The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01

Sney v ere deeply impressed with the importance Of
snd came to the conclusion mat they ought not to
endanger those rights and the privileges now pos
sesssd ev the cty BY again submitting them to
The amended charter was submitted to the peo-
PIE on November q, and rejected by the following
vote-
VOTE ON THE CHARTER, NOVEMBER, 1916.
t0r tne amenoments ....................... 6,So3
Majority against $500. .................. 1882
Of the proposed amendments and the day Of elec-
uon and the result was that only about Onethrd OF
t sse VINO voted on tina! day cast ballot ior or
e&alnst IL ibis IS plainly exhibited wnen Ii
stated that at the same time 7,45l voted In the
city for and 5,4ss against the amended state
constitution OF that year and Dab Tor and 70 940
against free Suffrage to persons OF coor-the rst OF
which received majority IN the total vote OF the
clear, had not had opportunity TO make them
selves acquainted with the provisions Of the sug-
THE REJECTED CHARTER OF 1885,
It is Interesting TO state some of the changes 1t
was proposed to make by the proposed amendments,
especially as many Of them subsequently formed
parts OF amended charters that became law. The
beard OF Aldermen was TO have remained as before,
bat the Board Of Assistant Aldermen was to have
been increased In numbers one to represent each
provision for subsequently dividing the city into
Common Council election districts, nearly equal IN
population, each to be represented by an alderman
and assistant alderman; the day OF election to be
changed to that or the general State election No
vember, and the official year 10 commence on the
hold only three stated sessions, OF not exceed
ing one month each, In the year. with power TO the
Mayor or majority oil the members elected to each
Board to convene the same In extra session when
ever occasion might require, but merely Tor the
sideraon OF the special business for which II might
be convened; the raising OF money by loan except
m anticipation OF the revenue for the year, to
require the sanction in each Board OF majority OF
Ill the members elected, ana the approval OF the
electors at any charter election; the issue by the
Common Council Of bills OF credit or paper cur
reDcy subscription to the stock OF any association
or corporation, and the increase OF the funded debt
Of the city to require the approval OF tine people at
bcrs eleoled to each Board TO required to over
rule the veto OF the Mayor the Board OF Assistant
and the Board or Aldermen OF frying lmpeacned
encaIs, who pending the proceedings, were not to
thirds vote required TO convict; members or the
Common Council prohibited from holding any city
or county 0fice Of emoument, the Aldermen each to
receive salary OF S40U, and the Assistant Aldermen
one OF $3.50 year; amendments passed by TWO.
thirds Of the members elected to each Board and
approved by majority or the electors at any gene
xa or charter election to become part OF the city
charter; and provision SIa was made Tor police dc,
direction OF the Mayor, and for departments for the
management OF the municipal, finance, street,
Cr0tOn aqueduct, amsh0use, law and one OF rc-
pairs and supplies and with power to the Com
mon Council to establish other departments when
elected every two years by the people, the Mayor
and Common Council to be elected annually, as
BY the people OF the assistant justices and their
clerks for terms OF four years. and introduced many
and economical government OF the city.
CHATTER OF l840
It will thus be seen that on the first two occasions
n1nCe the establishment republican Institutions,
upon which any serious changes were proposed TO
be made 10 the city charter the plan Of procedure
was 70 decide upon the same In convention and
obtail The assent OF the people to the suggested
alterations previous to submitting the same for
having, under suon process failed to become law,
another plan was now adopted. In January, 1S49,
s saa. ssd and az snsnSsS
April 2 In that year. subject, ~ however eSSss
SS5ags SSss sS Vos ~
obtaining which the same should become nun and
election, on the 10Th Of the same MONTH with the
following result
VOTE ON AMENDED CHARTER, APRIL, 1s4a.
For the amended charter Observation-Disclosures. 20, 245
Against the amended charter. ............... 1902
These numbers, however, we're oniv ABOUT two
thirds Of those who voted for Mayor on the same
1876 that were introduced into TINS charter were:-
the changing Of the day OF election to November,
three stated sessions Of the Common Council OF not
exceeding one month each, IN January, May and
September, with extra sessions for special business
only at the call OF the Mayor OF majority OF the
members elected to eacn Board; the impeachment
departments to attend to executive duties Of the
city, which had now greatly increased. As this
BEGINNING OF TIE DEPARTMENTAL SYSTEM,
andcr which the city AFFAIRS have since then prln.
clpally been administered, It may be wen to name
the various departments then organized with their
subordinate pureaus:-The Police Department, with
the Mayor at It's head, with q bureau, under the
under comptroller, with three subordinate ou-
reaus in charge respectively OF Receiver of Taxes,
Collector OF City Revenue and Chamberain; street
Department. under The street Commissioner, with
TWO bureaus, presided over respectively by Col
WDSrves; Department Of Repairs and SUPPLIES uD ~
der Commissioner, with four bureaus, presided
over respectively by superintendent OF R0ads, q
superintendent OF Repairs to Public Buildings, o
superintendent Of Pavements and Chief Engineer
Of the Fire Department.; Department Of Streets and
Lamps, under Commissioner. with three bureaus.
In charge respectively OF superintendent Of Lamps
and Gas, superintendent OF Streets and Superin.
tendent OF Markets; Inc Croton Aqueduct Board,
with It's President Engineer ana Assistant Commas
nOner; City Inspectors Department, having charge
Of the public health: Almsnouse Department, under
partment under the Counsel TO the Corpora
hon, and connected with It the Corporation Attor.
ney ana The Public Administrator. The heads OF
ell these departments, except the Croton Aqueduct
Board, to be elected by the people Tor three years
for ave years; the CITY chamberlain and Receiver
Of Taxcs to be appointed by the Mayor; the CHIEF Of
and the other subordinates in the various depart.
ments 10 be appointed by the heads thereof respec-
Among the other PROVISIONS OF the amended en- ar.
Ter IL was ordained That the Mayor and Aldermen
sm9na nod tnelr oices for TWO years ana the AS.
Boards remaining one representative In each Board
rom each ward. 9.
The cnarter, however, was further amended by
supplementary act, passed July IL, 1851, which
changed the stated sessions of the Common Council,
70 that they should be held monthly, COMMENCING
on the first Monday III each month, but no member
20 be entitled to draw any per diem allowance
Tor longer period than eight days, while PROV
Non was made 10 meet the case Of vacancies in the
heads OF departments
CHARTER OF 1868.
The year 1852 was almost as memorable IN the
civic history OF New YORK as that OF 1871. Severai
Jobs which were passed by the Common Council OF
that year caused it, members TO lie referred to as
'"The Forty Thieves that being the number In the
Two Boards. This led 10 mass meetings being held
In March, 1858, At which revision OF the cnarter
was hernandez, and at which, among other sugges-
TONS II was proposed that the two branches Of the
Common Council should be unequal in the numbers
di6ereni co h1Id