The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-24

ting more capable and more honest men TO repre-
sent the city In the Common Council.
9TH The two branches Of the Common Council
should represent different constituencies. Ii the
Board OF Aldermen be left as at present, and elect
ed every two years then the other Board should have
larger number OF representatives, elected for one
year, and each representing a smaller but distinct
district For this purpose the city should be divided
into districts, without regard to the wards but with
view to embrace within each district an equal
amount OF population. BY adopting this provision
which prevails in the national and all the State egis
latures, one branch of the Common Council would
exercise beneficial check and control over the
other; whereas at present, the Aldermen and Assis
tant Aldermen, representing precisely the same
stituences become as ii were one body, and one of
the branches, being duplicate Of the other may be
considered as nearly useless.
5th. Let the Board Of Supervisors and the Com
missOners Of the Sinking Fund be abolished; transfer
ring their executive powers to the Mayor and Comp
troller, and their legislative duties to the Common
Council. These two bodies, without being of any ad
vantage to the public, can more readily than the Com
mon Council be made TO subserye bad ends. Their
business is comparatively conducted in secret while
chartered provision is made for publication Of the
proceedings OF the Common Council and the press
and the public can, and will, better watch one body
than three. Besides the Common Council is under
strict provisions in regard TO the expenditure Of pub
lie money: the Board of Supervisors is under none.
The Common Council is subject to the veto OF the
Mayor; the Board.of Supervisors is not. Expend
lures which have from their niquity failed to pass
the two Boards of the Common Council, or to obtain
the approval OF the Mayor, have subsequently pass
ed the Board OF Supervisors. Contracts, involving
large and improper appropriations, have passed the
Board Of Supervisors, which could not be sanctioned
by the Mayor and Common Council, and especially
when re-organized as contemplated by the foregoing
propositions. There is no necessity OF requiring
branch OF the Common Council to attend to tho
county business, when it can, with more benefit to
the public, be performed by both branches, under
the approval OF the Mayor.
9th. Let all proposed acts Of the Common Council
including an expenditure of money, or receipt Of
money by the corporation, be published Immediately
after their passage by the first Board and at least
three days before the action of the second Board.
7th. Let all property of the city, when sold, DO
soid oy public auction, except when pre-emptive
rights or franchises may be injuriously affected by
such mode OF sale.
sth. The question whether the people of this city
shall continue to employ omnibuses. or adopt the
use OF railroads in certain streets is that should
be left to themselves TO decide If conveyance by
omnibuses, in any particular street be preferred by
citizens, then the power Of tie State Legislature to
exclude those vehicles and establish railroads in
their place, should not be exercised 1t is ques-
ton in which the residents and property holders of
this city alone have an interest, and one in which
the inhabitants of the interior Of the State feel no
concern and in which they do not desire to exercise
any authority Whenever bills regarding the city of
New York are proposed in the Legislature ct Albany,
that body always processes to act, and admits the
justice OF acting only in accordance with the wishes
of citizens here. Why, then, should our citizens go
to Albany to ask Tor q law on mere municipal mat
terwhich interests the city alone and not any other
part OF the Statc-concening which the Legislature
processes not to exercise its own Judgment but to act
only in accordance with the ascertained will of the
people of this city? If Albany Legislators throw
upon this city the responsibility Of determining its
own municipal laws, then why invoke the useless for
malty OF their further confirmation But if are to
ask the State for one local regulation, then may we
ask it to enact all the details Of our municipal affairs,
and transfer the entire city legislation at once to Al
bany The State Legislature always protesting to act
in accordance with the will of the people Of this city,
has but very inadequate means for asceraining what
that will Is. That body may be, and has been i'm
posed on. Laws, the most iniqntous and unjust,
have been passed under representations that their
actment was demanded by the whole city, while their
passage has been sudiousy kepta secret to all but
an interested clique Of lobby MEMBERS and, when
passed have afterwards been received with surprise
and universal disapproval Much of the disorganiza
sions OF our municipal government, has been pro-
duced by special legislation at Albany, procured by
various cques who had their own ends to serve
II the Legislature, by special acts, as is now pro-
ticular railroad in this city, then the people here will
have no power to remove such road in case of its be-
coming objectionable. On the contrary if railroad
tracks are to be laid by authority of the city they
OF constructing or of removing railroads in this
city belongs to its own people and we believe that
I nearly al Citizens are opposed to its surrender to
Thus, we believe that any special legislation by the
State on purely municipal matter, like that of de-
Gliding for the people OF this city the mode and man
ner OF their conveyance through the streets to and
from their places OF business, would but still more
strongly confirm dangerous presidents, and lead to
results which would still more injuriously affect the
lights and liberties OF our citizens For these reasons
we believe that the subject of the public conveyance
OF passengers through the streets of the city of New
ork-as well az all other merely municipal mat
ters-should under well-guarded provisions Of the
charter be left for decision to the people, whose in
terests are alone concerned.
In amending the fundamental law OF this CITY, care
should be taken to embrace in the charter such re-
strctions. checks, and responsibilities, the Legs
lature may deem necessary to prevent injustice, TO
protect the public and individual interests, and to
regulate the corporate acts Of the city. While thus
on the one hand, guarding the corporation against
the abuse OF power and establishing the general prn
cipes under which its authority shall be exercised;
Oh the other hand adequate provision should be made
to confer, exclusively and perpetuay, the city le
eisature, ample power TO ordain all municipal laws
and reguations-thus removing the necessity or
excuse for continued appeals to the State for special
enactments, which have been found so injurious to
the interests Of the city,
Believing that amendments to the charter, en-
bodying substantially the above, and perhaps other
and minor provisions would afford the only effective
remedy for the great municipal wrongs now suffered
we propose that an enactment be accordingly made
by the present Legislature and that it be submitted
to the people OF this city for their approval reec
ton, at an election to lie called for this purpose An
especial election will remove the question Of amend
ments to the charter from the conflicting and dan
gerous influences OF general election, and will alone
secure to the people an opportunity for free ex-
preston Of their opinion IL will prevent candidates
from attacking proposed amended charter by turn.
ing against it the votes Of their frends-who would
otherwise vote for its adoption-for the purpose of
concIiating those voters who might be interested In
perpetuatng present abuses.
To the Benevolent ond Charitable of the city
Of New York.
New York, March II, 1853.
1t having been ascertained that the bark Catharne
Augusta Of this port which sailed in October last for
Aug-r b,pd