The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-23

Municipal law has bGeu pIVpciis NShHcu do u
rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme
power OF State or city, and enanating from
a body If men who respect the rights and in
terests Of the PEOPLE only, and who, in their
corporate representative capacity, may be
looked upon $ fair sample of the amount Of
moral feeling, private worth, and in dependence
of character which exist in the community for
which tLey speak. We fear that the Common
Council Of this city as a collective body, falls
far short of the defined standard; and we are as
sured that ourcellow-citizens are now convinced
that under the specious name of CITY Reform"
they have been ca, oled into the adoption CT
plan Of government which not only perpetu-
ates all the evils of the old regime, but rem
ders them more Immediately injurious tie the
best interests Of New York by extension.
We were the first to warn the people against
the aelusion Of any public benefit accruing
from the ''Peter Cooper" movement, owing
TO the fact that the deliberations on the
choice Of candidates were carried on in pri-
yate caucuses convened in the University at
Washington square, at private houses, i'll Wall
street, and other places in the city, from which
the reporters of the INDEPENDENT press were
excluded AS q proof of the accuracy Of our
conclusion, it is only necessary to call atten-
ton to lie fact that the new Boards have been
at work since the second day of last Janu-
any, and that all the abuses of which we
complained ere unTedresssd, whilst the cost of
representation has been multiplied threefold.
Our readers will remember that the pey of one
branch--the Board of Councilmen-of the cor
porate body, amounts to about two hundred
and forty dollars for each night of meeting,
and that the effect of their united wisdom for
three moaths is. that Mr.. Genin had heretofore
to undertake the management of sweeping
Broadway, paying his men by voluntary
contribution of the residents that our side
walks are barricaded with piles of merchandise,
and our leading streets rendered impossible
with building rubbish-the up town wards,
many Of them unswept AMI without light,
rowdyism prevalent, and not single ordinance
or rule Of city government Of any public utility
passed
During this time our reporters have furnish
ed the people with full and GelnoWledgedly
accurate accounts of what did really take
place and we would ask if the people are will
ing to adopt such scenes as their own acts, and
say that the men engaged in them represent
their worth. amenity and intelligence! We
think that the response will be On indignant
and decided negative. Affairs have progressed
from bad to worse, until, Notwithstanding the
serious issues involved and the vital principles
at stake, numbers of our people have come to
look upon the meetings of the Common Coun-
Gil as matter of mere bagatelle, and they are
induced to frequent the chambers for the sake
of enjoying deal If amusement at cheaper
rate than what they could have laugh for at
Rurtons theatre or the Minstrel Hall of Christy
The earlier meetings Of the sixty legislators
were consumed in tedious debates in organiza-
ton, the intermediate time was passed in the
work of the formation of committees, and the
past few weeks have been enlivened with the
scenes of advertisement duel correspondence,
debates on dignity, and remarks on the priyi-
lcges Of reporters and the responsibilities and
duties of editors. On last Wednesday night we
witnessed the conclusion of sort Of two act
farce which had been going on from the previ-
Gus Monday. 1t originated in the circumstance
of the evasion-as they generally do--by the
so-calcd reformers, Of call of the board which
had been fixed for that evening. The Council |
man Of the Fortieth. absentng himself without
excuse, was placed in conte mpt and large
number of people attended to witness his rep
rimand.
The scene on the occasion was corroborative |
Of our position-that dignity Of council has been |
and that the spectators attend merely |
for amusement or to witness the oratorical |
proves OF a particular ward representative. |
Precisely at six O'Clock the outside seats were |,
filed with citizens, the MA ;ority of whom were
either naturalized Irish or Gern.ons. Then en-
tered the learned Councilmen; and they game in
such numbers that it seemed for moment a. !,
If the twenty defunct assistants had returned !
from the districts to which they had been con-
signed, each accompanied by spirit similar to
-ifnot more wicked"-thaI himself In short
time after the minutes were read, it was moved
that one half of the record be cancelled, and
thus, that an official lie be told to the public in
the shape q that certain proceedings which
took place did not occur.
This proposition would not be put from the
chair, and the minutes were approved. The
case Of the member for the Fortieth district was
next called up, and debated upon with every de-
scription Of ingenuity which was calculated to
please the outsiders and insure reelection
II was moved that he be excused. The Clerk
read over the sixty names of members, and it
was found the motion was lost. 1t was moved
that business proceed. Lost, after the same
delay. 1t was moved that the Board adjourn.
After sixty screams from the Clerk it was.
voted down 1t was moved that the spectators |
be excluded during the division, and it was
moved that the reporters accompany the spec
tators A gentleman dressed in q blue coat,