New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-06
sOUND THE ALARM!

such action as self-preseryetlon may demand. Our
intelligent, enterprising and practical business men
cannot neglect much longer to take emphatic excep-
ton to acts so hgh-handed and outrageous as those
perpetroted by the Common Council as body. Let
US mention few of the most recent:
l. On the l4h day Of June, resolution was rushed
through both branches giving away, in fact, to the
Harlem Railroad Company, the whole of One-hundred
andtwenty II was pushed through with such
indecent haste (passing both Boards the same day.
that Mayor Hoffman, in his veto, if not in FORM yet
in substance, strongly rebuked the Common Coun-
Gil for the extraordinary rapidly with which it
was ready to sacrifice the best interests of people
OF course no public notice was given for those who
had the management Of the little affair wished to keep
it quiet as possible, lest people should take the
alarm and button their pockets before the job was put
through.
ii. A resolution lately passed the Common Coun-
Gil directing the Street Commissioner to make con-
tract for rcny gears for lighting our streets with coal
gas. Mayor Hoffman has vetoed this scheme, also,
with what effect, however, we are ANXIOUS to see. H.
in spite Of the prohiboy sections of the last taxlevy
law the Common Council is able to deliver our people
bound hand and foot to the extortOnate gas monopo
lies we shall be saddled with only the small sum OF
about one and one-haf millions Of dollars per year for
poor, very poor, light.
Ill The Common Council has been spending more
money than the law allowed under City Contingent
ces," and, now that the 100000 asked and granted
for 1866 has been consumed in paying the excuses OF
last year. aud the appropriations of this, it has been
seized with sudden dismay that nothing has been
left in the City Treasury with which to celebrate the
e 4ha rnc
The Citizens Association did not, as your organ, Inc
Uorld has falsely represented, prevent the celebra'
ton Of our National Independence-you had $6O,oOo
for this and similar purpoSes you got all the Con-
trOller thought you were entitled to; and, with
proper management the sum of 100000 would pay
twelve times over, all the legitimate Contingent
expenses Of our City.
". The Common Council, in violation of the City
Charter, leased to the Sisters Of Mercy about three
quarters of block Of ground between Fourth and
Lexington-aves., in tho neighbshood OF Eighty
thrd-st, for the term Of nnety-nine years, at the
nominal rent of one dollar per annum. This Is only
specimen of how the Common Council deals with its
trust property with property pledged to the creditors
of the City 1t gives it away for nnety-nine years.
whereas tho Charter prohibits leases for longer term
than ten years. 1t is strange that although this mat
ter was brought to his attention long ago. yet Corpo
ration Counsel Il. O'Gorman first nominated by the
friends of REFORM has not taken any steps to have this
lease declared void. Why is thlsl
V. The "raid" recently made by the Common
Council upon the property-owners along the line OF
the Fifth.ave is another instance Of how wideawake
il is for chances This "raid' is so recent, and
excited SO much comment when commenced, that 1t
is necessary for us to mention it in general terms
only. 1t seems that for about thirty years the
carriage-way in Filthave. has been forty feet and
each sidewalk from the kennel, or gutter to the house,
or street.-The thirty feet wide. Propertyowners were
permitted TO use fifteen of these thirty feet, relying
upon the good faith of the City that these limits would
not 10 changed unless the public welfare imperatlvey
50 demanded; and the property-owners built upon
their property accordingly. NO one Po'isoned for
any altcraton-but the Common Council appointed a
Specal Committee to consider the adyisabilty OF re-
pealng the permission given to the property
and of cutting off all couryards and stoops extend
ing beyond seven feet from the house-line. This prop
osition of Vandalism is still under consideration
and, if put into execution, it would involve the de-
sruction of several millions of dollars worth OF prop
erty.
VI. The matter Of the Corporation Manual shows
how the Common Council spends the public money.
In the early part of this year. they passed resolution
directing the Clerk to prepare and cause to be pub
lshod ten thousand copies Of this volume. The Mayor
vetoed this resolution, because he thought, first that
there was no propriety in publishing ten thousand
copies; and secondly because there was no limitation
uuon the expenditure to be made. The bills for this
Manual in 1885 amounted to S53,G72 80. The Mayor
stated in his veto that upon inquiry made Of response
Bile publishers he had ascertaued that ten thousand
copies could be prepared for 100000
The Common Council refused to be guided by the
Mayor, and to give out the work to the lowest bidder
but passed the resolution over his veto; and as Q
matter of course the bills for publishing the Manual
this year will amount to at least 100000. II viii
thus be seen that this one job" alone Will cos
the public 100000 the whole amount allowed
for "City Contingencies for 1866, out Of which
this expense Of publishing the Manual should
come, and to which account it is charged
When the Council spend at least $4,000 moro this
subject than is necessary 5000 copies at 50 per copy
being sufficiently this expense being charged against
the 100000 for "City Contingencies" it complains
that 500 900 from 500 900 leaves nothing for fire
crackers" From the communication addressed by
Mayor Hoffman to Messrs. EDGE it appears that he,
too to our surprise, sympathizes with the Common
Council in their misfortune
Look at the withdrawing report of the Commit
tee of the Board of Supervisors in reference to the
New Court House Swindle. A Courthouse that
was to cost but $780, coo has already, under the ma
nipuations Of the CourtlIouse Committee cost 49,
100000 and will not be completed at cost Of less
than 81, 100000. And, when Supervisor Smith Ely,
IT,, tried to have the why's and wherefores inves-