The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-09
MAYORS MESSAGES.
A BIG BATCH FOR CONSIDERATION OF
COUNCILS.

His Honor Vetees tho Meadow Land Bill, for
ItS Imperfections.a sharp and rrotrac,cd
GrOwi Over sho "Commtssion Bnls'' In the
Lesislat1 They are Carefully Reviewed
ana Vigorously Crttic,zed-What VIII hnp-
pen IT they Pass-The Centennial
This afternoon Mayor Fox sent in to Coun-
ellie three important messages. One relating to
the approaching Centennial exhibition In
1876; another veteng the ordinance Tor the i'm
provemeDt of the meadow lands, not that he
opposed such an Improvement, on the contrary
decidedly favoringi it, but on account of the bills
imperfections; and the last criticising the
Commission bills now in the Legislature, and
as king that Councils take vigorous steps to wards
their defeat. We give these important docu-
mente YeTbatm-
THE MAYOR AND THE MEADOW LANDS.
The following was the message sent to Coun-
cils:-
Whist in common with Councils 1 recognize the
obligation upon the city authorities to afford an ade
qua,e aud effect al protection to property against
Ire and robbery, and to every citizen an immunity
against personal interference do in the same con-
nectlon realize the propriety of extending municipal
assistance To the prevention OF disaster by nood or
ensue to large districts OF land, to live stock, to
crops, and buildings on the farms In the vicinity OF
the built-up portions Of the city, particularly when
ACCOMPANIED with i'll effects on the public health.
In this respect considerable portions OF the First
aud Twenty sixth wards, covering large sections OF
the territory situate between the rivers Delaware
and Schuylkin down to the confluence OF both, in
that part Of the city commonly known as the
tNgCk,' ana also IN OI b0e 1WeuIy-SeNeuIH
ward extending from near Gray's Ferry Bridge
down on the west side OF the river Schuylklll TO
PeLrose Ferry Bridge Sboth sections embracing
many OF Our finest truck FARMS from which are OBJ
tanned delicious fruits and vegetables for the
table) are subject to iDundatons and over
rise in the river occasioned by freshet or
storm, ana when SO happening causing great de-
structiCn not only to property but sometimes to fe
and genera ly creating much sickness; and it would
atloTd NE pleasure to give to my oical sanction to
legislation intended TO prevent a recurrence OF
these disasters, but such enactments should be
methodical and clear, and be as nearly comprehen.
sive and perfect as they can be made, and besides
they should have in view the public welfare as
well as the subservience Of individual advantage.
on careful examination the bill hereto annexed,
entitled IAN ordinance to provide for the improve
ment Of the me adow banks along the rivers Della
ware and schuylkill in the First, Twentysixth, and
Twenty seventh wards" is too vague and Indefinite
and for that reason respectfully return the same
without my approval
bukhead sufficient for roadway at or near Mlfiiln
street. the Delaware, along said river where
the bank is now located to the mouth of the Schuyl
Sl thence up the same to the fast land Point
Breeze in the First and Second wards, and along
the River schuylkill from near the foot Of Fifty
eighth street to fast land at or near Penrose Ferry
Bridge in the Twenty seventh ward" In the first
place, to sr,Ia make :. this sDorIa embankment "a
a dedication to public use a highway, executed
10y all the owners of the space intended for that
purpose, and not merely as specified by the proviso
property ow'ers shall agree to permit the same to be
| having no words of perpetuity, not running with
| the titles, not binding future owners.
In the second place, to secure this highway to
public use, and make 1t available for such purpose
| it should start from definite, liked point aud thai
point should be on public highway already laid out
| some more thoroughfares already, or to be,
specifically laid out on the plan of the city as public
Water nes ne as can Be avns
in view the saving OF the most land to the severa
| owners), thence dow n the Delaware to the mouth o
the Schuylkill then turning and coming westwardly
| and northwardy until 1t reaches some other liked
and definite poin', being on public highway, laid
| out and opened to pubic use; and so on, In like
manner, on the west side of the SchuylkiI, within
the points there also designated as requiring
ascertaned, laid out, surveyed and nxed by the
| Survey Department OF the CITY, and the whole dedi
catee to public use as highway by the several
bill before me- to enter into covenant to pay
their proportion Of the he. expense si9 OF the con
in perpetual repair; AS the amount pro.
pose TO be appropriated by the ordinance in
COST the bill is deficient in not specifically stating
the estimate of the entire expense, and the proper
companies, and also within what period, and BY
WHOM, and under whose superintendence tine work
that it be made the duty Of the proper department
the city Time of auPsgTas sne "oT
re IFS nal Competition. There sSoud also be clause
| requiring some one, whether by bond or otherwise
TO guarantee to the city the performance of the
peeed from the c These or 81 some smar e
lures being cared for in substituted or ameadet
bin enacted into law, 1t seems to me that our cti
be in possession OF an importan
air around two beautiful portions OF our city ar,
concerned whilst, by the protection thus afforded
the land would rapidly rise in value, to the profit
the owners, and the city benefited by increased
revenue from taxation, thus amply compensatni
all concerned for each party's share OF the outlay
For the reasons specified, retarn the bill for you
rs'0nS0sf"'l0n very rS'ReGaHy B1SIHn n. Fox, Mayor
THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONS.
The following message relative to the commits
sion bills in the Legislature was also sent in:-
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE OITY OF PHILADEL
| PBlA, March 3, 1871.
To the President and members OF Select an
| Common Councis-Gentlemen:-I feel it to be m
solemn duty, in view of the high responsibilities O
my Ofhcial position, to call your attention TO tn
subject OF certain bills now before the General AS
semby OF the Commonwealth creating commis
siOns absorbing the departments OF our munici
pay and destructive to the principles OF local self
government, Injurious to the rights of our citizens
and TO the interests or the taX-payers-and to re
commend Councils 10 ADDRESS a respectful but earn
est remonstrance to the Legislature against thei
our system OF city government is well calculates
10 guard the interests OF our people, and is admira
bly, furnished with checks against hasty legislation
| Every measure is considered first in one branch o
Councils, then in the other; the members are fami
responsible 10 them. The veto power conferre
upon the Mayor Is an additional security agains
| nasty or il-adVised legislation.
| On the other hand, the Legislature, composed o
members representing other and distant portion
OF the Commonwealth, is necessarily less able {
Philadelphia, and peculiarly liable to the misrepre
sentations OF interested seekers OF favor.
The commissions which the bills referred to pro
pose TO establish will monopOlize the active mum
cpal powers OF the city, and strip COnncils or thet
most valuable functions. The control of the police
the increase or their number, their compensation
and their duties the appointment OF all cOmmttin
magistrates; the control OF the Fire Alarm an