The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-07
The New Common Council.

The old Common Council closed their official
career last Saturday evening, IN blaze OF glory,
by ticking and complimenting their President,
themselves, their Clerk, and in the fulness Of their
hearts, not forgetting to say kind word on behalf
of the reporters who had the good fortune to be
enlightened by them for year past. To-day, a
new edition of city fathers will enter spon the
duty of directing the affairs Of this great metro
polls and giving a shape TO its destinles.
The Board of Assistants did one good act, at
least before they surrendered the insignia Of their
office. We allude TO their inconvenience IN the
resolution passed by the other board, contracting
with the New York Gas Company TO Lighter
rather make darkness visible throughout-;he
lower part of the city for the term Of nineteen
years after the present contract shall have expired
II is not often that we can with truth and istIce
praise any of the proceedings of our municipal
corporation; but this last one, performed by the
Board of Assistants the last day OF their official
existence, IN administering a coup dc grace TO one
of the most impudent and barefdced attempts to
swndle our tax-paying citizens out ola enormous
sum Of money annually, for the long period Of
nineteen years ahead, is entitled to be praised, and
will, we doubt not. induce the recording angel to
strike out from his record few Of the grave Of
have committed during the year past.
As some Of those who are about TO be installed
as Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen Of this
great village are fresh from the people, 1t is ia
keeping, we think, to address them few words.
on the duties that will devolve upen them, and the
expectations that we hope will be realized from
their career. For years past rs they very well
know, the expenses Of conducting our municipal
affairs have been much greater than there was
any necessity for. Our tax-paylBg citizens have
been regularly and udicially swindled out of large
sums nomina'y for the purposes Of our city CO.
vtTnment, but really for that Of filing The pockets
OF contractors, who, in many instances, were the
friends or relatives Of the parties who voted those
moneys. Our streets have been kept m a mise
rabe state we have had bad lights We have had
miserable pavemenis-in fact, VIC have had every
thing bad but water, Of which the supply has been
equal to the consumption, with some to spare, aad
the quality excellent. Previous Common Coun-
ellis may have had some excuse for their SINS Of
emission and sins OF commission, but the new GO
vernment which will be indicted into Office to-day
wall have none. Under the old system, it was al
most a recognised principle or rule Of acton. that
the members Of the two boards should steal aud
hide away great an amount OF pckings for
themselves, their friends, relatives and political
associates, as the sum in the city treasury would
tolerate. But the new Common Council will
take Office under the new erganizstioa of the
city government. The duties Of the new Com
mon Council, under the provisions OF the new char
ter are purely and exclusively legislative. All
executive business has been taken out OF their
hands-and, unlike their predecessors, and the
predecessors Of their predecessors, they viii not
have anything TO do with lingering the iunde.
Under the new charter, they viii have every op-
portuni,y to make the government Of this city one
OF the best in the world. The people expect this
from them. and il will be well for the gentlemen
composing the two new boards. It they do not
disarpomt their constituents. They have the
power and opportunity OF correcting great many
abuses, and they may depend upon beng called
upon for rigid account OF their stewardship.
We hope the new Common Council will ponder
upon these matters, and endesvor to relieve us
from some Of the expressions that have weighed
upon this metropolis, and retarded ts growth for
90 long. As long as they conduct themselves
properly as a municipal government, we shall sup
port them; but they may depend upon our oppo-
sion or the other hand, il they disappoint public
expectation, ard prove themselves faithless to the
,rusi rcpcsed IN them.