The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-05
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
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fNI PR0CRESS OF ANARCHY IN fHE CITY.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE Of MAYOR WOOD.
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JUDGE Rooseye lI's INJUNCTION DISSOLVED.
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The Quo Warranto Carried Before tho
General Term.
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opinion Of the Corporation Counsel Relative to
the Pay Of Members,
So, &C., &c.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE Of MAYOR WOOD
EoGf Roose yelTs INJUNCTION DISSOLVED.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN

ROARD OF ALDERMEN
Tie Board held Its frst session In Nay last evening.
President Clancy In the chair.
MII-fNn RAw CnY hAu-s~s CENTRAL rASK MiL-rry
wAKDfss mLI-ras shw YORK HARno1 r,Lr-riiE
MAyos's os,rx, Esw YoRx, May 4, 1857.
GgSTzxxEx o. TIE COMMON CoUSsll--
In my annual message oflast January protested aganS
The action Of the Legislature with reference
70 this city stated that the schemes then the potca
savis Albany and New York were frangh, with meal
culahle evils aud would, passed into laws, traasfes
much ofthe government or this city to the central power
a. Albany. eassred up an Indignant -remsnstrancs
against these ubiquitous measures, porrayin9 The evil
which would TOW enactment in such terms Al
seemed appropriate " the subject
Al sten1 Was made by me, a. on previous occasion
TO the Common Council Of this city, and pcop
represented, TO just sense Of their own municipal rights
and 20 the assertion OF bold determination to mainta
them nj all hazards II aiied in producing these sent
sions Of the danger or the necessity for action.
The evils then prognesca.ed arc now unfortunately up
the very bills in form and substance, which were
alluded 70 BY as having been privately prepared
al At hot in this city, were soon after put upon
their passage in the part! caucus at the Capitol and have
since gone through the legislative forms Of laws II now
becomes again my duty call your attention 70 this sub
ADVISORY OF the way to nice, danger that il is here.
series Of bills have been enacted which are az disgrace
fal TO The parties as sy are rspugnan' 70 the
Tie Legislature has treated this great emporium a.
subjugaled city. Under the theory which manfestiy
not only all ancient rights but much OF modern
power and prestige. We aie not only deprived Of the
authority common 70 al conmunites-of the power to
form ,eir own muncis, reguiatonsbu have fallen to
such feeble state OF vassaae 10 be bereft Of any
the selection Of our own masters These are TO be
furnished o. the central krg power without
scut but a. our own expense.
The independence Of the municipality thus abused Is
principle Of corporate liberty which recognized n every
Parliament Of Great Britain would dare TO thus encroach
upon the ancient privileges Of the city of London These
kolA
eye-next 70 TINT az the throne itself
Eregard for the rights OF communities in their local
Independence Is thus manifest in countries where often
nigh, makes right ana powerful consolidated govern
rules ai, how should II be with us where the whole
Theory OF laws and constitution Is based upon repre-
seuisve govcLme0t-upon the acknowledged right Of the
people 10 select their public agents from the smallest
to the highest place and power In this the people
fixed in tie organic law So jealous had they become OF
IN ATTEMPTED absorption Of control over the localities
by ruling political dynasty at the Capitol tia, they
Caused 10 ee inserted IN the last constitution clause
expressly fcro'dding any interference with the Sc.
lcct.er Of county, town, city or village officers IN.
deed, The immediate cause or the creation OF the
convention which framed ta, instrument and tho pre-
yalng spirit which influenced its deliberations aud results
ansagonsm 70 Capitalization Of State powo.- caro
u obtain security for the future by dissemination
Of local Independence In the choice Of local
minister the heal governments was 70 pac; these
tFe beyond the reach OF Just such arrogance tyranny
and corruption, which, unfortunately for the good name
and wolfse or Tia cath: havo obtained posses.
son OF the State governr cut that this wise and ray pat.
.oos principle va inaeae'y sId unai.ssSiy riaes& in
asuhtcrfugc an has now been devised viii be for the &
dietary 10 Determine.
scented !. another and immediately pressing question
70 be settled BY ourselves.
These bls may be designated thus, viz
Charter for the city Of New York
The Metropolitan Police bin
bill 70 erect . new Gty Hall
bill 10 improve the Central Park
The Fort wsrdens' bill.
The EXCISE. bill
The New York Harbor bill.
