The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-10

opinion of the citizens generally, and without
further legal enactment. They could lay out
a magnificent avenue of any width, ard pay
any price they might wish for the work, with
out advertising for proposals, or without
allowing any competition. The commissions
could and undoubtedly would give the con-
tracts to their creatures, and would pocket
their share of the profits. This is the way
the thing is managed in New York, and the
commission rule which it is proposed to in
augurate in Philadelphia is modelled upon
that of New York, with Improvements"
The Mayor yesterday sent vigorous mes
sage to Councils upon this subject, which
ably reviewed the situation, and which
earnestly protested against the iniquitous
attempt to overturn the government of the
city. The Mayor justly said that Councils
might as well adjourn sine die if these bills
should become laws. Councils for their part
passed a resolution to call grand indignation
meeting to protest to the Legislature against
the passage of the bills. This meet
ing should be held, but other and more
positive measures should be taken to prevent
the contamination of the most impudent
scheme to trample upon the rights of the
people that has hitherto been devised outside
of New York. In the meantime we are glad
to announce ''another county heard from" in
the realms of newspaperdom, and to repub-
lish the following editorial from the Press of
this morning. The following journals of this
city are now fully committed against the
commission scheme: - The Inquirer, the
Public Record, the Ledger, the Age, the
Press, and The EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The Press Says
"Mayor Fox yesterday sent to Councils special
message protesting against the proposed new High
way, Water and Police Commissions, which states
so succinctly the radical objection to them and
which strengthens with every hour that we feel i'm
PEELED to call attention to it and impress its
Ing. Whatever may be the true policy to the prin-
ciple OF municipal Commissions and however well in
one or two Instances they have worked in this
sner of the nS Su Of onr as local to
gether with the elective franchise IS dangerous and
unrepublican and cannot stand. The instincts of
without the need of argument or discussion,
Without regard to party lines the better sentiment
OF the community ranges itself against this scheme
sodly and infeXibly, and In giving that sentiment
voice and publication we but fulfil the first duty OF
special committee raised by Councils have decided
on public meeting in Independence Square, where
the opinion OF the people on this question will be
formally and officially pronounced"
AS is customary, when any unusually i'm
posing piece of iniquity is to be perpetrated,
William F.. Smith, Esq, is prominent
mover in this commission scheme, as will be
seen from the following despatch, sent to
Harrisburg to-day by one of the gentlemen
named in the bill for the creation of the
Board of Public Works.
"Warch 10, 1S71.-Hon. William f. Smith, House
OF Representatives, Harrisburg, Pa-Withdraw my
name from the Commission bill. Public opinion Is
unanimous against the proposed commissions
"H. w. GRAY, No. 11O3 Chestnut street,"
MIR. Gray has also telegraphed to the Gov
ernor informing him of the intense indigna-
tion which exists in this city against the pro-
posed commissions, and urging him strongly
to veto the bills in case they pass the Legisla-
ture. We understand that Colonel John w.
Forney has telegraphed to the Governor to
the same effect, and that he has also demanded
that his name shall be withdrawn from the
Water Commission bill. Let the other pre-
sumably honest men nominated for commits
sioners follow the example of these two gen.
tlemen, and we shall soon see exactly who the
promoters of this outrageous scheme to
plnnder the city really are.