New-York tribune., 1873-02-21
THE PARTISAN CHARTER.
DAYS DISCUSSION AT ALBANY


rIoNs. AND A RESPONSIBLE hAfoRALFf ht-
uCrFp-sHARP WORDS FROM Mr.. JACOBS
,v,or RyoCLAR CORRESPONDENT OP THE ThBCNEl
1,R.Sy. Feb 2O.-In compliance with previous
..solption of the House, the New-York Charter as
.,-.,,red bv the Custorn-house politicians and re-
.r,.d from the Standing Committee came up as
.to snecal order in the Assembly this morning I'M
a3,otely after the reading Of the Journal. An un-
,s,allv large though not a crowded audience hiIeu
bo Galleries and lobbies of the chamber during the
,hreo and half hours of discussion that
oocupied the morning session. Among the
Nou.Yorkers observed in the chamber were the IN
svitable Commissioners Davenport who occupied an
honorarv seat at the Clerks desk; hugh Oardhei'
chairman of the Custom-hOuse Central committee
,,bo moved about from seat to seat at random; eX-
Heao,,blvnan John H. White, who remained quiet
and apparently, unbiased listener; VIM. Haw, Jr';
d d. Couoyer, Henry Sherwood ). IL. Choate' Jonn
KoIIv. and some others of less note
After announcing the special order, Speaker Cor
,el called Mr. Moore of ST. Lawrence to the chair
and the House in Committee Of the Whole, took mp
the consideration of the Charter by sections. 10
the first section no amendment was offered To the
saeond. c. G.. Cornell Of New-York DEM offered an
amendment providing for the restention OF the
Board of Assistant Aldermen in the municipal gov
erDment.
The discussion Of this amendment consumed two
bonrs and was participated in by MeSSrs Pierson OF
Albany. Norton and Clark of New-YOrk, Ai0erger OF
Ere. and Hustled of Westchester who opposed the
amendment. and bv Messrs. Weed OF Clinton. Beebe
of Sullivan, Blumcnthal, Wood, and Campbell OF
Kew-York who advocated it. Nothing very novel
in the way Of argument was advanced on either
side
frI 1n7nrr r1vfrp
principle Of two legislative boards was cardinal
one in this and all other free countries and that as
il furnished check on hasty or corrupt legislation,
IL was clearly in the interest of the people and OF
good government Mr. Beebe quoted from John
Adams and other fathers Of the Republic TO show
that they regarded il as an essential feature Of good
government The opponents of the amendment on
the other hand treated the question as merely one
OF expediency and economy aud not as involving
any principle whatever.
The amendment was lost by a large majority, and
the House next proceeded TO the consideration OF
section 3. Mr.. Crary offered an amendment TO this
section that the Board of Aldermen be increased IN
number from IS TO a. and that they be elected from
Assembly districts. This brought out a geneIa dis
cussion on the question of local representation. the
mover Of the amendment and those who supported
il maintaining that the Board Of Aldermen, as
larger part Of the city entirely unrepresented in the
legislative branch Of the government. Under the
charter now existing as Wen as under the one pro-
posed to be enacted there was nothing to hinder the
entire Board of Aldermen from being residents OF
single block and they might be elected without 1e-
eeiyng one-quarter OF the vote OF the city that
they would neither represent localities nor majo1-
ties.
Mr Opdyke opposed the amendment as well as
the object sought to be gained by it, and maintained
that what was called local representation" had
been the curse of New-YOrk as il enabled small
politicians 10 control nominating conventions and
thus fost bad representatives upon the people
Mr. Weed asked the gentleman if the New-York
delegation in the present Assembly-elected as II
was by d.stricts-would not favorably compare with
the present Board of Aldermen, elected on a general
ticket.
This iuterrogatOry somewhat disconnected Nh
Opdyke, as it appeared to be a rather conclusive
answer TO hls argument; be, therefore declined 70
answer it on the ground that be did not care TO pass
Judgment on his own character or qualifications for
Office. he being one of the New-York delegation
The weight of argument in the discussion Of this
amendment was clearly in its favor but it was lost
On a division by s. 20 48.
The vote showed, however, that there were at
least % Republican members who were not disposed
to 20 bliudly with the Custom-house managers and
adopt their Charter without the crossing Of I OF
the dotting of an l. This was the only division
called for Oh any of the amendments.
Nh. Prince then offered as an amendment TO sec
hon that the municipal elections should take place
in the Spring the second Thursday in April, and
that the day Of election be made legal holiday.
This amendment was strongly urged before the
Joint Committee on Cities by the Committee of
Seventy, by the German Reform Association, the
Political Reform Association, Messrs. ChOate, Schultz,
Eaton, and all other parties outside Of the Custom
house who appeared before that Committee. ~4' 70
1t was also ably advocated to-day by Mr.. Prince
Mr.. Blumenthal, Mr. Weed, and others, but without
effect. Mr. Pierson, who assumes the position of
chief engineer Of the Charter on the hoOropposedit,
but bad little 10 say against it, except that an
extra election would involve a large expense. Mr.,
Hustled also opposed it and claimed that Spring
elections had heretofore proved failure in New
York because Of the impossbilty of getting voters
10 go 20 the polls.
The advocates Of the amendment insisted that
making election day a holiday would insure full
vote but the majority could not or would not view
II IN that light, and the amendment was lost by
large majority.
The result Of the vote on this amendment made it
pretty clear that the Custom house had fixed
things to insure the passage Of their Charter,
through the lower House at least substantially as
they desire TO have il. There may possibly be at
tempt 10 defeat them when they reach the question
Of appointment of heads Of departments but there
n not much hope of it's succeeding.
Ar. Opdyke, on whom the hope Of successful
hight against the schemes Of the CustOmhouse chiefly
rested, has evidently caved in" He acknowledged
ths morning that he had came 10 compromise"
with them, they having. as he said, agreed to an
amendment in the matter of appointments that was