The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-29

Mayer ouasAss ~ asgssa - ths
Law.
II there be but one step non tAs sublime "a
the ridiculous, the Chief Magistrate Of the city
Of New York knows abundantly we'll how
to take It He ID continually attempting the
sublime; but he Inevitably tumbles into the
ridiculous. He was elected by an independent
and popular movement Of citizens, under the
conviction that reforms, which might almost
be designated sublime, In view Of the then
manifold corruptions existing in the city gov
eminent, would be promptly instituted under
his administration; but he seems 10 have
lacked tie brains to grasp great evils. and
contented himself with attempting to correct
lesser ones, which were but a. warts to Ossa
when compared with those he was expected to
remedy Our readers are familiar with his
failures q reform Mayor; but they will
hardly be prepared to believe that be 10 SO ig-
norant OF law applying to certain city matter
as is developed in the following communlca-
ton which we have just received from the
ONCE Of bic Honor
TO TIE BDIroR or rHu HERALD
hAroas OFFICE. New York, May Is. 1894.
DEAR Sa-I have been directed By the honorable the
mayor and Tho Comptroller OF this city that, In
Of Tho authority vested them By section
Of chapter 327 OF the session laws Of $685. they intend
TO designate four papers having Tho largest daily crcu
tion IN this city The advertising Of the Corporation
You are hereby notified that the sworn statsmeus Of
Der Of copies issued tho Soth day May inst for
daily circulation 10 the city Of New York (and DO
yond Its mits enclosed 10 sealed envelope endorsed
.Sworn statement Of the daily circulation or and
addressed 70 the Mayor or Comptroller, VIII be received
BY the Mayor and mptroler Who WIN then proceed to
Very respectfully, =. B. AULD, Clerk.
There are two points in this communication
which stamp it as unbeGtting the head Of the
city government. The Arst is it's ignorance Of
the intent of the law respecting Corporation
advertising and its native Stiffness The law
never designed that single designated days
circulation Of paper applying for the
Corporation advertising should be taken as de-
cisive evidence Of its absolute general circu-
laton, and it is contrary to It's spirit to put any
such construction upon It. It has long since
been decided LIN the matter Of Post Once ad-
vertising-that such an Interpretation upon q
law Of the kind would simply be an attempt to
give legal invitation to and cover for fraudu-
lent returns Of the amount Of circulation, a
legal excuse for corrupt and irresponsible per-
sons inthe newspaper business to perjure them
selves by printing on tho day designated q
batch OF handbills, with newspaper heading,
and swearing the number to represent the
true circulation Of some paper that had
barely q reader outside the limits Of some
co~r,,vt ana v~rcA;roto crow ~ sohho-u =. -. ~
politicians. 1t may be possible that Mayor Gun
Their has personal object Of this kind in view
in his present action; but we would be sorry
to believe that his ignorance Of the intent OF
the law, which such . conclusion would imply,
h allied to knavery. Tho only true and pro-
per and legal way Of proving the actual clrcu-
lation Of . newspaper Is to take the average
circulation Of month or three months, and es-
tablishipg it by that process. This is the only
fair test, the only proper method. It is the one
always adopted by the New York HERALD; and
the proprietors Of any newspaper pretending
to rcspectability who favor any other plan
Of arriving at fair estimate Of their absolute
circulation should be regarded as irresponsible
persons, and unworthy to enter into any con-
tract with tho city involving sn expenditure of
money. Whatever excuse Mayor Gunthsr may
offer for his ignorance In this matter, there
might, perhaps, not improperly, be IN inquiry
instituted into bis motive; for, Is the taxpayers
are concerned in this as well as 10 all other
drafts upon the public treasury, it were as
we'll for them to see how their rulers act in
comparatively minor financial affairs, in order
that they may be prepared to judge how they
conduct themselves 10 matters OF greater mag.
nitude.L
In regard to the silly portion Of this bust.
ness, involving . chndlike simplicity on the
part Of bis Honor, is his excluding, in the
amount Of circulation, the number Of copies
supplied to suburban places. Mr.. Gunthsr
might as we'll limit the circulation to the single
ward in which the paper is printed as to ignore
the existence Of places where largo proper
ton of the people doing business in the city
make their homes and residences There is, pro-
baby, population Of four hundred thousand
within few miles circuit Of New York, and in
nearly every household lives person who il
perhaps as much interested in the Corporation
advertising as any resident in the city proper
In these households the city papers am
furnished as regularly and as early, frequently
earlier, than to the city reader; and it is thest
suburban readers who have the most time
during their transit in the railway cars, IL
ferryboats, in stages &C., from their residence.
to their places OF business, to read the lonf
Corporation advertisements, and to devote tht
| time frequently required to render clear some
obscurity in language aud meaning.
Briefly, Mayor Gunther has, either through
bad advice or imperfect knowledge, committee
in this last pstter Of Corporation advertising
blunders which would be regarded with nucl
seriousness did they not appear SO silly ant
ridiculous as to provoke, instead Of feeling
| OF resentment q sentiment OF modification