New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-07
ADDRESS or THE MUNICIPAL reform cor.
MJTTEE TO THE PEOPLE or NEW YORK.

PILLOW CITIZENS: The Committee appointed at the
great Metropolitan Hall meeting Of March I, 1888. to
take measures for reforming the abuses then universally
conceded TO exist in the conduct Of local Affairs and
whose proceedings subsequently ratified, almost
unanimously by the adoption of the amended charter re
suecy invite public attention to some further suggest
ions touching the important subject oil municipal reform.
Much good has been accomplished by the amended
Charter In limiting the power Of a2proprating money
IN single branch of the Common Council; establishing
the contract system strengthening the veto power Of tho
Chief Mssistrate compelling the disposal Of ferry leases
and franchises at public auc:on Furnishing maeasance
IN office and providing checks against hasty lesusla
ou and mprovden expenditure its operations have been
sautary and beneficial
But the Charter however auuess, VIII not insure u
an efficient and economical government unless we have
good men in Office to enforce its provisions
yopr Committee have lost sight OF this great ne
cessty On the occasion OF the late charter election an
appeal was made the electors of the several WARDS ana
Council Districts, of all parties, to select as he uas
representatives in the legislative branch of the City Gov
enmen the abest and best men whom they could p'eva"
upon to serve without the htes; reference to their opn
ions upon National or State politics
This appeal was only partially responded TO. lew
members returned to each Board who neither were
supported by trammeled with pledges to either oil tho
political organizations The gentlemen comprising this
small but highly respectable minority have been usually
designated as Reiormer.
majority of the members OF both Boards were elected
as party men. portion of these indeed were favorable
to- or at acqueso sd in the Charter of 1885, but s
larger portion have only proved hostile to that nSru
men but practically deny that there has been any neces
sty for REFORM and following the footsteps OF ther
predecessors of ignobe memory. Yet the pesen' mas
usually been styled by the press Reform Common ooun
ell and the minority members have most unjus'y oe""
held accountable for its misdeeds.
tits true the principles set forth in the address ana res
oluons adopted at the Metropolitan Hal meeting nave
been ably represented by of the foremost men IN
either Board ard beneficial change has been wrought
already in the administration of affairs firm and rcso-
lutte minority with right and public opinion on their sde
are never wholly poweress in legislative body, and can
sometimes control 1t.
beginning has been made in the right direction but
only Jeginning Politicians who have been wont to use
the vast patronage the City Government for the further
auce of party schemes hope and affect to believe that
your zeal for Reform but ephemcrai exeltemont
and will soon wax cold Trusting to your apathy, they
will struggle hard regain their ascendency not IN
natural that they should contest your right to take your
affairs into your keeping. The stake at issue is
! great one Upward OF SIX MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
are annually drawn from the pockets of the people OF this
CITY by direct taxation and and dsbursed BY
the various Departments conducting the business OF the
CORPORATION Three of these, viz Street" I" Streets
and Lamps" and Repairs and Supplies expend an
pually about THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS The
payments for salaries alone AND QUARTER MIL
LIONS.
The following table gives startling exhibit of the rapid
increase taxation since $780, compared with popula
ton or property The levy of 1853 exceeds that of tho
preceding year in the of Seventeen Hun
bred thousand Dollars, or fifty per cent.