New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-07
JUDGE MITCHELL'S OPINION.
ATTEMPT TO REPURCHASE THE PROPERTY

In pprsusuce of our obligations to the public
to let the light shine upon the dark places in
the City Hal, and show up IN their true coors the
grand Operations there undertaken at the expense
of the tax peyers tuIn attention to the famous
Folt Cans evooIt Job and present succinct history
Of the transaction.
That the present Common Council in large majority,
are ak;tp bold efforts to vie WITH and far surpsss the
old "folty," is quite apparent. Extensive schemes
ere on foot to defraud the city out of hundreds of
Thousands Of dollars, and increase the taxes to an
amount never contemplated, and all these will be car
lied ont if come strenuous action is not taken 70 pre-
vent their contamination.
The public are well informed on the Lowber trans
action. Next TO that on the programme stands the
GaD.evooit Property by which the Common Council
want to make the patient tax payers pay s396OO
for lands decided to belong to the city AS the meas
ure has already passed the Board of Aldermen, it may
be expected up this session in the Board Of Councmen
for concurrence.
THE TRANSACTION ORIGINATED.
On the I'd Of August 1852, Alderman Stuttevant Of
the celebrated Forty in bis seat with his char
aeteritic dignity and presented pecton, which pur.
ported TO be from ID. r. Martin, TO purchase the piece
Of land between Twelfth and Gansevoor streets, North
River, and bad il referred to the Committee on ri.
nance. Tn the day, petition of II. Il. Conkln,
for the same presented; and subsequently other
applications sent in, of them perhaps genu
inc, but most of them believed to be bogus, Just to
give little apparent interest TO the object. The Com
miee, on the 18th Of November following, reported
that they found would be to the interest Of the city
to sell the property, and recommended that it be sold
to Nh Martin, the Sinking Fund Commissioners fixing
the price, motion to sell it BY auction according to
law. was lost; but finally this report was referred
back. The plot thckered lobbyists came into the
Hall from different quarters, private negotiations and
champagne suppeis followed, and on the 18th No
yember the subject up again, iI the shape OF q
petition for the purchase with the name of Reuben
Loveioy, respectable ho.elkeeper, appended to ii.
This was referred to the same Committee. Hr. Love.
Joy was apprsed the same night that he bad been
made "catspaw' OF, and that his name would
sprear next morning in the papers as an appl-
cant for the Ganseyoort property. The OBJECT be-
ing explained by enc Of his boarders that the prop
CITY would if awarded to that application, be pur.
chased end psd for by Simeon Draper, NJ. Loyeojy
made no objections, although he was not to reap any
OF the fruits Of the operation.
On the path Of the same month, the Committee
Bard and Oakley reported again, arguing like law
yes against the property that it had cost the city the
cum Of SOS, 92l - for bulkhead built upon it, aud
for masking opebalf of Twelfth street, $751; Yet
they would sell it for td0 600! Oie excu.e was that
the land was "under water" the property needed
filling up, ard their object in recommending the dis.
pOsal of it was to relieve the city from the expense of
tpg the same; and because, as cold. It would
become tozoblc. And then this wise and calculating
Committee added: The property in question is not
nor will it, in the opinion of your Committee,
be required for public use" They, however, left is
for the Sinking Fund Commissioners, of whom Aid.
Bard one Of the Coulmttesl was member, TO decide
upon the price. Their resolution to sell the prop
erty "to d. r. Martin, or either of the applicants.
AID. Denman moved to amend By adding, Z" d. r.
Martin and Others, sod insert at public auction,
which was, Of course, lost. AID. Denman moved
another amendment 10 cell TO any applicant, as well as
those named, which was carried. Tho subject was
then laid on the table.
HOW THE WIRES WERE OPERATED.
To get an idea of the proceedings behind the cur
tain during the above proposed negotiations we viii
take peep into the testimony taken IN private by
Recorder Tiou in his celebrated investigation IN 1851
Ie expose and punish official corruption wa then the
oDae: Of thst visIsn. pabli. officer, aae he void