The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-07
CITY REFORM.
CITY REF ORM.
~>~~~~~~~o~~~~~s~~~~~~~
0REAY PUBLIC 16HEYIN0
AT
METROPOLITAN HALL.
-~~~~~r~~~>~~~>~>>~>~S-~>~
IMMENSE TURN OUT.
~~~~~~~~~>~~~>-~~-S~~~-
Address, Speeches, and Resolutions,
&C., &C., &c.

One of the most numerous meetings we have ever
seen within the capacious walls of Metropolitan Hall,
was held Saturday evening, in pursuance to public
requisition, of those in favor of the immediate reor
ganization Of the Common Council and the recon
structon of the charter that the members of the
two boards shall be elected from districts of different
magnitude as in the of the Legislature of this
State, and exercise only legislative powers, and so
that the veto power of the Mayor shall be enlarged
and our municipal elections held in the spring in
stead of the fall. Every seat and standing place in
the body, boxes, and galleries, were occupied 1t
was significant meeting, and if it works the end
for which it was convened, it will prove to be most
important movement.
Mr. PETER CooPER, presided.
On taking the chair, he said:-Gentemen,
take this chair deeply sensible of the unmerted
honor you have conferred upon me, and feel
my entire inability to give form or expression
to those feelings that struggle within me for
utterance upon this occasion. We are assembled,
gentlemen, to perform of the most important and
responsible duties that ever occupied the attention of
intelligent men, and we are called upon by all we
hope for and by all should fear to enter upon the
consideration of this subject in right spirit feeling
however the necessities Of the occasion that has called
|
discharge Of this painful duty that we shall enter
upon it and perform it fearlessly and with pure de-
sire that our efforts may prove blessing to the COM
munity in which we live. We are all deeply sensible
Of the great necessity that something should be done
to inspire confidence in the government under which
we live, for that confidence appears to have been SO
shaken that everybody seems ready to exclaim that
something must be done. We have assembled 10
wis hat hiuo cIoU1,
II it were possible for us to rise upon the wings
OF thought, and fly back to the remote periods of
antiquity, and from thence down the current
OF human events reading the inscriptions that
are marked in striking capitals monuments
Of human folly it wonld admonsh us that
good government can only be sustained by per-
petuai vigilance and by constant appicatono the
energies and watchfuness Of the great mass Of the
people This watchfulness we feel now that the peo-
pie are ready to give. We feel now that the people
have come out and shown themselves, and that they
will do away with the temptations that have seemed
to be more than human nature could bear We have
formed in our midst a despotism, by uniting
the legislative, the executive, and the judicial
| power in one body, (applause) and by that
means placing them in temptation more than they
ought to be subjected to. l trust that this
meeting will resolve to separate our government
to mark out its particular parts, and so hold each
part responsible for the performance of their part
cuar duties that there shall be chance OF their
going away from the performance OF those duties
that involve the interests of the whole community.
will not longer intrude upon your time but simply
hope that we ehsl, before we end our discussion
upon this subject, determine every Of US, to go
home to our places OF abode with full determina-
into meeting; and collect and determine that upon
every coming election they will send members to
form the primary meetings, that shall select men
necessary for the due performance of the requisite
duties OF our city government and, by that means,
take away the power Of controlling elections by
men who have design upon the public treasury.
| cloud applause.)
The Vice Presidents and Secretaries having been
| elected, the following address was then read =
The absence of all economy in the expenses the city
the disposition to add to its permanent debt and that
with feature for annual reparsthe frequent dis
charge without trial. by Aldermen persons arrested
for crmethe grant of valuable franchises and property
without adequate remuneration-and the evidences
extravaganza abuse Of powers favorsm, and misman-
agement which appear in our municipal government
this evening to the great object IT, of ey sorm
The present chief magistrate of the United States has
wisely stated in his inaugural address, that in the admin
stration Of domestic affairs the people expect devoted
integrity in the public service, and observance Of rigid
economy, in all departments, marked to be
questioned and he truly adds that without diligence
integrity, and capacity wherever there duties
be performed, stringent laws for the prevention
punishment of fraud will be vain" These Truths have
been impressed at every step Of progress and
hence in the call of this meeting the two objects
ments of the city charter recent experience shown
to be necessary, were Jointly proposed In asking for
these changes, no dimnution Of chartered rights is
thought Of The power of the people must be represent
ed in government it will be weak and inefficient. No
violation Of any Of the principles which lie at the founda
ton of free institutions, will be accepted. On the
trary ask that the local government city may
be made to conform to those principles In the original
checks has been happily combined, A Senate and As
sembly, representing constituencies of different mag
nitude is a feature recognized in American govern
ments except alone that Of this city. Here the same
district elects representative to both boards of the
Ss Sn Sd nsSe the c me ok Intended
branch Of the legislature another is not found
local government This departure from recognized sys
tenn needs to be corrected Into most American consu
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
against haste extravaganza and abuse in legislation.
In order to do this and yet not impair the efficiency of
legislative action Il has been made an effective power and
votes ordinarily required to overthrow veto
than originally necessary to pass the measure
which it has been exercised. In city charter, the
veto has been much degraded that greater
of votes is required to PASS law after veto than be-
fore-a feature which takes from the executive depart.
as have been .perpetated in city government
under the forms Of legislation We respectfully urge
cirles may be corrected, and the veto restored to
| what Il usual and reasonable. The provision in our
State constitution, requiring two,thirds of all elect
| ed to pass measure after veto, seems to be
sdering the tendency TO abuse which prevails Our
municipal elections now take place on the same
day which the State and general elections held
| In populous city like this, where vast number of
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 ts at the same
time which prevents that discrimination which aims
exclude improper persons but the overshadowing infu
Of the general and State elections the local eec
tons is feature from which the most danger results
| The amount of expenditure in local government,
equal is shown in the conptrolecs late report to
the joint expenses Of all the Sates) and the numerous
important subjects OF local legislation, require that
municipal officers shall be chosen exclusively for their
honesty and capability which is mpossble at fall esc
ons except in particular instances The objection that
proper persons viii not vote at the spring elections is
by the great interest excited IN former times at
tested in local affairs from the great abuses which have
been recently disclosed The great truth has been clearly
manifested, that eternal vigilance is the price Of
liberty 1t is impossible to the great blessings
Of good government without constant watchfulness GA
the part Of the people The ground that at spring eec
tions for munieipal officers sufficient interest will be
manifested, unjust asperson upon people ant
form Of government II will be difficult to procW pro
per reform In local affairs, without cham ing th,
time of municipal elections from the fall to ae spring