The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-29

appointment Of the executive head Of the govern
departments with the exception OF their pre-
siding officers, to the Board OF Aldermen. Inese
lab0rs respectively appertaning 70 them, and the
Board OF Aldermen were restricted rom assuming
themselves any executive functions. The clear line
OF demarcation, SO wen preserved In the govern
ment OF the United States, between the executive
and legislative functions, has no applicability to the
government OF mere municipal corporation, the
functions OF which are almost exclusively admins
trative; and, In fact that distinction has not been
For more than twenty years, under the charter OF
$780, the executive functions Of this very city were
In the hands OF committees OF the Common Couuci
vACILLATI0N IN THE ASSEMBLY.
When the veto message submitted to the
Assembly, that body with most remarkable alacrity
and by more than w0-thirds Of its members voting
In the Affirmative, Immediately and without the
time necessary to understand and reject upon 1t,
reform which, after three months OF combined labor
OF the two Houses, they had but few days before
BY an equally Se e SS
not due to anything contained In the Gubernatorial
veto, but to the secret determination OF ma
to defeat oil such sweeping measures Of reform
az would terminate the official power and patronage
o. al the remaining corrupt or suspected city ON
sympathy more or less profitable, provided that
such defeat could be accomplished BY some dsin-
cover Tor their secret hostility.
1t was the foremost and bounden duty OF that
Overwhelming majority Of its members had been en-
elected, not to adjourn without placing upon the
statute book, with or without the Governor's
would enable its citizens to clear the Augean
Stable Of all the tainted and corrupt remnants OF
ment upon an honest and sound basis II Is true
that, after sustaining the Governors veto to our
charter they hastily passed another one, known
as the Palmer charter, hurriedly changed from our
draft to obyiate some of the objections expressed
IN the Governors Veto. While
s Pa%sr a that We % ns% na
expect would be done by the Legislature in
the interest OF permanent reform In the city gov
jectiOnable officers and enabled the people to
elect proper men In their places. However grudg-
% given ERECTED by
citizens would have accepted 1t as an instalment
OF the obligations Of the Governor and Legislature
and would have tried to do the best with 1t to clear
their city from corruption and disgrace. But that
little was too much the Legislature adjourned and
the Governor refused his signature.
Governor Holman cannot plead ignorance for he
Is citizen OF this city and has long since been
familiar with Its wants and by this time certainly
Character OF the men who have ruled It for
years, have robbed 1t Of millions and whose dis
comfture and punishment our people have so
earnestly sought since they have had knowledge
OF their conspiracy and crimes, but whose hire
lngs and sympathlzers yet swarm in many. of the
legislation was absolutely demanded. In his annual
message the Governor recognized and enforced the
necessity OF such legislation.
THE TAMMANY RING PROSECUTIONS.
We cannot close this brief review OF the action
Of the Governor and Legislature concerning the
great frauds perpetrated by our corrupt city OFF,
cials and the condition OF our city without refer
ing to one other significant veto Of the Governor.
Last summer, when this committee urged the
Governor to take some action on behalf of the
State In regard to the enormous city frauds, the
Attorney General, with the Governors sanction
and approval appointed Mr.. Charles O'Conor to act
in his 1.-THE Attorney Generals) name. and to insti-
tute such legal proceedings as might be proper.
Mr. O'COnOr accepted the charge, and has since
then acted, and several civil and criminal prose-
pending against several OF the most prominent Of
the leaders OF the Tammany Ring. Now, in order
to bring these persons and Others to justice, and
have the indictments against them tried before q
Judge who should be even above suspicion OF undue
influence or bias Mr. O'Conor, as we learn, to-
the Oyer and Terminer BILL giving the Court Of APP
peals the power to designate some proper Judge or
Judges OF the Supreme Court outside OF this judi
Cial district before whom these indictments might
be tried The bill passed the Legislature, but Gov
ernor Hoffman also vetoed 1t, and the Legislature
Although we most keenly felt the defeat Of oul
charter, which we believe would have rescued this
City from its perilous and dsgraceful condition ant
would have secured the permanent reforms neces
sary In Its government yet we then relrained iron
expressing our views to our fellow citizens upol
this subject, because there was still some hope o
possibility left OF obtaining partial relief rOI
| the Legislature. Now, however, the action Of TIL
| Governor and Legislature has ended In the fna
defeat OF all remedial measures Of legislation for til
than before the assembling OF the Legislature.
w. II. HAVEMEYER, Chairman.
SIMON STERNE, Secretary.
NEW YORK; May 81 1872.