macready intends to pro-