New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-01
Iniquity Rcbuked-Veto of the Gao Con-
tract by Mayor woodruff.

Iniquity Rebuked-VetO of the Gao Con-
tract by Mayor Woodruff.
His Honor, Mayor Woodruff, last
evening transmitted to the Board of Alder
men his Veto on the Joint Resolve of the
two Boards providing for a new contract
with the New York Gas-Light Company
for lighting the Streets for sixteen years
from the expiration of the present Contract,
which has yet two years and four months
to run-also changing the terms of the
present Contract so as to increase the Com
pany's compensation about $12,5OO.
We give the Mayors simple, brief, per-
spicuous Veto below and in behalf of at
least Hall Million of the 1000 inhabi-
tants of our City, we tender him the hearty
thanks of the community he has so salts
factorily served.
Beside those who have a direct per-
sonal interest in the Gas Company's divi-
dends, and those who have been paid to
put through this Contract, we are sure
there is absolutely no party, no fragment
of party in our City which does not thank
the Mayor for his fearless and patriotic
stand on this question. The Gas Contract
thus vetoed was little the most barefaced
job that the annals of our Corporation, so
fruitful in venality, can attest. Of at least
One Million persons who will read this
Veto Message, there are not FIVE thousand
in the wide world who will not approve
it most heartily. So concise, so temperate,
SO mild, so forcible is that Message that
we, who thought we had an adequate idea
Of the iniquity of the Gas job, are enlight-
ened and startled by it. Is L any wonder
that our Taxes Increase and our citizens
are called on, under specious pretexts, to
acquiesce in the addition Of Two Millions
10 -our City Debt, when such a graceless
Job as this Gas Contract can be carried
through our Board of Aldermen by three
votes to one and ratified in the other Board
unanimously What must be the meas
ures which the Councils boggle at, when so
shameful. and gigantic a swindle as this
passes with substantial unanimity Read
the Mayors Message, Fellow Citizens
mark the men who vote against or condemn
it, and say whether CALEB S. Woodruff,
has not deserved we'll of his constituents.
Here is the document
At meeting Of the Board OF Aldermen, held
Slst December, 1850, the following Message was
received from His Honor the Mayor which was
directed to be entered at length on the inmates,
and be Published in one or more Of the public
newspapers d. T. VALENTINE Clerk
MAYORS OFFICE Tuesday, Dec 81, 1850
TO ne Hon. tle Board Of Aidvmen.
GENTLEMEN: herewith return TO your Honor
able Body the accompanying resolution, providing
for contract with the New \ ork Gas Light Com
pany, with my objections thereto.
First The Company are entitled to hold and
enioy their present grant until the 18th day OF
May, 1883, leaving period OF two years and four
months of its term yet unexpired. They now re-
ceive for each public lamp or burner lighted by
them sum equal 20 the coat of each public ollamp.
The average annual expense of the oil lamps has
been from sll to Sl2 each. By the 9th section OF
the proposed grant the Company are 70 receive,
after the first Of January 1851, the sum OF sl5 per
year for each public burner, being 50 for each
burner over and above the present price on the
1893 public burners now lighted by this Company,
the difference in expense, against the Cay, be-
tween the existing and the proposed contract,
would at the time OF the expiration OF the pres
| emit grant amount TO upwards OF sl2,0OO.
/ do not, upon q careful examination, discover
| any good reason why the present grant should be
| abandoned before its termination, and the more
| especially if such abandonment is to be attended
| with SO heavy loss to the city. cannot In the
proposed contract discover any substantial equiv
alent whatever for the entire REIMBURSEMENT oil so
| large sum 10 this company.
Second The grant proposed by this resolution
10 TO continue for period of eighteen years from
| and after the 5th day OF May, 1850. 1t does nos
| seem to be expSdiept that any Common Coun-
Gil should assume to legisate Tor succeeding Com
| mon Councils for so long period In advance 1
| think il cannot be claimed that future Common
| Councils, with the advantages Of time aud exPe'
rience. vii. not be capable of legislating with as
much wisdom and with equal regard for the pub
| lie interests, as the existing Common Council
which is necessarily without the benefit OF those
advantages, which their successors will possess
| from time 10 time to aid them in their dehber-
/ atoms
TAn4; The lighting OF the streets Is police
regulation, and tle power OF the Corporation over
it Is MERELY governmental OF municipal power
| without any right Of property connected with IT,
1t is in fact public duty, as ntradistlnsushed
| from an unrestrainedrgh. or power over property
and the Corporation, it is believed, cannot divest
itself Of the right TO exercise constant control and
] supervision over It's execution, or limit its legs
latiye discretion by contract so as TO disable It
from cnacting any Law that might be deemed no
cessary for the public good.
This principle was fully settled by the decision
| Of the Supreme Court in the case Of britton aud
| others against the Corporation, as also IN many
| othercases la the former Chief Justice Nelson,