Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-05
Our New York Dispatches.
Grand Citizens Indignation Meeting
Drowning Irish Democratic Rats Desert
the Sinking TGmmRny Ship-POIice-
man Discharged States Troops
and the Board of Health, etc.

NEW YORK, Sept 4.-The meeting of citizens
in relation to the alleged frauds in the city
finances, was held tonight in Cooper institute.
Among the citizens present were: Noah Davis,
VIM. NJ. Evarts, Henry Clews, Isaac H. Bailey,
S. b. Chittenden, Moses H. Grinnell, L, Lock
wood, jackson S. Schultz, Marshall o. Roberts,
Gen. John A. Dix, R. J. Arnold and many
others. The chair was taken by ex-Mayor VIM.
NJ. Havemeyer, who, in his opening remarks,
claimed that the meeting was non-partizan in
its composition, and that all parties alike are
equally interested in having an efficient and
economical administration of the city govern
ment He said the charges of cOrrup-
ton and extravaganza preferred against
the city authorities had not been satiSfac-
torily answered. He condemned the recent
charter, under which the city had become an
oligarchy. Abuses existed which required REM
edy, and he asked: "What are you going to do
about itp
Judge Emmott was the next speaker, and al
luded in strong terms to the manner in which
the money of the people had been squandered.
The amount of power concentrated in the hands
of the city government was, he claimed, unpre-
cedented.
A series of twelve resolutions was adopted:
The first declares the city and county debt
more than doubled within the last two and
half years, being now one hundred and thir-
teen million dollars, or over sixty-three million
dollars more than when Mayor Hall was inaug-
urated, while there is reason TO believe that
many millions more will be paid out on floating
and contract claims, unless the present officials
are removed or proceedings arrested. The man
in arf1o
exposure of their fraudulent practces-con-
temptuouS denial of any powar to interfere,
tiippant evasions, studied eoncealment of q
large part of the public accounts and attempts
to garble and confuse the residue-are char
acterized as a confession of guilt and coupled
with the facts and figures already disclosed,
furnish ground TO believe that the same men
who have squandered or stolen hundreds Of
thousands of the taxpayers money are still en-
gagged in similar frauds and populations
The fourth resolution names VIM. NJ.
Tweed, Richard B. Connolly and A.
Oakley Hall as the officers directly ar
raigDed at the bar of public opinion
for these offences, and declares that unless they
can meet the charges by other evidence and on
different pleas than have yet beeh furnished in
their behalf, the credit of the city of New York
and the material interest of its citizens will de-
mand that they quit or be deprived of the of
fees which they have dishonored and the power
which they are abusing.
The fifth resolution demands a detailed eX-
hbt of public receipts and expenditures for the
past two years and a half, what has been done
with the money, to whom paid, and upon what
consideration and pretence in every instance.
The sixth asserts the rights Of citizens to
know and their determination to ascertain who
are and who have been on the pay rolls of the
city government, what pay they receive, what
service they render, and TO what extent are
members of the present city government con-
cerned in holding the real partnerships which
are, under fictitious names, plundeTing the pub
lie treasury.
The seventh resolution demands that legal
remedies be reSOrted to to recover the stolen
money; that the law should be altered to effect
this object, if necessary.
The eighth appeals to the next legislature to re-
peal the present city charter, and give New York
form Of government devised or approved by
the wisest and best citizens. The citizens are
urged to unite in the next election upon mu-
nicipal reform, the candidates making that a
controlling issue, citizens throughout the state
being entreated to join in the effort. The pub
lie 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
are extended TO the Times and other newspapers
which have contributed to enlighten the public
mind upon the state of affairs in the city, and
recommended the appointment of an executive
committee OF seventy, whose duty it shall be to
carry on and increase the practical effect of the
most JudiciouS and vigorous measures for Sc
curing reforms which the public interests so
imperatiyely demanded.
Mr.. Oswold Ottendorfer, who was the next
speaker, said he participated in the public senti-
ment that dictated the propriety of a strict ex-
animation into the present condition of the city
finances and expenses of the past.
Ex-GOv. Edward Solomon, of Wisconsin. fol-
lowed, and commented upon the apathy of the
citizens that has hitherto prevailed with regard to
public affairs Honesty in public officials was vital
to the life of republican principles. In the pres
ent crisis, every good citizen had duty to dis
charge and he hoped they would not prove recre-
ant.
Robert b. Roosevelt congressman. said he
had always been a democrat. The democracy
was the real republican parry, the party of the
poor against the rich. He would rather sneak
to an unbroken party of democrats than to a
mixed assemblage, mostly republicans, as the
present 1t was true that the republican mem
bers of the old board of supervisors were partly
responsible for the frauds committed, but that
formed no excuse for the democrats. Ii was NOT
alone that the people had been cheated, but thew
had also been deprived of their liberty by frauds
Practiced at the elections.
Edwards Pierrrpont, ex-United States district
attorney, followed in speech, in which he said
the people should appeal to the governor for re-
dress, and that failing, resort to other means.
Mr.. Pierrepont defended the Judiciary of the civ
of New York from charges against them.
An address from John Foley, and the appoint
ment of an executive committee to carry our the
purposes of the meeting, terminated the proceed
ings.
NEW YORK, Sept 4-Ofieer Paul Wilde of
Newark was fatally wounded yesterday by a
gang of rowdies, while attempting to arrest one
of them.
The democratic state committee meet at Al
bany on Wednesday, to designate the time and
place Tor the democratic state convention.
The yacht to compete with Ashbury's 1.-Two