New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-30
Meeting Of the Council Of the Citizens
Association.

I An interesting meeting took place last night
1T the room. Of the Citizens Association. No. siJ Broad
way Of the members Of the Council OF the Association
and the various Ward organizations for the purpose OF
hearing the report Of tho Association and statement OF
what was bo done during the next year lie meet
ing largely composed Of many oi our most eminent
citizens. among whom we noticed Chas. Otonnor esq.
the Hon Demas Strong. Nathaniel Sahcs esd, Col
Rush Hawkins Col yam Buren,, Brig Gen. Van Wet,
the Rev. Dr. Ferris Ne Rev. Dr. McNickar AMI others
The meeting was called order by gentleman propos
iny ns President and Secretary m Stureis ana W Is
Roosevelt esqs.. which was carried The chairman theh
made a few Introductory remarks, and called on the
Secretary 10 read the report.
II r. RoosEyRLT. esq, then read the report Of the
Association which after stetng what were the objects
Of the Association and that proposed to accomplish
tose objects by change of set of officials
for another but by the diffusion 81 information and ed
ucating the people 10 higher and clearer appreciation
of their Interests in wise and economical city govern
nent stated thai during the past nine months more
than two millions Of publications had been circulated
exhibiting the wasteful and fraudulent expenditures Of
the city government. showing the neglect " public
property the frghtful increase of tnxion paupersm
and death. Public meetings of tho various trades
hal been hold, which were highly i'm
portant both in the numbers OF the audiences
and the intelligence and enthusiasm OF the speakers
and by means of those public discussions thousands had
been Instructed aud invited 10 cooperate In the work OF
city reform. TIE Ward Associations had been very
active and useful aurliarics In spreading iniormaton
and preparing the way for important reforms. Num-
beers OF worthy and respectable citizens had entered
heartily into the work Of the Ward Associations TIE
Cin,sn, the organ Of the Association was commenced
early in August md slready circulated extensively
among all classes Of citizens The issues had IN some
instances reached 10 900 copies week The taxation
Of the citizens had increased IN lew years RON - 10
sl5 per head Of the population or about so per voter
and in it, first wear OF operations the Association had
effected reduction Of two millions IN the taxes. while
the public officer. and members Of the Common Council
had been declared the trustees oil the public fnrds
and the improper use Of the public money had been de-
clarcd misdemesnor. The necessity Tor Increased
market accommodation had engaged large share OF
their attention and much information had been an
IN sed and there was announcement 10 believe that
soon increased facilities would be supplied especially IN
the upper part Of the city The ASSOCIATION had made
an extensive survey Of the docks and wharyes both
the East aud North rivers and the condition into which
for many years they have been allowed To aif aud
though million Of dollars had boon expended on them
during the past four years the repairs done had been
little more than tnkerlng. The Association had found
il expedient organize itself into four distinct bureaus
or departments, viz: tho Sanitary Bureau, the
Bureau Of Civil and ToPoggraphisal Ensineering
had secured Ito services Of sixteen eminent
physicians who had mapped ont the city into thrty-onc
districts and appointed 10 go n" every
dion Many Of the reports 50 furnished were exceed.
ngy valuable and also they had taken photographs Of
some Of the worst localities The Bureau OF Legal
Advisers had control Of the numerous legal Questions
arising in the city government and had held frequent
meetisg-. The Bureau OF Public Instruction was
composed Of number OF meH eminent for their scholar
ship and took cognizance Of all matters relating to the
public schools while the Bureau Of Civil and Topo,
graphical Engineering bad oversight Of all the public
works and improy ements in which engineering was
involved This sort of work Ind been long enough in
the hands of politicians aud when the Associa-
tion began it, work it found butcher who could not
write In charge Of an important bridge. There were
many reasons for congratulation and encouragement
when they knew that the Association had the confidence
Of all the honest aud industrious citizens and that it
had already put limits 10 the cXtortons OF corrupt Off
Gals aud had saved In one year 1900. and i'm
pressedOpon all departments Of the city government
The necessity Of retrenchment and reform.
After the reading Of the report the chairman called
on Dr. 5. NJ. Smith of the Sanitary Bureau to say what
had been done by his department. Dr. Smith said AN
account Of the operations the Sanitary Bureau would
be given BY its secretary. DIR. Thompson
Dr. THOMSON, the Secretary Of the Bureau then cI
planned the means that had been taken TO make
pete sanitary survey VI the city by the tbTyons in