The New York herald., 1870-01-04
NEW YORK HERALD TUESDAY JANUARY L. lszo-TRPLE


IN the lobby. lie then walked 20 the ccntrc OF tho
chamber. ana handing tue package TO the sergeant
alarms, gracefully retired
Alderman REILLY, witn his associates rom the
committee TO the Board or Assistant Aldermen. TO-
turned al this time, and Alderman Reilly asd that
tne Board OF Assistants had offered their cong ~
ti0ns, but had no communication 10 make at pres
ent. The committees were discharged. after which
the president read
Mayor Halps Address.
GENTLEMEN or THE COMMON CoUScM:--
The MAJOR cOngratulate3 YOU that the result OF the
recent State elociion will probably terminate those
incOnRruities OF our municipal government wnicn
have been increasing year by year during long
period. They have been repeatedly portrayed by
Mayors who were elected by diverse partes. but
by no one OF them forcp,y tnan by the present
Executive OF the State. Therefore the citizens gen.
eraly may also congratulated that the experience
or Governor Hoffman during mis- several years or
Recommending ana aayoraltg WI now become vs "
re0rganizing municipal government upon sound
constitutional basis.
should no needed let the following Important IN
stances suggest hundred otners OF long cata-
The streets, both upon ana under their surfaces
arc controlled by three different sets OF officials
each OF whom are entirely indeDendent OF the
wholly independent Of other oIcals who are charged
with provision OF the necessary water supply, ana
independent Of the force which during fires, pre-.
serve order, protect property, aud take charge Of
premises. The police are legally independent or the
city ordinances; ana the latter are practically
has been TO do everything That might
bring the acts OF municipal officials into
disrerute Several sets OF officials, who In theory
are subordnates, substantially fix their own cxpen-
d,urcs and levy for those the needlul taxes, while
the real heads OF government have oeen Obliged TO
oDccts and nc the same time receive the blame OF
extravaganza Tor disbursements which they 40 not
influence There in the ofices ofthe Police Health.
Fire. Excise and Education Boards substantially tive
extra County TreIsCrers, each distinct from the
other and financial vouchers Affecting city ana
" inns n
Common Council go through ceremony oil making
donations relieve charable Institutes from assess.
OF voting moneys TO hospitals ana eleemosynary
asyluns only tn ind their action, OF ITSELF TO be OF
no avail, and that the Legislature must sanction
These and similar incon9ruitles rendered IT impos-
sibe Tor our constituents 70 Justly hola any one
political party group OF officials directly RESPONSE
Bile for alleged municipal abuses. 1t has been quite
habit for our o1icias. whenever they were criti-
cns 20 pay ecas XII nd
branches OF the e2lsature and IS IN position to OBJ
tam control also. of all the municipal &c.
perQeHts Responsibility for alleged abuses cannot
be escaped by that party after due opportunity shall
have been afforded 1t Tor homogeneous reOrganiz
what particular plan OF centring municipal re-
sponsiDilty be agreed upon by the Legislature
it Is advisable 10 mere anticipate, nor practically
useful for us now to discuss. The views OF tho Mayor
ana Common Council Will. perhaps. be more oppor-
tpnely expressed IN some memorial TO the Legisa-
turc But when tnar central responsibility shall
have been defined. 1t must perform Its duty
efficiently and economically, or the party whicn
controls 1t aud the men VINO WELD must and should
ANY plan should provide that all officials except
judges who are paid out OF the city or county trea
sury should DO grouped under appropnsse depart, art
they should hold their appointment from uniform
source. Then the rights or local governments VIII
PROBABLY the Mayor will be compelled to practi
cnlly sustain municipal discipline, as he has been
theoretically but erroneously supposed to. In this
hpcnYlp fualSnpOannIp
should exercise a command IN regard to the police
who constitute the means OF enforcing that disci
pine.
Whenever central responsibility shall have beer
| defined our citizens will nud. ut all events tna
there will be direct accountability from the head as
wen AZ the subordinates; and the people will have
| III their hands the final correction.
Expecting, then. speedy REIMBURSEMENT OF oil ths
matters cognizable by the Mayor Common Council
and local authorities, r becomes expedient to re
serve the information and suggestions upon muni
cipal matters that have been usually Incorporated
into the message Of the Mayor to new Common
Council.
be placed on file and printed In full in the minutes
MISCELLANEOUS BUsINESS.
Alderman Long then offered resolution, which
e. srsasa
Alderman MILLER offered resolution, which wa
referred TO the Committee on Finance, 70 compen
safe Mr.. u Il. Fellows for defending the Mayor ant
cCnlmOnalty III several suits.
A resolution was introduced and laid over direct
ing that one half Of the sidewalk on the north sId
removed and the space allotted to the carriageway
| The ordinary resolutions directing the Clerk q
| furnish badges, slaves Of ONCE and necessary sta
| tionery TO the members OF the Board were, mo
tion OF Alderman Mckieyer, adopted; and on motor
! OF Aldermen Moore the Board adjourned. TO meet
| again on Monday next, at two p. ID.
APpoiNTAESr or A DgrUTY CLERK.
After the adjournment OF the Board OF Aldermen
| the Clerk. Joseph shannon, lost no time IN re
| appointing Mr.. Francis J. Twomey as Deputy Clerk
Mr.. Twomey has held the position now some twelv,
| years. and has discharged the oaer0us duties de
VnlytnQ him with such gfLual ability that I'LL
reappolntment cannot fail to universal satis
faction. II Is understood that Mr. G. w. Belts, wh
mas been most digent and efficient during severa
years, wlli be Deputy Assistant.