New-York tribune., 1867-09-20

'-l. o.,
We rcgret that te Mayor perhaps as upright an Official
as we can expect get in this city through the ballot
box did not Protest against these exayagnt eXpcAd
lures and enormous sWndles nor Use the veto power
LATE SHEET COMMIssONER
The Association calls your attention 10 the eXtravG-
cant expenditure OF the late street Commissioner an
otcia OF the local government which expenditures were
made the subject OF charges against NM lhacf Ms au
iustrtion he spent npon public road OF about four
miles i'm ench the enormous sum slO8O75 % for three
years and the road showed little signs 0i inc WORK bolS
done while The Board of Commissioners Of Central Park,
i'm tbe same pcrOd of three years spent the of about
SlGOOOO on 10 miles of road and walks under ter cAe
kccping them in admirable repair He spent some soo
upou The prctense OF working Eigthave. as country
road from ehundredandiOIuc W Oho'hu"uio"'" anu
The Common Council never took action in any OF the
charges against this official. -
In conclusion the Association would say that IN GONG
back TO the unlimited use of the balobOS ia the govern
ment of this city, we SIMPLY icPeat an ~ ,
years which brought our city to thc verge rum
it is device but returning to disastrous failure
and those who earnestly advocate the uhfeseVed use
OF the ball0tbOX must have forgotten the cohh9h "l
things here from 1853 10 1882 which drove our people 70
the Legislature for relief Our Poice az tLt l,' o on,
sisted Of an unOrganizcd mass OF ilHdlscrttt Pcieo ul
worst whose principal business 20 take care uf the
interests OF certain notorious politicians The fort
GauscvCort and other gigantic lOps were put lhrouth
with the greatest ease. Ncw1 OK today j. pAiddl''
contrased with those days, when balotboXcs were con
rocd and packed by the residents OF o the lower
wards Of The cty where live the helpless aud the isno-
rant easily mislcd and 50 easily controlled Who even
al glance or threat became the mere tool OF dcdly ana
successful politician. aud would vote as required
The advocates of the unrestricted use Oh llc piotnox
must also have forgotten the fearful scenes enacted IN the
July riots OF 1sG3, which cost the city millions o dollars
from lanes alleys cellars and suns. aud from dark holes
and corners, not only stil exist, but have largely III
creased their numbers This city Is the grand cntrcpot
which Europe annually pOurs her thousands OF de
praved and criminal cldsscs-tcy are here to-day the
useful tools OF worthless politicians VINO stop at nothing
that will secure power.
This ASSOCIATION acknowledges facts, and propose to
deal with them a. such.
Let there be inerming OF the powers or state and
local government there OF state and local intercss
This Association Is labOrng TO establish good govern
mcut that aims at
First: A thorough efficiency IN all IL undertakes.
c,tYH.I of ~
Third The best method Of accomplishing these results.
With this object in view, the Association submitted 10
the Convention the basis Of plan nfor the government Of
New York City, in which were represented ana blended
respective interests Of tho city and state. The
Association insists that by destroying tho Com
missions the Convention will destroy the results
of the accumulated experience OF twenty years nsrc
will overthrow the most economical the most efficient,
the part Of the government OF this city; VIII nhct
the greatest injury upon capital, commerce, and labor,
and will pave the way 10 anarchy.
The withdrawal or the powers vested IN the Commits
sOners with such population we have shown exists
here would render life and property 50 insecure that
speedy ruin would overtakc our city.
The Association trusts that what has been stated VIII
meet with that consideration which the Importance OF
the subject claims. Respectfully submitted.
PETER COOPER, Chairman
OF the Citizens Association Of New \ 0rk.
RICHARD NJ. HENRY, Secretary.