The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-07
The Reformers sun In enc Field.

The Reformers sln In tho Field.
ADDRESS or THE MUNICIPAL RxPoRx COMMITTEE
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.
The committee appoin ed at the great Metropoli-
tan Hall meeting of March 1858, to take measures
for reforming the abuses then universally conceded
to exist in the conduct of our local affairs and whose
proceedings were subsequently ratified almost unani-
mously by the adoption Of the amended charter,
respectfully invite public attention to some further
suggestions touching the important subject Of num-
cipal reform.
Much good has been accomplished by the amended
charter. In limiting the power OF appropriating
money to a single branch of the Common Council
establishing the contract strengthening the
veto power Of the Chief Magistrate compelling the
disposal of ferry leases and franchises at public
ton Furnishing mai.easance in Office and pro-
yidng new checks against hasty legislation and i'm
provident expenditure, its operations have been
saIutary and beneficial.
But the charter, however fauless, will not ensure
efficient and economical government, unless
we have good men in Office to enforce its provisions.
Your committee have never lost sight of this
great necessity On the occasion of the late Charter
election an appeal was made To the electors of the
several wards and Council districts, Of all parties,
to select as their future representatives in the legs
lave branch OF the city government the ablest and
best men whom they conld prevail upon 10 serve,
without the slightest reference to their opinions upon
national or State politics.
This appeal was only partially responded to. A
few members were returned to each Board who
ucltAcr were supported Dy, or trammelled with
pledges to either Of the political organizations.
The gentlemen comprising this small but highly re-
spectacle minority have been usually designated as
reformers.
A majority of the members of both )ards were
elected as party men. portion of these indeed,
were favorable to, ut least acquiesced in, the
charter OF 1853; bit still larger portion have not
only proved hostile to that instrument, but pract-
cally deny that there has been any necessity for re-
form and are /" following the footsteps of their pre-
deceasors" of ignoble memory fet the present has
usually been styled by the press Reform Common
Council AMI the minority members have most I'M
Justly been held accountable for its misdeeds.
tbs true the principles set forth in the address
and Iesolutions adopted at the Metropolitan Hall
meeting have been ably represented by some of the
foremost men in either board, and a beneficial
change has been wrought already in the adrnnstra-
ton Of affairs. A firm and resolute minority with
right and public opinion on their side, are never
wholly pcwerless in Legislative body aud can
sometimes control il.
beginning has been made in the right dircc-
ton but only a beginning. Politicians who have
been wont to use the vast patronage of the city GO
vernment for the furtherance Of party schemes,
hope and affect to believe that your zeal for reform
was but an ephemeal excitement, and will soon
wax cold. Trusting to your apathy, they viii srug-
gle hard to regain their ascendancy. 1t is not I'M
natural that they should contest your right to take
your affairs into your own keeping. The stake at
Issue is great one. Upwards Of six millions OF
dollars are annually drawn from the pockets of the
people Of this city by direct taxation and assess
ment. and disbursed by the various departments
of these viz.:-Street, Streets and Lamps, and Re
pairs and Supples-expend annually about three
millions of dollars The payments for salaries
alone are one and quarter million!
The following table gives startling exhibit of
the rapid increase OF taxation since 1880, con-
pared with population or property. The levy OF
1853 exceeds that of the preceding year in the enor
nous sum OF seventeen hundred thousand dollars,