The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04

well a. extraordinary OcCa6lOub, tho hh6ALD
institution is at the service of the public, to
perform the duties OF universal aid society
in giving succor and assistance to the poor
and the unfortunate everywhere.
The State Legislature-The commencement
Of the Business OF Municipal Reform.
The war upon the Tammany city officials
was commenced in the State Legislature yes
terday. In the Senate petition was pre-
sented from O'Donovan Rosa asking for the
seat in that body claimed by William N.
Tweed, together with two memorials from the
district represented by Mr.. Tweed, the one
asking for the expulsion OF the Boss from the
Senate, and the other praying that the CON-
tested seat may be declared vacant and new
election ordered. The latter would no doubt
be the most fair and proper method of settling
the difficulty. No one will be disposed now to
question the fact that the Boss Is not at
person to sit In the Senate Of the State as q
representative from the city Of New York, and
while district must be held to have the right
to choose Its own representatives from what
ever class or character Of It's citizens 1t may
desire, there is enough evidence of illegal con-
duct in this election to warrant the Senate In
declaring 1t void At the same time, and on
the same principle, 1t will hardly be believed
that the fair vote of the district would be In
favor of ODonovan Rosa, as Its representa-
tive in the Senate of the State Of New York,
| however willing portion Of the eYecrors might
be to confer upon that patriotic Irish refugee
the duties of delegate to Fenian conven-
ton. Hence the best settlement of the matter
would be to turn out Tweed and suffer the
| electors to hold another election to Gil the
vacancy.
| It was the intention of Senator Benedict 70
have introduced yesterday bill prepared by
Comptroller Green to provide for carrying on
| the financial business of the city government
for the ensuing four months, Or until definite
action shall have been taken by the Legisla-
ture on our proposed new city charter. Ac-
cording to Our Albany correspondence the
bill as originally prepared conferred very
great powers upon the present Comptroller.
It not only makes him the inheritor of all the
money-raising and money-spending power
conferred by the present charter on the famous
Board Of Apportionment, but it sought also
to create In him second temporary Board Of
| Audit, with authority to settle all outstanding
| claims against the city at his own will. If he
were q man so disposed there would be no
difficulty under the proposed claims clause
| in the way of his paying out another
six millions of the peoples money In
as many days. No person suspects that he
would do any such thing, or that any of bis
| official acts would be Of q questionable charac-
ter so far as the pecuniary interests Of the
city are involved, nevertheless, it Is of very
doubtful expediency to confer upon any single
officer, however high his reputation for In
tegrity may be, such extraordinary and unlim-
tied powers. The republican Senators, Il
appears are of this opinion, and they desired
| q modification of the bill in these provisions.
| The consequence is that its Introduction has
been delayed until to-day. when it will no
doubt be pushed through under suspension
of the rules. The necessities Of the case
demand immediate action, and there should
be no delay in It's passage by the Legislature,
even though all reference to the claims
against the city should be stricken out
In the Assembly the first raid upon the
Tammany officials yet remaining in the NUM-
cipal government of New York was COM
meuced by the introduction Of bill to turn
out of office Mayor Hall, City Chamberlain
Bradley, Corporation Counsel O'Gorman and
Corporation Attorney Thomas c. Fields, and
to remove the latter also from the Public
Parks Commission. This bill will no doubt
be pushed through both houses without un-
necessary delay, since whatever quarrels may
arise over the subsequent division of the spoils,
the republican majority will be united on the
policy of stripping democrats of office,
especially as they have no longer any
solid arguments to offer in favor OF
their retention. Assemblyman Fields, as
he sits in the House watching the gradual
descent of the legislative guillotne, and
meekly awaiting its final stroke, must recall
with painful feelings the halcyon days when
he and his Tammany friends were accustomed
to lead the amiable opposition representatives,
one by one, into Delavan House parlor, and
send them out again fully impressed with the
virtues of the New York democracy and the
patriotic duty of rewarding them with addi-
tional honors and increased power. Probably
not few republicans look back with no less
regret upon those profitable hours, especially
when they reflect upon the heavy bills which
the modest Albany hotel keepers never forget
to present to them at intervals during the ses-
sion. But this is the age of Roman virtue and
legislative purity. With an honest lawyer in
the Speakers chair, iucorruptible members on
the floor and not dollar in the Tammany
exchequer whirlwind of legislative retribu-