The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-22
BOARD OF ALDERMEN


Debates In the Common Council
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
rOur Special Report
FERRY-A FINANCIAL oPEEArfoy-THz M
ounY or THE CITY FATHERS AS DESCRIBED By ALDERMAN
The report of the Committee Ferries fro the Board
of Assistants reducing the annual of the Wall
ferry from COO TO GEO. account of recent heavy
expenses was taken up, and was the subject of
and general debate.
Alderman TWEED moved for concurrence on the
ground that the company had incurred very heavy ex-
penses recently and that it at present losing ope
ration. The company would hare to give up the lease If
the Board would not decrease their rent it being mposs
bic for them at present TO pay the interest money
invested.
Alderman noHEITY then rose and began by attacking
the Board right and lett There was he said an
instance Of avorin in the annals of the Common Council
1t wonder that the people Of this city and else
where should hold up the members of the Common Coun
Gil to scorn when they would deliberately swnde the
city out Of $4,000 by the adoptoA of resolution
ducing the rent Of the Wall Street Ferry Company from
$4,000 to $1,000 per annum. As general rule the lay
ing on the table Of any paper silly and unnecessary
but in the present case where merely upon the written
communication OF the Secretary of that company
planning Of the great expense incurred by the company
the city lose the large of $3.50 0O0 he thought
that the LAYING the table Of great Importance in
deed Its being printed could not inure the Ferry Com
pany and il would most certainly be of great net to
the community to have the repert laid on the bile and
printed. 1t because the company was a rich
and powerful one and because it had connected with
it directly and indirectly some Of the vealthiest
h hnu ~ ,b Ed wsre 20 Luz. mem s
the reduction OF the rent; but if poor man, who
had contract and was unable bv ,nforseen aiaicIas
o fln his agreement FOR want IF time uorn 10 onn ~
The Hoard for an increase in the length If ,ima ,ta, ~
him to perform his contract the majority of the members
of the Board he to would lift up their
IN III and arv him bbe GRANT az TINA On 10 rona
that would be great loss TO the city SO much the
difference between poor men and capitalists In concn
,ion he aa that Re n \ no ca rthly reason for adoni
the reuort and Re hoped that all those who felt tbe Ia
the interest of the city 1T heart would vote "a Law il
on the table 10 pript -
Alderman Tr-yyAy had incurred ;nto .ba ,1att,r and
was fully prep, red 10 vote for the reduction OF the rent
If they DELAYED tho ioptoa of the re mort for wasx ~
two he was ute certain that nothing further coad be
elected that could throw any further light on tie
matter
Alderman RArR said he woud like Ia have the ran,rt
laid on tIe table in order that anv mistakes wncI
rectifed both by the Board and the COMMITTEES them
selves at their next meeting
ALDERMAN Twrr1-As one of the committee who made
The report he would state for the benefit of the public
that Iii the facts ppertaInpr to the matter were fn
investigated Iy that body Nothing would come out Of
tbe rerort being prnsd x ept deay therefore no bonea
that The Roard without any further discussion wopld
concur with the Board Of Assistants
Alderman noHyBTY then rose and commenced a long
red back TO the establishment of the Wall street ferry
company saving that when the had been ought
up in that Board the greatest excitement existed Tie
members Of the Board continually beeged by the
saelytes Of the company sent there to use their utmost
endeavors in gaining the influence Of the Board to recog
Mise tic scheme lie wei remembered the manner IN
which the project effected and did not 'orge the
OF members going out Of the room. and leaving them
without a quorum when they wantei to DELAY the mat.
ter for a favorable evening. Large and fair bids
for the ferry offered by parties offering ten
fifteen and others eighteen thousand dollars year
but the present lessees being the hghesg bidders
ferry rented to them the annual $50 O0o
The whole affair was in his opinion all a plot made up
beforehand obtaining the lease by bidding highest but
determining, at the time, when opportunity
rived to throw themselves upon the generosity Of the
Common Council and beg Of them reduction of
$3.50 COO "a pretty piece of fnance.ing that" We
would have supposed, said the gentleman Of the nine
the foot Of Fulton street. the Company would have
waited Tor three months at least to whether would
paw He cautioned them then in the language Of
father." not 20 throw away $780, 900 Of the public
money to set OF kiobbers If they would vote ike
him the question, no man in after could point
his finger with scorn at then and say there Is one Of
the Common Council who ol5OOO of the city funds
to Wall street Ferry Company and swndled the city out
Of so much money" For his part, he would wash his
hands clean OF the infamous transaction ami would feel
quite happy IN being aware that he had done his duty
to his constituents lie had ma erals and fact. that
would the truth Of his remarks and intended at
other time TO produce them.
Alderman lIMASS-Would ike 70 hear the facts as he
one Of the committee who leased the ferry to the
present company.
Aderrs an SMITH moved as an amendment in lieu OF the
resolution that the Comptroller be directed to purchase
all the boats bridges and ferry houses of the Wall street
Company have them disposed of for the benefit of
the city.
A member moved to lay this amendment on The table
Carried.
Alderman DEyNAy-If the gentleman OF the Nineteenth
would produce those facts which he referred 10 in the
course OF his remarks he would greatly obiqe me by hay
ing them read To those who inclined to vote
for the adoption If the report he would say tina. papers
from the Board Of Assistants had been received explain
ing in detail the for the application Of reiuc-
ton in the yearly rent Of the Wall street Ferry COMPANY
If the Common Council to lessen the rent the
end of the year the city win have to sell everything be-
longing the ferry to she highest bidder, tina. in the
end it will be Just cheap way as the other
Alderman SMITH here interrupted him, and asked him