The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-06

within the capacious walls OF Metropolitan Hail.
held last evening" in pursuance to public requis0n Of
those in favor of the immediate reorganization Of the
Common Council and the reconstruction Of the charter
that the members of the two boards shall be elected
from districts of different magnitude In the Of
Legislature Of this State and exercise only legislative
powers and that the veto power Of the Mayor shall be
enlarged and our municipal elections held in the spring
instead Of the fall Every seat and standing place In the
body, boxes, and galleries. pied. 1t was sig
nifcant meeting and If 1t works the end for which it
was convened it will prove to be q most important
meeting.
Peter Cooper Esq, presided. The Vice Presidents
having been elected George B. Butler ESQ., delivered
the following address,
The absence of all economy the expenses of the city
the disposition to add to its permanent debt and that
with new feature for annual repairs-the frequent dis
charge without trial. by Aldermen of persons arrested
for crmehe grant Of valuable franchises and property
without adequate remuneraton-snd the evidences Of
extrayagance abuse Of powers favortism and misman
agemnet which appear in municipal government
nave induced the people Of this city to meet together
The present chief magistrate of the United States has
wisely stated in his inaugural address, that in admin
israton Of domestic affairs the people expect devoted
integrity in the public service and Observance rigid
economy, in all departments, marked to be
questioned and he truly adds that "without Diligence
integrity, and capacity, wherever there are duties to
be performed, more stringent laws for the prevention
been upon us at every step of progress and
hence, in the call of this meeting the two objects re-
organization Of the Common Council and suoh amesd-
to be necessary were jointly proposed In asking for
these changes, no dminution Of chartered rights is
ed in government 1t will be weak and inefficient No
violation Of Of the principles which lie at the founda
ton Of free Institutions, win be accepted On he con-
ray, we ask that the local government Of city may
be made to conform to those principles In the original
fabric Of all our constitutions system Of powers and
checks has been happily combined Senate and As
sembly, representing constituencies of different mag
nitude, is feature recognized In American govern
ments except alone that Of this city. Here the same
district elects representative to both boards Of the
Common Council and hence the ch ok intended
by the fathers of the government the part of
branch oil legislature another Is not found in
local government This departure from recognized sys
tenn needs to be corrected Into most consttu-
tons the veto power representing elective depart
ment of the government has been Justly incorporated
One of its principal objects has heen to guard the people
In order to do this and yet not impair the efficiency of
legislative action has been made effective power and
more votes ordinarily required to overthrow veto
which it has been exercised In our city charter the
veto has been much degraded that greater number
Of votes is required to pass law after veto than be-
forea feature which takes from the executive depart
ment all to protect the people against such abuses
have been fperpetIated in our city government
hat this departure from recognized and valuable prn
cipes may be corrected and the veto restored to
what Is usual and reasonable The provision in our
State constitution, requiring two-thrds of all elect
cd to pass q measure after veto to be rea.
|
sideripg the tendency TO abuse which prevails Our
| municipal elections now take place on the
In populous city like this where q vast number of
officers to be voted for and where the vote is also
large there is great Inconvenience and confusion arising
from the necessity Of voting for both t. at the
time, which prevents that discrimination which aims
exclude improper persons but the oversh allowing ndu
of the general and State elections local
tions is feature from which the most danger results
The amount Of expenditure in local government,
(equa is shown in the copptrosrs late report to
| py no tbn
important subjects Of local legislation require that
municipal officers shall be chosen exclusively for their
honesty and capability which is impossible at fall elec
tons. except in particular instances. The objection that
proper persons will not vote at the spring elections is
those contests, and by the still greater interes mani
Tested in local affairs from the great abuses which
manifested that as eternal vigilance is the price o
liberty h inPossias % secure tho great blessings
the part Of the people The ground that at sprnr eec
ton. for municipal officers no sufficient interest will be
manifested is an unjust aspsron upon our people and
per reform in local affairs, without changing the
time Of municipal elections from the fall to the spring
That change unhesitatpp1y recommended 1t is clearly
within the of the Legislature to submit the peo
pie the question, whether or not the term of newly
elected Board shall commence at the ensuing spring or
at the end Of the term of the present incumbens The
President of the United States has wisely stated that
oces can be properly regarded only in the light Of aids
for the accomplishment Of public Objects The present
charter in the matters specified has been found to be
clearly defective, and there would to be just
son Tor continuing its operation to crafty public officers
at the expense of the public interest The charter adopt
cd in s4o was prepared by committee of citizens it
passed the Legislature in April of that year it sub
mted for approval the second Tuesday of the
month; it provided that those aldermen and MS sstans
second Tuesday of April should hold Office only until the
1st OF January ensuing But it further provided that the
amendmets, approved By majority Of the electors,
should gonto eec the first Tuesday of June following
new frame of thus adopted about wo
months from the first passage of the act through the
legislature. The charter then adopted contains my
new and wise provisions but there deficiencies which
experience has made apparent and the amendments
proposed merely Intended carry out the manifest
objects thee sought 10 be accomplished and they are ne
cefay to give TO the government Of the city that char
Such being their nature IL would be proper to
give them immediate effect 1t would be unjust and mex
pedient to postpone their operation merely to crafty
vice, not TO elves, but TO the public II is ex
rected is it desired that these changes in our mu
nicpa government shall take place without the concur
renee OF the People Inc people OF this city are wholly
competent to manage their affairs and will pass upon
any amendmeus bnt they have no power to amend the
charter except with the authority of the legislature
They apply for this authority in the full confidence that
the voice of great community, determined to escape
from the evils of mis- government and from the disgrace
which attends it, will not be unheeded BY the Assem- bed
wisdom and power Of the State.
]. W. GERARD Esq, then introduced to the meet
Ing and delivered eloquent, humorous and sarcas
tic speech which received with enthusiasm.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gerards address, the follow
ing resolutions proposed and unanimously adopted:
Whereas The government of the city of New York, in
consideration of the vast material and moral
committed to its should be provided with all those
checks and guards which found essential in both
national and State constitutions to the preservation
integrity and economy in the administration Of public
fairs therefore
Resolved That the legislative judicial and exec itive
departments of the city should be kept
par and Independent OF each other in all respects
and that in each department the principle of responsible
y to the PEOPLE ought to be made direct and eIec
tive as possible.
Resolved That the legislative power should be vest
ed in Common Council consisting Of two branches
equal in the number Of their members representing diff
erent cons situences, and holding Office for unequal
terms; that the members of the smaller body should go
out By classes and that the popular branch should
be so numerous TO make each member directly and
Immediately responsible 10 his constituents g. That
judicial powers should be exercised exclusively by per-
elected for that special Office and for that alone
That he executive power should be vested in the Mayor
heads Of departments and the police That the Mayor
should have veto upon all enactments of the Common
Council and ordinance thus vetoed should become