New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09

One of the strong points against the Police bill
is, that it deprives various city officers of rights
heretofore enjoyed. But this is not the first in
stance Of such privaton, though it is the first of
such outcry. Not many years ago, the Clerk of the
County was Clerk Of the Common Council, but
was oused by special act of the Legislature and a
new man put in the place. The Mayor has had
the nomination Of Public Administrator, but the
Charter of lS49 gave the power to the Corporation
Counsel and yet Mayor Woodruff never thought of
an Injunction. Not thousand years ago, we had
property qualification for voters, but it was abol-
ished and even paupers came up to vote without
question as to their right. The Colonial and the
State Legislatures have often modified the jealousy
guarded ferry rights of NewYork, but no Judge has
been asked TO interfere. When James Duane was
Mayor, he was made Commissioner Of Streets and
Roads, aud 80 acted about that time, the Mayor and
Aldermen could open, close, widen or contract
streets and piers at their pleasure, Supreme
Court interference; the Aims. House and Brideweu
Commissioners have peaceaby surrendered to the
Ten Governors; the Fire Wsrdens and the laws as
TO buildings were once made by Common Council;
in 1907, Gouverueur Morris, Simeon De Witt State
Surveyor aud John Rutherford were appointed BY
the Legislature to have the exclusive power of lay
ing out streets roads and squares above the present
Bond street, and they did lay ont the whole island,
their decision being final and beyond the reach of
the city; in 1909 the same men were appointed
Commissioners to lay out Canal street without Cor
poraton interference; the same period, the Mayor
held Court and had both civil and criminal juris-
dction; in 1912 the corporate rights of the Mayor
and Common Council were so little regarded that
the Legislature went out of the State to get Com.
missoners to drain the Collect, and Cornelius
Howard of Baltimore, Eli Whitney of New-Haven
and Robert Fulton of New-York were named in
the laws; in those days, Robert MacOmb was al
lowed to dam Harlem River; in 1913 Police Jus
tees and Clerks were unceremoniousy turned out of
Office and others put in their places; the Mayor
and Aldermen then appointed fremen, aud the
Common Council made laws for the Department;
the Governor had the appointment of Ward JUS
fices any number Of acts for special purposes have
been passed, in which the corpOrators have been
named; the license laws have been frequently
changed; IN 1926 the Wards were equalized by
special act; fees have been very generally abolished
OF turned into the Treasury, thus depriying public
officers Of much revenue; several streets were ex-
tended by the Legislatures imperial shall be, the
Corporation being ignored in the premises; for
long time the State presumed to appoint Inspect
ors Measures and Weighers of all sorts of things
and even now appoints Notaries and HarbOr
Masters unquestiOned Pilots were appointed by
the Governor; the Governor appointed the first
CrotOn Aqueduct Commissioners; the Governor
appointed Commissioners to divide the city into
Election Districts; our elections were reducedfrom
three days to one; the Governor appointed Com
missioners TO supervise the expenditure of money
raised for charitable institutions; the Mayor has
been turned out of the Common Councils the
Aldermen and Assistants have been deprived of the
appointment Of Policemen; Aldermen have been
drveh from Judicial power; Surrogate and Re
corder were recently appointed by the Governor;
tne Legislature appointed the Trustees of the
Juvenile Asylum, an institution peculiar TO the
city and supported mainly by city money; in 1853
sx years after the present State Constitution went
into effect, the Legislature, by special act. Az.
pointed Board of Police Commissioners taking
the power from the Aldermen; all these, and MANY