The New York herald., 1865-05-07
The Aldermen, the junk Dealers and the
Corporation Attorney.

Corporation Attorney.
The action OF the Board Of Mdsrmea Ia ordering Cor
pOration Attorney Shea suspend for the present all
suits for violations Of tho city ordinances continues TO
be the subject Of much comment among the public on.
cas and politicians The resolution introduced by
Alderman Mcknight, Of the Eleventh ward in which
district number Of people engaged in tho junk business
and small second hand establishments are congregsted
appears that lattery these people have been guilty OF
numerous breaches OF corporation ordinances, and the
complaints madc 10 the attorney ofths corporation have
inconsequence become quite large, occasioning many
suits convictions and fines against the accused paries
Alderman McKnshts resolution, IL Is alleged, vas in
tended 10 shield these offenders from the legal conss
quences Of their acts But whether this construction OF
his be true not 10 certain that the resolution
will concured in by the Councilmen have that efecs
BY ordinance Of the Common Council all keepers Of
junk shops and other second hand establishments
qurcd not only 70 take out licenses but also to keep
record Of all their purchases and sales The object
thieves, who generally make use Of such places
have most Of Som fail 70 fss
REQUIRED by ordinance, either In defiance Of the auhor
ties or through ignorance or inability to read and write
their mon TO visit second hand establishments and
that the provisions Of the ordinance are enforced Tho
~ but sometimes with not a. much dS.cro,cu as mshs
be used. Big offenders arc ofton passed over while
poor people are visited with the full penalty Of the law
We are Informed for example, that there Is In this city
certain nrn engaged in the purchase Of rags &C. for
the manufacture Of paper who positively refuse 70 take
out any license keep record Of their purchases from
small dealers This arm have not been prosecuted BE-
cause Of their influence with the powers that be- The
injustice Of this will b readily The small deal.
enpersons who only so for instance few pounds Of
rags at time, worth few pennies IN vauc-srs pun.
shsd because they do not keep minute record Of their
nnnItsssmA purchases and sales which are trng a
to DO scarcely worth notscng Those small amounts are
bought up By bigger second hand dealers, who nnaly
sell In q large bulk W the manufacturers Thus ths
system works The wealthy have responsibility,
while the poor bear the whole burden. How diAcut
must be sometimes for instance 10 keep account Of
every cents worth Of rags or nas or old IRON keys
vii bs admitted at once and yet the petty desen must
90 this while the wealthy allowed 70 20 free. There
Q palpable injustice In the system.
But Tor all this 70 not 70 b denied that At present the
second hand establishments used az receptacle Tor
stolen goods and that the records should be kept strictly
% - 20 enable the police TO track the thieves and bring
tnem 70 Justice We are informed that the Corporation
Attorney mas had an interview with the Police Commits
sones on the subject and that he has furnished them
WIN plan for carrying out the ordinance which will
Avoio mucn o. the annoyance and defects hitherto
perenoed The entirs subeot will be investigated next
week @ the Aldermen Intend TO appoint an invsstigat-
ldaYs!Qpst - v"