New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-09
CORRUPTION.
nIectfng of Citizens of New York-Frauds
In the City Finances.


New YoRK, September A meeting of
citizens, in relation to the alleged frauds in
the city finances, was held tonight at
Cooper Institute. 1t was largely attended,
and much enthusiasm was shown when the
city officials were denounced by the various
speakers. Among the prominent citizens
present were Noah Davies, William Nj.
Evarts, Henry Clews, Isaac H. Bailey, 5.
b. Chittenden Moses III. Grinnell. l.. Lock
wood, jackson S. Sehults, Marshall o. Rob
erts, General John A. Dix, 3. j. Arnold,
and number of others.
On motion, the chair was taken by eX-
Mayor Hayemyer, who said that the meet,
ing was non-partisan in its composition au9
objects. All parties were equally intefesteu
i'll having an efficient and economical aq-
ministration of our city government. ne
said that the charges Of corruption ana eX-
travagance preferred against the Guy au-
thorities had not been satisfactorily an
swefed He considered the recent charter
under which the city had become an dig
-archy. the abuse of which required rem
edy, and, he asked, what are we going to do
about it The public had been aroused.
Judge Mott was the next speaker. He
alluded ia strong terms to the manner in
which the money of the people had been
squandered. The amount of power con-
.centrated in the hands OF the city govern
ment was, he claimed, unprecedented.
A series of twelve resolutions were
adopted, which declare the city and county
debt more than doubled within the last two
and a half years, being now Sll3,00O,OO0, or
over S63000,000 more than when Mayor
Hall was inaugurated, while there is reason
to believe that many millions more will ne
paid out of the floating and contingent
claims, unless the present officials are re-
moved or the proceedings arrested IN the
manner in which the parties implicated
have met the exposure of their fraudulent
practices and the contemptuons denial OF
any party to interfere, and the fippant
evasions and studied concealment OF large
part of the public accounts, and attempts
to garble and confuse. The residue are
characterized as q confession of guilt, and
coupled with facts and figures already dis
closed, furnish ground for the belief that
the same men who have squandered or
stolen hundI eds of thousands OF taxpayers
money, are still engaged in similar frauds
and peculiar ties.
The fourth resolution names William NJ.
Tweed, Richard 3. Connolly and A. Oakley
Hall as the officers directly arraigned be-
fore the bar OF the public opinion Tor these
,offensos, and declares that, unless they can
meet the charges by other evidence and on
different pleas than have been furnished in
their behalf, the credit of the city of New
York and the material interests Of its cit
prived Of the offices which they have dis
graced and dishonored and the power which
they are abusing.
The fifth resolution demands a full and
detailed exhibit Of the public receipts and
expenditures of the past two years and
half; what was done with the money and to
whom paid, and upon what considerations
and pretenCe in every instance; while the
sixth asserts the right OF citizens to know,
r.. l,A
are and have been on the pay rolls OF the
city government; what pay received and
what service they render, and TO what eX-
tent the members OF the present city govern
Inent are concerned II the real partnerships,
or under fictitious names, Ia the pIunder OF
the public treasury
The seventh resolution demands that
legal remedies be resorteG TO to recover the
stolen money: that the laws shonld be al
tered to effect this object, if necessary;
and the eighth resolution appeals to the
Legislature to repeal the present city char
ter, and to give TO New York a form of
government devised or approved by the
wisest and best citizens.
The citizens are urged to unite, in the
next election, upon a municipal reform
candidate, making that the controlling
issue. The citizens throughout the State
are being entreated to join in the effort
while the public should all the time be kept
informed of the amount and condition of
the public debt, to which no addition, not
specially authorized, should be made.
The thanks of the community were ex-
tended to the Times and other newspapers
which have contributed to enlighten the
public mind on the state of affairs of the
city, and an appointment recommended of
an executive committee of seventy, whose
duty it shall be to carry on and into prac
teal effect the most judicious and vigorous
measures for securing reforms which public
interests so irnperatively demand.
Mr.. Oswald OttendOrfer was the next
speaker. He said he participated in the
public sentiment that dictated the propriety
of a strict examination into the present
condition of the city finances.
Edward Solomon, Ex-Governor Of Wis
consin, followed, and commented on the
apathy of citizens that hitherto prevailed
with regard to public officials; it was vital
republican principle for every good citizen
to discharge his duty, and he hoped they
would not prove recreant.
Robert Roosevelt, congressman, said he
had always beena Democrat, and that De
mocracy was the real republican party-the
party of the poor against the rich. He
would rather speak to an unbroken party
Of Democrats than TO a mixed assemblage,
mostly Republicans as the present. 1t was
true that the Republican members Of the old
hoard of supervisors were partly responsible
for the frauds committed, but that formed
no excuse for the Democrats. 1t was not
alone the peoples money that had been
taken, but they were also deprived OF liberty
by frauds practiced at elections.
Edward Pierrepont followed in speech,
i'll which he said that the people should ap-
peal to the Governor for redress, and that
failing, to resort to other means, the Ameri-
can people were tenacious Of their rights
and, If necessary, wculd she'd their blood for
them. PierrepOnt defended the Judiciary Of
the city of New York from charges made
against them.
John Foley next spoke. and an executive
committee was appointed 20 carry out the
purpose of the meeting. This terminated
the proceedings.
New YORK, September 1.-The Herald,
Tribune and Times, in regard TO last nights
meeting at Cooper Union, say it was a great
success. The World however. thinks it a
Customhouse affair, and that the action of
the meeting stamped it as the work of the
CustOmhouse faction, who duped and in
weighed some well-meaning citizens to take
part in its proceedings.
The Tribune, i'll speaking of the meeting.
says that the people of New York have
given fair warning to the shameless clique
which has tyrannized over them so many
wears that they will submit no longer to its
exactions, and will break down the ma
chinery of the party and drive the swim
oilers certainly into obscurity, and, if pos
sible, into prison. 1t is thought that the
Tammany leaders were somewhat discon-
oerted at last nights demonstration at Coop
ers Institute. A meeting of the institution
had been announced to take place at Tam
many last evening, but there were so few
in attendance that no action was taken.
The meeting adjourned for one month.