The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-06
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CITIES.
Proposed Abolition Of the New York
Board Of supervisors.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or TINE HERALD.

ALBANY, Septepbsr s, 1867.
The report OF the Committee ON Cities at length
fore the Convention 1t will prove emlnensIy satisfAc-
tory 70 New York city. which needed the interposi-
ton OF some authority put bar the encroachmsns
OF tho Legislature the vested rights Of our munich
pstes Tho CONCESSIONS which this report proposes TO
give the metropolis and other cities Of the great State
not the result OF any spirit OF obedience dictates Of
justice on the part of the dominant party the Commt-
too and in the Convention, but are wruns from the
political necessities Of the party which, with its negrophil-
ism. Excise laws and like unpopular features, is
threatened with Of the disastrous cha
ractsr at The coming elections The party Is already
weakened by Internal dissensions aud cannot afford 70
increase the popular opprobrium with which its eas
ia'ive measures have been greeted Tho two factions
nave been poweress IN the Convention without the as
sstance OF the democratic me nbers The latter have
held the balance Of from the rst day, and that
pwer has been used to wiring from the republicans
concessions as heir opponents demanded and their own
fears suggested The restoration OF New York city to
her ancient independence and the abolition OF the sys
ten OF commissions arc but the result OF bargain In
which the democrats have agreed to support certain
measures which the pet schemes Of one faction
even this good comes ou OF tine Nazareth OF politics.
and It will be particularly gratifying If IL is followed up
as probab will be, 6y an acceptable system OF reform
the alarm They begin 10 heed tho writing
on tho wall Excise and blue laws have been succeeded
BY the recent revelations the frauds which the
nartv has practsed III the management OF the canals
Tho democrats have been prompt to take advantage OF
tho rscessites Of their opponents II be- and It
probably will be- that the work the Convention will
be ratified by the people But The friends Of freer gov
eminent In cities not acting upon this hypothe-
ss but arc taking 1t for granted that the cOnsttu
ton will be approved By this course they hope 10 the
event any sudden change Ia the opinion OF the pub
M TO take advantage Of the situation for the benefit OF
their plans
Singulsry enough, the principal dissenter the
port OF the committee Mr. H. c. Murphy, the esd.
ing democrat Of the Convention His only objection,
however 10 the proposed notifications the govern
msns OF cities is that the Mayor shalt be delegated
the power appointing the heads OF departments but
that those Offices shall DC elective like all others
Mr.. Francis has prepared and will tomorrow also
submit minority report providing for chief OF the
police force t. 90 called superintendent 70 DO appoint.
cd by the Governor.
Those two gentlemen ara the only members Of the
committees hold objection to the plan submit
ted The rest Of the mnittee including such pr0mi.
Lent republicans the chairman, ex-senator Harris,
and OK Mayor 0pdykc, are significantly its friends
The CANAL DsBr AND EALARGEMExr
The whole OF to-day's session consumed in the
debate in Committee OF the Whole on the Finance
ana Canal questions tr. Aisord spoke nearly seven
hours continuously ths subject He followed by
Mr.. Opdyke whose speech consumed some three hours
hessrs. Brooks Schoonmaker, Andrews and Conger oc
cupisd the session Of to-day The subject has received
but little attention yet from the city members who
generally regard quarrel Of tue rural delegates
which they should be left to fight out