Relative To stage routes
Tc regulate the use q the sips and wharvcs piers
To amend the Trlo, laws, and
Reistive 10 tax commissions and assessments.
There are others general In heT operation. BIZ
shall refer only 10 those which stn caii.d upon
ocaiy 10 notice. That there may be n.Sappe
which IN Judgment should b. pursued by the
Common Council take them up somewhat 10 detail giving
Whist deem fair and impartial view % their psgnineni
features
THIS instrument, cccians very few, and my Judgment
very unupoSiani, improvements those il has repeal
Cd. b.. does copan provisions heretofore unknown -
City charter many clearly injurious 10 tic public in
terest. and some a objectionable uncynsu;nlonaly.
Whilst Is elaboraely minute In the specification Of tho
powers granted the departments which the partzan
friends &C hosc whofrasnei il happen preside II
vague and indefinite a. To the few given IT, the -s favored
and less trusted Wills; secures every incumbent who
s Of easy political virtue Of the faith the
dominant party, 10 the fun ecicymen, OF his Office, It
promtt and sumriarS ELECTS those who OF oppo ito
principles, OF who cannot be se-iuc.d into compliance
with tho terms offered II permits every head OF
IN executive department, whose Office IA not abo
ished, 70 serve the term for which he was elected
by the people, excep, myzek; and though elected
nor Two Year,, an allowed ~ serve but one vea, n
rtves 70 the Governor ~ The state tle py, n, ,c-,c
tho E--ora .ndition which II Constitutional as II
w. would prevent sny man Sofihy and capable Of filling
the Office from holding w. II thus attempts 70 degrade thu
people in The person OF their chief magistrate take-
from the once Of Mayor the power appou, the Receiver
pfysx@ and several other posts OF trust Importance
taln docs give him the power to appoint a snsis
head Oh department during my term OF oica nor does
im,~Ax any sdiJsonsl authority al say time th. which
he formerly possessed them. THIS scro-s defect IN
thc sncndmcnu the charter passed IN lst9 IN 1885,
ouiy contained IN this bet what te coul1 bc gathered
in them by importation entirely destroyed in the express
delegates OF authority 10 others.
gives large and dangerous powers 10 the Department
Of Finance, With increased patronage and siiboa. aoy
practical accountability Tho Day may come when Til. Or
ace, which u oouiinuci elective, will fan into The
hands Of interruptions and add millions W the la
thue- o. the Ccffofston,or Nno may iaistpyrOprials
hundreds Of thousands before detection correct the
wrong
Il ssol.shcs the Department, % Repair Ans Sgpoa o.
slough the incumbent Of the Office had nearly iwo years
serve, (Do Il 10 be supposed, because IA elect
ed By The democratic party aud srtion- b. PATRONAGE
and powers among toose sbo have never been tAsIed
The Common Council 6, the cnt OF TIE year, though
one hall OF the Board OF Aldermen had another year IN
eervv n ne ones sppacni reaon ihan - Ary oai me
serry msnder- the city into seventeen alderanic dis
ufs forming them cf such wards and parts OF wards
W be-, stcare majority Of members sdverse 10 the
democrats party lsosas the oce of reets aud Lamps
bcse ~ bead hs fallen under pcou In consequence
of mailing few democratic appointments q olce AMI "a
with the repairs sns ippEes partitions 4 power aud
PATRONAGE win ttsre who have committed a IKE
oncnoe II nodihs~ the rc~,rictsnz ~ rrovors rnsrrs
nmiung the xre0dnre "a tao hundred anu CITY dollar,
without contract 20 give the Common Council the
powell under certain oreumstances, TO dlsPonse with
stogeths II abotshes al hceBso ee and licenses for
the rale Of ARTICLES Of food which deprive The city ,f r.e
revcnucs and takes away the necessary Wholesome csocg
10 illegal and Improper practices In trade. Il or
dcrp separate eircunn tor charter nHrers AZ an
unaHsa and improper period Of ihe year, within Few
sesI- Of The genefs al election, and siien the
prolr faigued by attention political subjects Of
more renesai " national character, viii BE APT % feel
uule concern and give up without a struggle 10 those
uie ,--cunisry interest ia the sPois viii excite &C.
Isity and energy.
4 not be submitted 20 the people Tor Their arccp'
anc a. reje ton but forc upon not ONLY without
our con-ru but against the rcmonsirance Of tue Mayor
ana the two boards Of the Common Council officially
be legislature.