New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-18
FOUR REPUBLICAN ALDERMEN.


The four Republican Aldermen-Smith, Brady,
Starr, and Owens-to whom tbepeople are indebted
for the passage through the Board of Aldermen Of
the Japanese outrage seem to be no noVces in that
line of business. Upon referring to our files for
few years past, we End facts which indicate that,
while protesting to be in favor of economy and
honesty, their votes have borne contrary chsrac-
ter The peOplebaye been recently reminded of the
Wards leland JOB BY Judicial decision against
the City. This job first arranged several years
ago. and figured largely in the celebrated investi.
CATION held by Recorder Tnlou; an investigation
which resulted in the indictment of half dozen
Aldermen and Assistants. The fret purchase
having succeeded TO the entire satisfaction Of the
traders, another foray was made upon the
treasury in 1853, By the adoption Of a res
olltion to purchase all the remaining land
on the Islasd and an indefinite quantity under
water along ity shores for 81 500 an acre. When
this resolution first passed, Aid. Owens voted
against it, and Starr for It-Brady being absent we
belieye-Smith not in the Common Council that
wears though 10 1854 ne had been IN favor of the first
purchase Mayor Tiensnn vetoed the resolution;
but the strOTg objections which he urged in oppo-
sition to the job were Of 40 avail Owens was
converted by some unknown arguments, and, upon
Stars motion and with the help of Owens vote,
it was rushed through over the veto. To
show the consistency of these gentlemen the reader
may refer to the proceedings of Che Aldermen in
Jauuary, 1853, where Aid Smith Offers preamble,
[" Whsreas, II is believed that the purchase of
land on Wards Isand was imprOvideNtly made,
50 and the City does net need it," &c. resolving to
rescnd the resolution to purchase and leave the
settlement TO arbitration, the decision to be final
The resolution did not pass in that form; but the
result was achieved-the matter was taken beyond
the Courts and the outrage Of paying 5 800 per
acre for lots 90 feet underwater was contaminated
The famous O6Gl contract with VIM. B. Rey.
nOlds enlisted tie warm sympathies of Alderman
Smith, when be was no bigger than Councilman.
Coz tractor Flagg was trying to stop an immense
leak in the Treasury through this contract, when
the Common Council interfered, voted that all
legal proceedings should be stopped, and ordered
the Controller TO pay Rey nolds in full with interest.
Smith, sitti1 at the head of the Board of Council.
men, voted for this resolution, and voted against
pI0ylsO mat heyIOids snould agree that such pay
ment should not affect the question of the validity
of his claims. The last we saw of this offal bust
ness was in the Tax Levy for 1859, where TIE
COuncimen voted in, under "Arrearsges for 1883"
the round sum OF sos, 500 for VIM. b. Reynolds
Aid. Smith evinced his regard for the City in
1854, in the matter of the Wall-street Ferry. The
rent of this Ferry had been $40 900 year, but 10
1853 it was by some extraordinary juggle, re-
duced to 81, 900. The next year. on a motion to
restore the original figures, Mr.. Smith voted No
or, in other words, to give the Union Ferry Com
pany Sl5, 900 year.
When Mr. Lowberwss pushing his claim through
the Board Of Councimen in 1857, he had the aid
and comfort of Mr. Smith, who voted for resou-
tons ordering the Controller TO pay LOWERS
Judgment, at the same time Directing to a request
that the Counsel to the Corporation should show
what title, if any, tho City had to the property
purchased. Mr.. Smith also voted to have the
City defend Deylin in bis claim to the Office of
Street Commissioner; and to adorn the Chief
Eng ueer with gold badge.
When Mr.. George Law was outbid in the COM