The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-14


oppose to him force Of respectable
MASSES :, sinks into obscuriiN If the
Bsltimo, ERE rs,ormer. do no. faint nor faltsr IN
! air work the redemption Of their fair city y
| fact a.ssured.
rNrrpysrN..- POINT BETWEEN THE STREET CUf.
MISSIONER AND Cos.AoS 9, uNcIL.-Sone weeks
| ago the Common Council pass "a resolution a.
recting certain repairs and aIditioe 10 70 % made
to the Fifteenth ward station house. tney APP
proved and accepted the plans and spec,
lions according to which the work was to be
done, named the person who was to be charged
with the execution of the work, and the prics
which was to be paid therefor, and ordered the
Street Commissioner to enter into q contract
which would carry the resolution into effect
The Mayor sent this resolution back to the
Common Council without approval, because IL
was, in bis opinion, illegal for the Common
Council to exercise executive power, maintain
ing that under the charter no contract could be
entered into except upon sealed bids, after due
advertisement, and that all contracts when
awarded should be awarded to the lowest bid
der. The Common Council Immediately passed
the resolution over the Mayors veto, by TIVE
thirds vote of both Boards and sent il to the
Street Commissioner. On Monday night last
this officer stated to the Common Council that
and assigned reasons similar to the objections
urged by the Mayor
The Board of Councilmen, to whom the
report of the Street Commissioner of last Mon
day was sent, returned the communication to
that officer, stating that his reasons were not
satisfactory and requiring further answer.
The Street Commissioner submitted another
report last night, in which he adheres to the
position previously taken, denying the legal
right of the Common Council to direct him,
even by unanimous vote, to make contract
with named person to do any given work
and fix the price to be paid for it.
His report concluded with distinct state
ment that he would willingly yield obedience
to a decision of the courts of law in this
matter, from which the inference may well be
drawn that be will not yield to the Common
Council; and there is, consequently, strong
probability that the question will soon be set
tied as to the power Of the Common Council,
under the charter of this city, to order con-
tracts to be made with individuals of their own
choosing at prices named by themselves.
Let mandamus be applied for, requiring
the Street Commissioner to sign contract
with John B. Gridley to repair the Fifteenth
ward station house, for the sum of $3.50, as
required by resolution of the Common Council.
The LATE STATE ELEcTroNs.-Pennsylvan
as was universally expected, has gone for the
opposition by default and general apathy" as
there was nothing involved in the contest cal
culated to bring out the people. In Ohio, the
question of United States Senator in the place
of Pugh, democrat, operated to bring out COM
paratively large VOTE and the natural conse-
quence, in that strong republican State, is de-
cided victory Of that party. In Indiana, also,
the republicans appear to have been very ac-
tive, though the result, practically, is Of very
little value to either party. In Iowa, General
Dodge has given his republican opponent for
Governor hard fight with result which some
what shakes the idea of permanent opposition.
ascendancy. But we have no doubt that in all
these States, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, Mr.
Douglas and his peculiar crotchets have been
q serious drawback to the democracy. He
is to them what Seward is to the republicans
an incubus of which they must be relieved be-
fore they can count upon harmony or success.
From Minnesota we are anxiously awaiting some
definite intelligence.
THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE LEGIsLATURH.-
The nominations for the Senate and the As
sembly of the Legislature of this State are
now being made by all parties and factions,
and with these nominations are mixed up
schemes of public plumber, including the