The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-11


large business in -four and grain, mainly Western
account at higher prices but the market closed dull
Provisions we're decidedly lower. now pork closing
at $50 TX. whiskey was duh and nearly nominal
Municipal Corruption ExempiiGed-The
Duty OF the Next Legislature.
We publish in another column this morning
an official communication from Comptroller
Brennan to the Common Council, In which he
thoroughly exposed job which had been engi-
neered through that body by the municipal
"ring" If the Tribune and those other journals
which have constituted themselves the defenders
Of corruption, and demand of us specifications
of the charges which we have made against the
Corporation, will carefully peruse this docu-
meut they will end proof positive Of the truth
of our assertions. We hhsye already pointed
out the Piers and Wharves bill as one Of the
schemes to be denounced; we now add this gas
swindle, upon the authority of the Comptroller
himself, aud we shall have something to say by
and by in relation to the Battery enlargement
project. These are specifications enough, we
should think, to satisfy the Tribune and other
champions of the "ring," and we now call upon
them to meet these charges or to enter plea
of guilty, as the Tribune has done in regard TO
the piers and wharyes concern.
On the SOth day Of last December the Com
mon Council suddenly terminated the contracts
of the gas companies which light our streets,
upon the receipt Of notice to that effect from
the companies, and also ordered the Street
Commissioner to make new contracts with these
companies, practically at the companies' own
price. No reason whatever was assigned for
this astounding action. The city held valid
contracts for lighting the streets which had
several years to run. The gas companies had
q monopoly of the business, and could make
the new contracts to suit themselves. Thus the
city was placed entirely at the mercy Of the
gas monopoly, and the members of the Common
Council, without offering the slightest excuse,
justification or motive for their course, con-
scented that this monopoly should take several
more millions Of dollars from The City treasury
for performing work which was already CON
traoted for at lower price, Mayor Gunther,
who has pretended to be a reformer, stayed
down town and signed and approved the reso-
lutions the same day they were passed. One
week afterwards Street Commissioner Cornell
advertised for proposals for the new contracts.
Had not the Comptroller, alarmed at the gigan-
tic proportions of the job, put his foot down
and refused to open the proposals, and had not
the HERALD and our citizens generally indig-
nantly denounced the whole affair." the atrooous
scheme would have been contaminated, and we
would now be paying double, or more than
double, the present price per lamp for lighting
our streets. ,ssssy
The celebrity With which this job was rushed
through the Common Council, aud the smooth
ness with which all the machinery was worked,
show II to have been one Of the operations of
the "ring." Although millions Of dollars were
involved in the scheme, il passed the Common
Council without even being referred to CON-
mittee. Although it bore corruption on its
very face, Mayor Cunther made haste to sign ii
ON the day Of its passage. Although it was for
the interest OF tho city TO get the work done as
cheaply as possible and to escape the infections
of monopoly, the Street Commissioner imme-
companies could not be interfered with, leav-
ing them al liberty to name their own terms
Thus the Common Council, the Mayor and the
Street Commissioner acted in concert to deprive
the city Of the valid contracts now existing, and
to subject il TO such contracts as the gas compa-
mics might choose to offer. II is said that
the Mayor is interested in one Of the cOmpa-
mics TO be affected by this change Of the con-
tract price; but. whether this be true or not, it
needs no argument TO convince any candid
mind OF the intrinsic corruption Of the whole
affair. Why should the city give up valid con-
tracts beneficial 10 her, In order to make
others, beneficial only to the gas companies
What would be thought Of business man
who should adopt such course? Suppose the
Mayor or the Street Commissioner were to act
in this way in regard to their private Affairs
Offering people more than they had agreed 10
take for their goods-how long would they be
on. Of The lunatic asylum But whom officials
deliberately throw up the city's valid contracts
and place us at the mercy Of monopolies, they
do it for some other reason than insanity. We
ask the Tribune what that reason Is !! Let the
champions Of corruption face the facts if they
can.
This exposure of the detestable "ring" sys-
tenn by which our city Is governed ought TO
cow iuce the most skeptical Of the necessity Of
a thorough municipal REFORM We have called
upon Governor Fenton to remove the Mayor,
the Street Commissioner and the other heads Of
departments but another "ring" seems 10
have been formed, embracing the State as well
as the city, aud our appeals have been unan-
swered by any practical action. The people,
however, have this matter In their own hands,
and II they will resolve 10 vote for no candi-
date not pledged to the reforms so urgently
demanded we can elect Legislature next fall
which will abolish the present corrupt system
Of government altogether, and give us metro
politan Mayor and q clean, compact and pure
municipality. The next election will hinge upon
this question, and whichever party takes II up