The New York herald., 1850-12-24
The Gas Contract Outrage-Importance OF
the Veto.

The outrage which the two boards Of Com.
mon Council recently committed on the rights
and inteIess of the unfortunate people of this city,
has we are pleased to see excited the indignation of
every respectable man in the community. We
never knew of an act that is more universally
demned Than this outrage; and the general senti-
meut is that, the renewal Of the contract for
eiahteen years, with the New York Gas Company,
was brought about by fraud and corruption of the
most ganng and iniquitous character.
II is impossible 10 arrive at any other conclusion.
Thousands of our citizens, in the exercise of right
that is dear TO them, petiioned the Common Coun-
Gil to annul the contract between the city govern
ment and that monopoly, for variety of reasons,
all of which were good, and could be substantiated
by mass of testimony perfectly overwhelming.
The monopoly were alarmed al this proceeding,
rightly suppcsing that the people were in earnest,
and meant to rid themselves OF tha, gigantic swim
die and public cheat They accordingly com.
menCed operations TO coun eract the movement
thus commenced against them; and not only that,
but TO procure renewal of the contract for a pc
nod of eighteen years, and thus head off the pub
lie They employed a man at the rate of three
dollars day, 10 work for them, and use his in
fluence IN defeating the peoples wishes, and scat
tered money layishly in places where its ex-
pendiiure they thought would be TO their interest,"
all for the purpose OF obtaining the privilege of rob-
bing the community for another long term of years
Instead of pay respectful attention to the wishes
of their constit uens, committee of the Board OF
Aldermen was found possessing sufficient hardI-
hood and rccklessnes TO disregard that pehuon-
throw il aside, as If IL not worthy OF attention
and 10 their eternal shame and disgrace as public
servants, be il said, 10 propose u renewal of the
contract for the time mentioned. The shallow
and weak, but evidently labored, defence Of the
gas monopoly, in the form OF report, which that
committee had the efirontery to present, was
adopted-the resolution directing a renewal of the
villanous. contract was passed, and both slipped
through the Board Of Assistants by a unanimous
vote.
What are the people of this city to do, in order
20 prevent the final consummation Of this daring
and reckless piece Of corruption ls there no re-
sress1 Are the people Of this mighty metropolis,
numbering more than half million, to be made
subject to this monopoly for a term Of eighteen
years, against their wishes, and in direct contradic
ton to their solemnly expressed will Ito be swim
died out Of their hard earned money for the enrich
ment Of profhgate corporation Their duty-ther
INN ediaie duty-is obvious. Let no time be lost
luoht mtthhb w NthSuASN eh9 M
grant and corrupt legislauon--let the Mayor Be
waited upon, and requested, in the stronges,
tsrms, 10 withhold his assent TO the corup,
and scandalous action Of the Common Coun-
ei-let appropriate condemnation be passed upon
the men who have thus shown themselves un-
faithful guardians Of the trust coniided to them
and let every man Of the Common Council who
participated in this job, be marked well, and for
ever alter stamped as unworthy to hold any office
under the people. We hope this course will be
adopted at once. No time is to be lost. In the
meantime, we call upon Mayor Woodruff to step
m and by the exercise Of the veto, arrest, ne far
az he can, the consummation Of this vile business.
lie is about retiring from Office; and II he wishes
10 be remembered by his constituents as an hoa"st
and fearless Mayor-ss one who was proof against
cofruption-he will consult the wishes Of hts con-
sutuents, and protect them against the fraud which
the two boards Of Aldermen, in concert with the
gas monopoly, are connecting against them.
THE LANDrNe or THE PILsRms.-The two hun