The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-20

New Ferry Movement.
ANOTHm PAT Jon PR0JncTED- MONO oNcuRAENcS
or AAyOR TIHMANN, ETC., ETC.
Wonders Vim never cease with the Now York Or m
mon Cornell lately they have discovered that
their lights privileges emouments and perquscs,"
in ngard to leasing ferries, as guaranteed 70 them
" the fifteenth section Of the Montgomerie charter,
had been usurped by tho Commissioners Of the
Sinking Fund, in selling, last winter at public auction
the leases Of the Grand street and Peck slip ferries to
Williamsburg. Tho matter was brought up in the
Council Board ut the last day Of the September
session, by Councilman Townsend, who introduced
II in preamble which would occupy half column
of This paper; setting forth NC great injury that
had been perpetrated upon their official rights by
the sale Of the ferry leases already mentioned. APP
pended TO the preamble series Of resolutions
instructng the Corporation Counsel to Gimme
lately take such proceedings shall be necessary and
proper to prevent the unauthorized of interference
with such ferries" and another instrucng sthe Comp
rocr forthwith 10 proceed to advertise and sell al public
auction'' the leases Of the above named ferries.
WI DC seen oy our readers that unusual haste was
state that the resolutions passed the Boards Of Alder
men and Councimen on the same night without word
OF debate, or oven reference to committeea course
unprecedented in the annals OF city
showing that the subject had been well digested at some
other place than tho Council Chamber. In tho Board
OF Councilmen the vote not recorded-another
sual act In the Board Of Aldermen the following named
members voted for the resolutions, viz:-Smh Henry,
Stephens Tomey, Adams, Lynes, Peck, Boole, Owens
Rsenstve legislators these Aldermen and Councilman!
Prompt 70 act when they imagine their rights in
nged or their patronage curtaed but not quite
svc ON matters Of public interest when they have pet
scheme to put through, in such jobs the widening
Nassau street, the repaying Of Broadway the opening
Of street up town where there is not an inhaban
within mile Of II merely for the purpose Of farming out
perusa Of the following resolution viii convince any
dine that the whole affair Is grand plan to Gust the legal
essees Of the ferry and place monopoly in another
TVS hands,
and sell public auction leases Of The ferry fro the foot Of
% " e ' sndnx %
10 and lease Of ferry from the northery basn Peck
District 80 Of p sn sss from lie II day
January nea and that be submitted to the Common
Observe the ahcised portion Of the resolution and tho
following facts
Councilman Townsend, and every member of tho
the slips at the foot Of South Seventh street. Brooklyn
owned by George Law Co.. and for any other parties
to purchase the right TO ferry TO that point,
except Them the franchise would be worthless Ii the
lease Of the Peck slip ferry should be rcsod there
mon Council the fairness to have added to the resolution
these words or to some other point adjacent thereto
then the sale would be open to competition.
The 18th section OF the Montgomere charter gives the
Common Council exclusive control tho ferries and
the charter Of 1853 modified the operation Of so as
direct the letting of all the franchises Of the Corporation
herewith The charter OF 1857 retained all the Mont
gomcric charter then in force follows therefore, that
tho section which relates 70 ferries of the Mongoere
charter is only in force modified in 1853 this was
the form in which il was in force This modification is
reiterated in tho forty section OF the charter of 1857
TWAS by virtue Of this statutory law and in the onis
sion in the act to name the officer who should conduct such
sales that Comptroller Haws the chief financial officer
the city, and tho custodian Of its property advertised
cordng 10 law and ''sold to the highest bidder "
Aeserole Co., Long Island Forty Company-who gave
adequate security the leases Of the Grand street and
Peek slip ferries realizing to the city for the Of said
ferries an annual aggregate rental of $36 oo0 The
executed and signed by Mayor Tenann the chief
executive officer of the city, and by Mr. Haws, the
chief financial officer.
The lessees entered upon took charge Of the
ferries the LIST OF May last and since TINT time have
expended $3.50 in erecting ferry houses and build
ing new ferry slips and boats. II the Common Council
in and cancel n lease operating SO adv an
tageously 10 this city, this ferry property will be
valueless to s present owners and the city will be liable
for heavy damages.
On Monday night the Mayor vetoed the resolutions in
very detailed but interesting communication which he
concludes that the rapdity with which 1t was passed
(havng been adopted by both Boards the even
iDg) could not have permitted that dehberaon which
such subject should demand Further delbcration viii
show the improperly OF the measure cannot but be
eve that preference OF justice and of fair dealing
regard for the sanctity Of contracts well as for III,
character Of the city Of New York will prompt mem
bers Of the Board 10 reconsider resolution which
carried into execution may lead to results deploret
by every honest man m he community