New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-06
CITY GOyRRNm ENT.
Board OF Aldermen.

Aldermen Chaylock Cnddy Dlmond irving MG NJ d
Mitchell O'Ne Plunkitt, Reilly, Schchng'"elch' anu
The minutes of meeting held Dec. 80 were read and
approved. .,.v,r,o.
Rssignaton Of Frank McMullin official reporter to
| the Board OF Aldermen. -, ~,
The President put the question "netner '"o D0""
would accept said resignation.
Which decided In the Affirmative
RESOLUTIONS
Resolved. That Frank McMullin Co be and they are
hereby designated and appointed Printers TO the Cor
pOration. lieu and in stead of the NewYork Printing
% anu ton ' nroce@dngs VOL 49, page 1851 and
all other resolutions and ordinances heretofore pasSod
Inconsistent or conflicting with the provisions of This
resolution are hereby annued rescnded and repealed
that the Controller be and he u hereby authorized
and directed to pay the bills incurred IN WIN
the terms OF this resolution upon being certied Dy tne
Clerks Of the respective B2ar 81 the Common Council co.,
printing indexing Or binding ordered hereafter except
tQIAQ Printers hereby designated and In future tnht no
except by the order Of the Board directing the publication
The President put the question whether the Board
would agree with said resolution. u
Which decided in the affirmative by the Following
three fourths of all the members elected voting In
| favor thereof: o.,,
Dimond, Irving Mckicyer, Mitchell, ONelll, PluBktt,
Reilly. schchtng, Welch. and wotman-l3
Alderman wotman moved TO take from the table veto
message OF the Mayor Of resolutions for the Improvement
The President put the question whether the Board
would agree with the motion to take from the table
Which decided in the affirmative.
Alderman WOltman then moved that said resolutions
| be adopted Notwithstanding the objections OF the
The President put the question whether the Board
would agree Tt a,t sad motion ito m Pho ,oowrc
vote threefourths of all the members elected voting in
Affirmative President, Aldermen Charlock Cuddy
| DimOnd, Irving. McKieyer, Mitchell O'Ncl, Punktt
Reilly schchting' WEIGH ana NV, Woltnan-lS'
The President laid before Board an invitation
the NJ T. Brennan Coterie to attend their annual ball
| Which was accepted.
| REPORTS.
amiue the financial condition and accounts Of the city
and county in conjunction with like committee ap
| pointed by the Board of Supervisors respectfully
That yor Committee, desiring to make thorough and
counts selected the following gentlemen, all of whom
citizens of well known character and rreproaoh-
able integrity 10 act with the III conducting their ex-
animation and investigation, viz; William A. Booth
Royal PheP Paul s0UrG l9 RaoS W P cSSa
Robert hSn0x Kennedy H. D. Gan' James A. Ac Rooif
Donaldson John L. Parson, John X Porter aud James
| Brown. ,o,.,
fully and industrousy prosecuted their investigations
during period of nearly two months submitted the re-
suit OF their Investigations to tins Committee In the re-
| port hereto annexed.
That the said Committee report that gross frauds have
county affairs, but do not mpcae any particular pub
officials or tnat any specific r action be
copy of the report and documents therein referred to
be transmitted to his Honor the Mayor
Your Committee having carefully examined tho report
Of the Committee of Citizens and the various reports of
their subcommittee, upon when the SAM report Is
based and having come TO the conclusion that the report
was fully justified and called for by the facts developed
upon the investigation into the city and county affairs
dd not deem it advisable make their report this
Board until they had carefully considered what action
| would be proper for your Committee to recommend to
this Board and the Common Council under the startling
revelations Of fraud developed by the investigation in
Your Committee had hoped that the various organlza
corruption and bringing those officials guilty OF fraud
10 punishment would have consulted and advised with
Committee TO what ought 20 be pursued
by tie city and county authorities order TO punish
recover the fraudulcnty obtained from the
City and County Treasury; but although your Commit
recommend such action as should best subserye the in
terest Of the ety. your Gommttee has never received
assistance OF the Common Council was desirable or
requisite could be made beneficial to the interests of
| the city or the cause OF justice and reform.
Although your Committee had shown their earnestness
her OF the abest best citizens city, and there
by caused the whole machinery of fraud in the city and
ner that left doubt whatever In the minds of the ct
Gems OF this city that the Investigations had been thor
Your co@ittee are howeveT Of the opinion that the
Council should not be entirely silent or inactive
the circumstances, but that they should recon-.
mend that such action be taken as the law permits and
| the circumstances OF the case require.
And in this connection 1t bat proper to state that
either directly indirectly for any OF the frauds shown
the Committee OF Citizens 10 have been practiced,
nor were they invested by law with of know
ing of their existence, much less preventing their
| being consummated. The present charter gives the
ments Of the City Government and does not require
any reports be MADE by them to the Common Council
does authorize the Common Council to call for
reports information from the different Departments
This power controlling and supervising the various
departments of City Government formerly possessed
by Common Council was by the present charter
vested the Mayor who alone has the power 10 appoint
the heads Of and control and supervise the various de-
partnents The quarterly reports OF the warrants drawn
rom the city treasury which were formerly transmitted
TO the Common Council furnished TO the Mayor,
and thus the Common Council had no means or knowing
IN what manner the public money was expended
The evident intention OF the present charter was to
concentrate power in the hands OF the Mayor and to
make him specially. IL not almost alone responsible for
the good order and efficient government of tn city
Section the charter of 1870 provides that 1t shall
| he the duty of the Mayor:
/. To Communicate 20 the Common Council at least
once year general statement OF the nnances govern
| ment and improvements OF the city.
| 2. To recommend to the Common Council all snGh
ness and ornament of the city, and the protection and
Improvement of its and finances as he shall
deem expedicnt
3 To be yigant and active IN causing the ordinances
of the city and laws of the State TO be executed and
suaton and cooperation all other heads OF the city de-
pa And generally to perform all such duties may be
prescribed for him by city ordinances and the laws OF
the state and to be responsible for the good order and
Section 81 OF the same act Is as follows:
SEC 81 That said Departments shall, at such times
the Mayor may direct make TO him. in such form and
under such rules as he may prescribe reports OF the OPP
shall always required by him. furnish him such
information as he may demand within such time as he
| Section IS contains the following provision:
The Comptroller shall report TO the Mayor once In
accoSn has been audited with the decision Of the Audi
upon same, together with the final action OF the
relation TO finances OF the city in his Judgment
int w thus be seen i6ad the Mayor is vested with full
power and entire responsibility In all matters relating to
the government OF the city, and Is vested with all the
authority necessary TO exercise that powerand discharge
| that responsibility . .
power OF impeaobing the Mayor which power may be
exercised by resolution OF twohrds OF all the members