New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-12
TIE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.

A BRTDcMEET OF THE REPoRT Up THB EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL. PRESENTED 10 THR HONORARY COUNCIL
NOV. ~, 1866.
Before proceeding TO the items Of this work the
Execuy. Council cougratulaies Honorary upon tfe many
and Multiplying Evidences which Association is daily
Ielng Of tho which it s held BY The community
BY e state at large by e friends Of honest ana scca
goternment every portion Of the Unioa Hardy asy
passes without many personal applications fof $40 reosa
documents Of the Association nom friHcipa ei'istns
The Association is constantly in receipt 81 COMMUNICATIONS
from prominent parts of State and eesary
and tho Mayors other authorities oio pnepai cues
seetHg Information 10 its organization ana llao ana
requesting OF its reports and pucahohs The Executive
Couuc happy BE- able 10 state hat 9e neat LEGISLATURE
prom make better record than thds OF TIC asI Lessa
ture Those members who themselves conspicuous last
Winter in the support the reform measures or The Assoeia
ton aud who were honest ard consistent in the advocacy OF
good government this city have nearly a been returned 10
the legislature by tbir constituents and the Executive
Counen is happy 10 state that those members who were the
omen opponents of fhe Association. who pretended TO
he its friends but were in fact m nost dangerous enemies
IN disguise have nearly n failed TO resheu 10 De legs
TIC details Of the work accomplished by the Association
the last meeting of the Honorary council are nsu we
part by in the matter OF hangarang system Oh
harves and piers worthy OF the wealth snd commmerca an
portance Of this city Feeling the importance OF the a2e
The necessity for immediate acton Mh premises anu h"
IL should succeed in inauguating some compTehesSe pan o
the construction of WharVes and piers IT would De uons
great good the Association engaged ID preparation 10 hpl
before the Committee appointed TO investigate the mat
ter whaes piers and slips I'd tins city me commune
met the first time on 1uesdas re lh INST at wy
Hall large delegation was present ron .hs 5
prominent capitalists ana cltNehs VINO al nailestou ~
their and interest taken in the proceeding tnelF
I6e Associntion TO assist the Committee in its abOrs,
prepared for its and presented 10 u ihIee Volumes
laws under which city third parties have acquired title to
The land beyond original mark on the island OF New
York and oil laws in relation TO the building OF ON NhnINes
and piers and volumes and three containing survey by
its Corps Engineers OF all the piers and bnikheas around
of the Association were presented to the COMMITTEE ny
Geoe + Moves esq Of The EHeGa'e CGng f NE n
and pcrs bnt tLe Committee had already accepted the
offer Of like courtesy from other parties The Committee
made personal inspection OF the whole river mont OF the %
and of the Whoryes and piers in Brooklyn the result
ned the remark Of Mir Noycs that such inspection would
The Executive Council congrauates the Honorary Council
upon the successful termination Of the suit brought by the Asso
citation restrain the Common Council and the Street Com
missioner from consnmnang the years
tract II will be remembered that u resolution introduced
Council and passed authorizing and directing
the Street Commissioner 90 advertise for proposals and TO
make Gourmet lighting the streets of the city with coal
gas the long Of 20 years Ii was represented by the
Association that during these times while all materials are so
high IL would extremely unwise 10 make contract for 10
long period 20 years and that II woud be better for the
city pay the present high rates for year OF Two longer man
10 make such contract Moreover the Association assumed
position that sections nine and ten Of the IaA Levy
limiting the Common Council TO certain SPECIFIC amounts
OF money for certain specific OBJECTS anu Wohlbi1
ing from ncurne obligations IN excess thereof or o any
purpose or object not therein sPeenea nor ohy nc
Common Council from spending more for gas IN ls than the
allowed for that purpose but prevented them IRON making
contract for more than one year MAYOR norman e'eu
the resolution the Common Council without his signature
but stated Ia his veto that the night OF the corporation 10
direct the Street Commissioner make the contract cannot be
