The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-10
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workmen than any ordinary demand would call for
His Honor suggests the possibility that violence may be
speedily relieved furnished with work but your Com
mtee have only TO hope that all fears upon this point may
prove groundess and perceive within the power
OF the Council to avert any such unhappy result while
they doubt not that the of the Of such
violence the proper authorities will be prepared to act in
the premises with prompness and decision
The Common Council as has been already stated being
but Legislative body has but ittle il any, compulsory
power the departments of government il enact
laws and ordinances directing certain work To be done
but cannot interfere with executive duty if the depart
mens neglect act are restrained by judicial proce
dures as in the case OF the construction Of the reser
VOLTA work OF great necessity to the inhabitants OF this
city, and which, under contract, would give at once
employment 10 large numbers
Again, two three commissions created by the last
Legislature are composed Of State officers, who are en-
trey beyond the control of the Common Council except
sofar as regards appropriations such the Central Park
and new City Hall commissions
Your committee would further state that special COM
mttec has already been unanimously appointed by this
Board TO confer with like committee TO be appointed by
the Poard Of Aldermen, to take into consideration the
pcdiency Of immediate action by the Common Council
upon the erection Of Post Office The Undersigned there
fore, do not deem II within their province to repor
thereon doubtless the said committee will promptly
discharge them tho Board
Of Aldermen shall appoint their committee which il is
hoped will he done forthwith.
Your Committee would beg leave to alludc TO
the subject OF street cleaning of the most essential
requirements of the city, and which would give employ
men. TO very large number Of laborcrs The Board of
Couhcmen have adopted, by three fourths vote, con-
tract at certain rate per annum which they have deemed
cleanliness This contract is now before the Board Al
dermep for action which your committee hope will be
had at an early day.
The subject of regulating Hamilton square well worthy
the immediate attention of the Common Council i'm
provement that will be of two fold benefit to the city
This has passed the Board of Aldermen awaits
the action of the Council and simply requires concur
renee. This measure, if made effective, would give
ployment large numbers of the poor Your
accordingly upon this Board the passage of the bill
at the earliest moment
The business of the Street Department unfortunately
anal half of Tho tive Hpfia opf
the city government vested in this department 1t has
"cognance OF opening altering regulating, grading flag
gng curbng guterng and lighting Streets roads places
and avenues of building repairing and lighting wharves
and piers the construction and repairing Of public roads,
the care Of public buildings and places and the filling up
Of sunken lots This work, indeed, is done under or
dnances of the Common Council but legislation in the
premises at this time would result in but little benefit
either to the city to the working classes.
Again. the Common Council do but little through
the Croton Aqueduct Department, which has charge of
the structures and property connected with the aqueduct
and these either complete do not admit OF winter
work the construction OF all being prohibited after
the first day of December each year. The
of the new reservoir previously alluded to- is
prevented by litigation and the Common Council can but
direct by ordinance, through this Department. the paving,
repaving and repairing OF streets.
Thus your committee has reviewed the powers Of tho
Common Council to advance the public works and give
employment 10 the aborng classes thereby; and by this
review il will be that but little be effected, espe
ciay by this Board except what may be accomplished by
urgent recommendation.
Your committee present the following recapitulaton
The regulation Of the Central Park and the construction
Of the City Hall in the entire charge Of powerful
State commissions, beyond the control Of the Common
Council.
The Reservoir is before the courts for adjudication
to whom the contract shall be awarded.
The subject OF the construction of Post Office in the
hands Of special committee Of active members OF this
Board who unable to act until the Board of Aldermen
appoint like committee.
The contract street cleaning has passed the Council
and awaits the action Of the Board of Aldermen.
Ihe matter OF regulating Hamilton square demands the
immediate attention a this Board.
The Street DEPARTMENT i paray and the sle that
be done through the Croton Aqueduc Department the
Common Council will doubtless order.
In concluding their report upon the message Of his
Honor your Committee would beg leave to state their full
assurance OF e readiness OF your honorable body to as
any and all responsibility justly enailng upon in
consequence of its acts trusting in the purity Of the mo
In accordance with the foregoing report the following
resolutions submitted for adopton-
/. Resolved That the Central Park Commission Is
hereby requested employ forthwith from fifteen hun
dred 10 thousand Of the working OF this city
in the regulating and improving OF the Central Park and
that they likewise be requested To return the names and
residences Of those employed to the Common Council
2. Resolved, That the Common Council will make pro-
vision for the payment OF any such number OF men EN-
ployed by the aforesaid commission the Central Park
g. Resolved, That this board will Immediately in
the adoption OF the resolutions pertaining To The regulating
of Hamilton square
Resolved, That the Croton Aqueduct Department is
hereby requested to and proceed Immediately
with all work under their charge and which has been
ordered by the Common Council and TO report what fur
ther contracts can be made which will be bcne-
fetal 10 the city and give employment TO the
laborng classes and that the said department
their best endeavors have the paving of Maiden lane
and Cortandt street proceeded with, accordance with
the ordinance already passed by the Common Council,
without delay the same would furnish work for
siderable number Of men, and also that no efforts OF the
said department be spared have the construction Of the
new reservoir commenced at an early day
Resolved, That the Governors Of the lmshouse be,
and they hereby recommended purchase and store
-four, meal and other provisions anticipation OF
tremc destution among the aborng population, sug
gcstcd In the message Of his honor the Mayor
Mr. BooE moved TO accept the report and adopt the ro
ad bv Mr. uba
he agreed with the views of his Honor the Mayor but
maintained that they did not go far enough He thought
that should be paid for their labor and employed
erecting new City Hall.
Nr. BRADY ooncurred with his Honors views to a GER
tain extent
Mr.. Boors reply to that gentleman, said that the
port enumerated the defects In the plan Of Mayor Wood
and suggested what could be effected In getting employ
meBt Tor the working classes.
Mr.. BRADY said tha, the report Of the committee
feasible and correct so far went, but the
mttee forgot that frost would be the ground before
their suggestions could be carried The Street Com
mssoners dculty presented nsurmountable obstacle
10 the employment Of large number Of the dlers, for
two months would necessarily eape before anything
practical could be done. The streets and sewers could
not be attended 10 while the affairs OF that Office in
such unsettled condition. The Croton Aqucduct Board
able to alleviate the distress Of the unemployed
but only 10 limited extent and nothing could
be effected in Hamilton square, for the frost would
be the ground before the contracts could be made He
r Brady would vote for the adoption OF the resolu
tons but wished 10 do so uniersandingy, and not de
ccive the workingmen
Mr. Boo1H affirmed that the Croton Aqueduct Board
opposed 10 the democratic party.
Mr. BRADY said tina, this was not the occasion FOR making
buncombe speeches. He desired that the unemployed
should be engaged to grade and hag the streets Of our
city.
Mr. OaRsos in reply 10 an impuaton cast against the
Commissioners of the Central Park, remarked that the
why their work stopped was because the
Common Council did not make the necessary appropra
tione.
Mr. Boorg Indignantly denied the assertion OF The last
speaker. II false A. hi The Commissioners, in
his opinion, well enough able 70 proceed with their
work without any money from the Common Council.
Mr.. JoSts, in eloquent speech, counseiled the
thousands Of unemployed eizens 10 remain calm for
few days assuring them that tho Common Council would
do all that they had the power TO do under the oonsu
ton for the relief ~ their necessities Various public
buildings should be erected-a new Post Oiicean ave
to relieve Broadway and other matters should be at
tended which would receive the earliest attention of
the city government
The report Was accepted, ard tho resolution unani.
mousy adopted.