The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-23

FOR TwENTY-FoUR HoURs.-THE citizens little
aware of the tremendous tax with which they are
saddled for salaries by their patriotic and disinte-
rested representatives in the Common Council.
Let US see what arithmetic will make of it. There
are eighteen members in each Board, or thrty-sx
in all They are paid 81 per man for the space of
from two to three hours each evening that they sit,
when their own private business is disposed of, and
when little gadiatoral recreation is good for the
digestion of their dinners, and prepares their gust
for the tongues jellies, ices, and sundres of the
surper-table, formerly provided out of the peoples
purse, at the rate of Sll 900 dollars per annu md
now about to be revived, at their expense, to the
same figure, OF .hereabouts-be the same, more or
less. Let us calculate the individual and collec-
tive cost of these gentlemen to the city.
-Four dollars for quarter of day, or about two
and half hours, at the rate of ten hours the work.
ing-dsy, amounts to SIG per diem-s96 per week,
and 1882, within IS of s. 900, per snnum. This
is far better payment than is received by any of the
heads Of the departments, and more than treble
what some of them are paid. In the aggregate, it
would amount to s576 dollars per day, S3,456 per
week, sl79,7l2 per year, to which add $1,000 for
canvassback ducks, tongues, brandy, segars, and
sundries, and there would be total of $l90, Sl2,
independent VI JooDinS tudt Soes oH iioih udy
to day, and by which the people are mulcted to
that amount twice told. This is "paying rather
dear for their whistle" as they will discover some
fine day. when the taxation reaches an amount
that will render it intolerabe. Let us see what
the Common Council have done for their pay
during the present month Their sittings COM
menced on Monday, the Sd instant, and ended
on the 18th In that interval one Sunday occurred,
which is dies non, and another evening they
devoted TO a spree with Marshal Turkey, the
Fouche of Boston, and other gentlemen, from
the City Of Notions" We hope they will not
charge the city any salary for that evening, on the
principle Of "no work, no pay" There would
then remain eight sitting days, during which they
worked about two and half, or at most, three
hours per day, making in all, say, twenty-four
hours. For this, the city is mucted Sl,l52-not
bad pay that for twenty-our of the leisure hours of
the Common Council. Now let us see what work
they have done:-
JUNE S:-The following proposition was discussed in
the Eoard of Aldermen
Resolved That thu Keeper Of the City Hall be, and
Is hereby directed to furnish such reasonable refresh
mens to the committees Of the Boards of Aldermen,
and Of Assistant Aldermen. az they may make requis
ton for, while occupied with public duties at hours
which render inconvenient to take refreshments at
their places OF residence and that all expenses there
by incurred be verified by the said keeper OATH and
when approved by the Comptroller warrant shall
be drawn by him for the payment thereof Said ex-
pensts to be charged TO the account Of contingent
penses Of the Common Council.
The question was ultimately postponed till Thurs
day evening, when they practically illustrated the
motion at the Aston House, With the Boston Delega-
ton The question Is still In allegiance
In the Board Of Assistants sever petitions referred
JUNE aboard Of Aldermen. Nesolved that the
Common Council tender the hospialities Of the city
tions against hawking fre-vood Ia the streets and
against dumping night soil in the rivers Adopted.
Board OF Assistant Aldermen-keports OF Commit
adopted
Jrsr 5-Board Of Aldsrmen A number Of paper
Board Of Assstants-Pspers from the Board Of Al
dermen concurred in. Reports OF Importance
adopted.
JusE 6-Feasting Of both Boards.
JUNE board of Aldermen. Salary of the Reader
increased from 500 70 $3.50 Funeral bills of John L.
The Comptroer's report Of the tea room expenses,
detailing the items OF venison oysters ickens,
amounting to sIl5O was discussed, and the printing
of the report negstiyed.
Board Of Observation-Disclosures accepted from the
Committee OF Arrangements in behalf of Bunker Hill
Chapter No q, O. u. A. to celebration Of the anui
vsrsary. Resolutions to light and repair certain
Jusr s-Board Of Aldermen. More help called for
In the Crotch Aqueduct Department, and increased
shameful waste Of water permitted Proposition to
inquire into alleged fraud in granting the Williams
burg Ferry Company lease, reJected,though mem
thereto.
Jusr Io-The Corporation advertising discussed and
after "a farcical exhibition referred again and put
asleep. More Corporation pap for the Express. In.
creased pay refused to the Police.
Board OF Assistants met to receive reports and i'd
journed after till the nrst Monday In July
JusE 1l-Board Of Aldermen. Petitions received
Ferry compspy to run new S.rry. "'i'-S"
JvSr l2-Board Of Aldermen. No business OF the
interest transacted and the Board adjourned
TO the first Monday In July.
or course we have not here inserted the speeches
to Buncombe we give merely the substance, with
out the Heather and prunela."
Such, then, is the hard work done during TWEEN
ty-four hours, and such the vast benefits the ci,i-
zens have received for them$l,l52. Yet the modest
patriots Of the Common Council are not content
with this payment. They want tea and " sundries."
The tenacity with which Aldermen stick TO the
good things of this world is curious Some time ago,
when the legality Of the. tea-table expenses was
questioned, and the Mayor declined to sign the bill
for the payment, Qor his Honor never partook of
one Of these Aldermanc feasts,) it was deem
ed advisable to abolish the tea-table in the
form in which il then existed. But it was soon re-
vivcd under the head Of City Hall Bureau, which
the Board actually created for the purpose. The
idea Of good wages in addition to good diet, next
dazzled the city fathers but they feared the pub
lie Indignation, snd they said, VIII abolish the
tca.table, and there will be no objection TO the
salaries, and when we have secured our pay Of
81 90 per hour per man, we can afterwards restore
the nightly feed" Accordingly proposition to
that effect is now pending, and doubtless will be
passed in July.
The pay Of the city fathers for taking care of
the grown children under their government, may
seem 20 be a small matter, inasmuch as the busi-
mess does not last throughout the whole month. But
what is TO prevent the Common Council from so
spinning it ont as 10 make il continue from
day to day throughout the yearl They have
the power and they may now be reluctant to use It;
but The time will come when they will spread their
proceedin over the whole month. aud then their
pay for a quarter Of days work every day in the
year, will amount 90 sii92S. Fellow citizens, look
20 H.
Religious Intelligence.
SERMONS TO-DAY.
Church Of tho Cruclaxion. University riace-Rev.