New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-11
CITY REFORM
Address of the Metropolitan Committee 60 the Cid
zrrs OF New-Ysrk.

These embraced appropriate remedies Tor the
crest evils under which the City i s,in suffering . vi
defective Chsrter srd incompetent and unftbfu Public
Officers and Representatives ia The Common Council
In order carry into effect the drecous Of that meet
ing your Committee addressed memorial 70 the Legis
ture for the passage Of such laws a. the emergency de-
manded and personally attended Albany the
object
In accordance with the prayer Of the memorial &C,
Authorizing important changes in the Charter Of the City
passed the Legislature with condition that shall take
effect SIS law when approved at election 10 be held on
the 7th day Of June next.
This act although not al that desired contains many
valuable features which should be engraited upon the
present form of Government, and tie Committee do not
hesitate to recommend to the and support
Of the friends Of Reform.
II establishes proper footing the veto power
ineffective check upon hasty mprovident and injurious
legislation.
1t creates constituencies of different magnudes for the
two Boards conforming in this respectto the rule by which
the ordinary legislative establishments OF the country ars
formed and correcting the OF At present
existing by which the district elects representative
10 each branch OF the Common Council
1t takes away from our local legislators their judciS
functions which have been exercised shield party friends
from punishment. and to give immunity to violence and
crime
1t establishes many guards the making of contracts
and the granting of franchises and property and Furnishes
with due severity not only the bribery of officials but the
attempt to bride them IL creates auditing Board and
requires the sale OF all property ferries &C. auction TO
the highest bidder
These provisions eminenty Just wise and necessary
and approved by you the election 20 be held in June
next viii constitute the FIRST decisive step toward that Re
form in our City Government which induced that vast as
sembsge at Metropolitan Hail. from which the authority OF
this Committee emanated
In the address adopted at that meeting il forcibly
stated that not only must the Charter of the City be wisely
framed but competent and faithful servants be elected
in order to secure the nesmabe blessings Of good Gov
eminent.
The Committee mindful Of the importance Of these
views The Legislature did not grant the prayer Of the
memorial election this Spring of Members Of the
Common Council and for Spring elections The election
of Members ofhe Boards will therefore take place
until the ensuing Fall; but the adoption OF the organic
changes proposed by the Act which you pass will
doubtless have important influence that election
Should they be defeated the hope of Reform will be greatly
weakened Their adoption will show that the City is bent
on securing Reform and will give impetus to the cause
that will act with great force and effect the nomination
and the selection ofcandidates
On previous OCCASION amendments to the Charter were
defeated from the neglect Of the public authorities pro
vide suitable ballots in their favor The amendments EN-
braced the Act before you will be opposed by all those
whose vocation OF proftng by misgoyernment will be af
iected by their adoption
The duty Of securing the approval Of the citizens of New
York to those amendments is consequently devoved upon
the friends Of reform There will be pretended friends
whose efforts will take different direction. Against their
exertons il will be your duty to guard Your best
lions will be necessary to carry out the great object Of inn
proving our local Government The interests concerned
in misgoy eminent are deep to Justify the hope that the
al, ba
opposition viii be exhibited in pretended zeal for saving
what they call our ancient chartered rights the people
OF this City were not their safe depository and bet
ter TO suffer great evils than attempt to improve condi
ton by voting for wise amendments.
The CITY by growth unexamped ia all previous histo
~ has outgrowu lis form of government The Charter
stands was adopted for uncomfortable population and
locality 1t was suited to the people who were homoge
neous The numerous duties of legislative Judicial and
Executive character that devoyed upon Aldermen
wer, performed with fidelity and zeal when the City OF
that character and old and well known citizens occupied
the most but the duties 10 be performed attendant
upon our advance in numbers wealth and eIteatand the
avditv with which selfish and interested individuals seize
upon the immense patronage Of the Cy-ca for careful
division Of duties and for the inerposon Of checks and
safeguards upon their performance Ihatseparaton and
.to.a checks require the adoption OF amendments. No
amendments can ever be made except with the authority OF
the legislature The appeal % the Legislature vas made
on the condition that the approval Of oss n'7re'sain me
change the citizens of New should drsbe gwen Our
chartered rights thus been guarded from nconsdate
alterations and they viii be greatly strengthened and
cured by adopting the proposed amendments.
We entreat your earnest cooperation with in this OBJ
iect The example OF this City misgoyernment has been
closely initiated in numerous other localities until wide and
deem decentralization has been exhibited lis fruits The
evil Is hurful to all the great interests Of society, aid
threatens to affect the reputation and prevent the spread Of
Nose free institutions which have their origin and derive
their su~or from the community which they operate
Success in arrestn this downward course in the spot Of
n. origin will have the most beneficial results here and
elsewhere
II i necessary that there be thorough organization and
united effort on the part OF all the friends OF Reform in order
% ACCOMPLISH it. Committees for this purpose will be- from
time TO time appointed TO invite your aid We ask your
nropt attention 10 their calls and your cordial services in
this behalf
Moses Taylor, Aired Peh, Burts ssidnofe,
Psni n " nthrop Willard l.. Felt- T. q. lie Roy
james BooIman, VIM n. snasE "a. a DersI q -sr,
Benz 4. Butler GafansI asnnan' NUM- p o..'-Han'
4 y.5 Ssr c1ss o, Hsysn. WIN 5; coney
y NJ Qusc kenboss Wn ~ fntenafa 5ienfy E, ,1,
FIsncis Burrtt John l. Mason, Isaac Il Bsiisy,
VIM Whit oes, Jr, Peter Cooper. Daniel He5ies,
Joshua J Henry Marin zsbfisxs' 11.spleI hshass'1'
Edward kstchnnn, Esnfy gnnnsH' Sainss LSe,
So Adri1 nee, John Harper, lanes Brown
IL " Oetfsd Wm. ChaRneey, :. Leland
Indiana-1IIstake Corrected.
Tsthe Esitr Of TA.x T. T1bu1s
SIR In peaking Of elections 20 be held in the different
States during the Of this year see you place In
diana in our list holding her election on the first Non
dsv in August This is a mistake Under her new Con
80 eiea.;on Jav has bean CHANGED from the frs,