The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-15

rHE CRY CHAMBERLAIN AT AIBANY.-Our
readers will see by the dispatches of CUR Alba
ny correspondent that strenuous effort Is being
made at Albany to legislate out Of Office the
present City Chamberlain, and to make that
important Office part and parcel of the Comp
trOller's Department Of our city government
Our State Legislature, urged on by the lobby,
have for several years past been continually ct
work with their charter amendments and sve-
cial ach' relating to some portien of this city,
until the, have got everything at loose ends i
almost eve ry department. Not satisfied with
what they have done, they have now CON-
menced an q tack upon the treasury itself, and
are trying to undermine it and open its vaults
to the hordes of spectators that stand with
open hands wat. hing for an opportunity for
plumber.
In both national and State governments the
auditing department is separate and dis
inct branch from the treasurer's: one
has no more contro over the details of
the other than the Executive has over
the Judiciary. They are essentially differ
ent bureaus, and it is VIII 9 that they should be
SO. It places around the funds greater safe
BuuIu, duu uhuTeb D6CIc1 PAo0OSSOA AVA s&Ao
money that the taxpayers contribute for their
own. protection and COVE rnment We see
that an earnest and we fear success.
full, attempt is being mn de at Albany
by prominent politicians, insi lie and outside
of the Legislature, to remove tin protection re-
lating to our city government, and place the
city treasury under the control a the Auditing
Bureau, subject to the caprice OF that officer,
let him be who he may. In TN effort the
Weed republicans and the represA natives of
the old "Coal Hole" of this city are again
striking hands, as they always have do ne in like
schemes in the past. Side by side in t his trea-
sonable effort stand the Albany IN uta and
poor old Tammany, as they have stos in all
Ubiquitous and corrupt measures heretoA IRE.
Our Albany Solons should bear in mind
that the City Chamberlain is one d the
important, if not the most important, off,
GERS in our municipal government. I is
not alone his duty to take charge Of the
city funds, but, by virtue of his office, hs is
one of the Board Of Commissioners Of 4 he
Sinking Fund certainly position of great n L
portance to city like New York; and to max
that officer mere appendage to, deputy ora
ClcIA unucl VIC Sompu0uo1, WOuLU ccINstnfy
prove sad and deleterious blow to the truein-
terests of the city. The passage of such an act
would destroy the independence of the Cham.
berlain, and make him the creature and tool Of,
the Comptroller. The city might not suffer-
any loss whilst the present Comptroller holds.
his Office; but his term is drawing to close;
and who of the wise men behind this measure
will insure us that some escaped convict will
not succeed him?
We had hoped that we had reached the end
of the raid against our rights by the Legisla-
ture of the State; but we fear that they have
only commenced, and with the present symp-
toms the past is no comparison for the future.
All the citizens of New York ask from the
hands IF this Legislature in regard to the
Chamberlain is to confirm the present incum-
bent and place it beyond the power of the
Common Council, or any one else, to turn him
out without just cause. Further than that we
implore to be let alone. Can we hope for that
much mercy?