denied On this point have theconeunent opinion Of
most able counsel As is stated above the Association held
the contrary opinion The resolution passed by The Com
Council Notwithstanding the veto The Association then
Iian obtaned from Judge Barnard temporary inJunc
ton which upon argument made perpetual forever re-
and the Street Commissioner IRON taxing Any nihef steps
eonsummate the proposed contract. IAe important
opinion Judge Barnard settles ls The right Of member
the Common Council trustee TO bring al action against
other members Of the Common Council TO restrain them as
cotrusce OF the city property aud revenues from the commits
sion Of any which wiz tend 10 cndanger the trust property
dspate the trust funds and from any ect which Is beyond
OF against powers OF the IL settles 3D. That nader
sections and ten Of the City Tax Levy tic Corporation
year any purpose not expressly auorizcd by the
sections Of the Tax Levy 1t settles 81 That the only
remedy against proposed illegal contract Of the Common
Council wait until the contract is made aud .nt
brought upon IT, and then inepOse the defense OF is lille
Common Council prevent the eOnsummaion Of the contract
The result this su affords the Association great pleasure
and gives promise Of its increasing power IL Is the entering
wedge by which great portion OF the corruption oil the ol
the statute books ever! illegal scheme OF the Common Council
If contaminated can be stopped by INJUNCTION or n con
summated be vacated declared null and void Tic re-
The Executive Council cOlgralaie the Honorary Council
upon the successful termination Of tue proceedings undertaken
Of the Street Department Of Til city Upon the return
the alternative mnud0Muh ordering street AOilltlONff
Cornell permit The attorney Of this Association TO inspect De
books and papers show 20 The contrary tie matter
fully argued Judge Barnard n this also decided In
the favor the Association and ordered that peeror a
damus should issue compelling the Street Commissioner TO al
low the attorney Of the Association full and free light 10
anime and take copies Of the books papers and documents
file in his Office Ills decision was most timely and win form
important and useful precedent m future efforts. II
opens the door Of a the Departments Of the City Government
and gives every citizen matter Of right what the Depart
courtesy Now has been established that the Assocs
ton has the right TO examine oil the books papers and doc
o be hoped SI thai he heads q these Dspstis VIII on %
account alone hesitate as TO their nets.
The Association has been bgs eagaged through It's Bureau
OfRngneer investigating the brick marble and
used in the erection Of the New County Court House Ac
ouae measurements have been mode OF all the details OF the
work from the foundation 70 the ROOT ana exact oacgaoLs
made Of the amount OF the various kinds Of materials used
These results wrought ont upon the seyerest mahemaiica
basis to be compared with the amounts OF the different
materials charged the County and paid and the Association
hopes hu 10 be able 10 detect whatever fraud arises from the
alleged furnishing Of tue vast amounts OF tic various materials
that apparently disappeared IN the County Court House
job The Association has also been engaged in investigating
relation to the erection Of the building the exorbnt
raes al which the County IL how paying for The materials used
The Association has also been engaged In investigating the
oyechages Of The Special Committee appointed by the Board
negligence made by Supervisor smith bly, M against the Court
House Committee IL scarcely be credited but startling
may II fact that the Special Committee appointed
Investigate those charges obtained nom The county Treasury
their expenses in the investigation lasting but parts Of
startled al the gross euOmity and fraud Of this bill
municaion Controller asking hr details Of The above
amount, to which communication TIC following reply vi"
cHTSS EswYSsE Ptraa1.rY OF + rry y.,
Attorney ChizeSf dssociatoa u n. u
f 1 cn GO aoT S ' eH Of e1Ssnd
cation submit the following statement Of such expenditure viz
CtsIf Hire Ge Controller give, n,m., Of elort si2O
Eugene bgrns1 Sergeant! si Arms 500
g T. Wilbur. sen0gsphef. .................. 1888 20
Geo w, Rooms, meals iurEshed..,............. 200 90
KswsYofE PIintae Co. printing 5000 Report. Of
tomnlitee On INVESTIGATION IIe -