The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-21
"A Savage Charge Upon the Re-
publican Leaders.
The Majority are Firm, Unyielding
and Incorporating.
The Appointing Power Question
the Object Of Attack.
THE BATTLE TO Be RENEWED TO-DAY.

ALBANY, Feb. 90. 1879
The charter was the great sensation Of the day at
the Capitol to-day, and long before the Assembly
was called TO order the galleries were crowded in
every part That portion OF the Chamber re-
served for ladies' and the gentlemen who accom-
pany them was also filed to repletion. It became
evident shortly after Mr. Moore, Of st. Lawrence,
had been called to the chair in the Committee OF
the Whole, and vote had Oeen taken upon several
amendments offered, that the majority had been
well drilled and that there was no danger of a
mutiny In the camp from any quarter. The
minority at the start went into the fight head first,
with visor down, hoping by boldness to secure
some concessions OF value, but they were so litsle
hterfered with in their harangues and so
cOOlly voted down every time their amend
ments were put to vote that they began
to lose vim before the fourth section was reached
and afterwards fought apparently more for the
sake of putting themselves right on the record
than because they had any hope OF obtaining any
result for their pains other than that which the
majority, as republicans, felt inclined to grant
them. Mr.. Charles G. Cornell was the FIRST demo-
crat to offer an amendment, which was to retain
THE BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN,
he, 20 that end, Offering substitute for the
second section. Mr.. Peter Wood, IN q few re-
marks, argued to show that by not retaining the
Board fourteen Assembly districts in the city
would be left unrepresented, but after making this
broad assertion he did not attempt to show what
grounds he had for making it other than that, II
there were only one Board to be elected on a
general ticket they would simply represent the
city as the Mayor does; in other words, that there
would be no local representation. Mr.. Pierson
followed up these remarks by showing that the
adjustment OF the Board would be hailed with
delight by every good citizen who had the welfare
Of the city at heart Mr. Cornell insisted that the
existence OF the Board was almost necessity to
the GOOD government Of the city. 1t would always
be found to be good check upon the other Board
on every occasion when danger to the interests OF
the people might be threatened by che action OF the
Board OF Aldermen. 1t was nearer the people
shan the other Board, and, rs at present con-
stituted, represented the same constituency as
the twenty-one Assemblymen. Mr.. Norton differed
from Mr.. Cornell and claimed that the adjustment
Of the Board, in his opinion, was one of the very
best features in the bill. He had always found the
Board to be
GREAT EXPENSE TO THE CITY,
for which 1t gave no adequate return. He was
strongly in favor OF the section as it stood, and
New Yorker, who knew OF what he affirmed, he
asserted that one of the greatest blessings that
could be conferred upon the people OF the city
would be to abolish the Assistant Aldermen. Mr.
Blumenthal was opposed to the section. He con.
tended that the Committee OF Seventy had last
year advised the wiping out Of the As
sistant Board, but that they had done
10 to attain an end which could not
be attained by the present bill In arguing for its
Adjustment the committee had in view the certain
representation in the Board Of Aldermen of the mi
nOrity, which was to be secured by the adoption Of
the cumulative voting principle, but they had no
nj no 0fh
full swing, or eecting them in such way that the
minority could not be always represented Mr..
Campbell said that there were districts in New
the Beard Of Alderman, and II the Board Of AS
'''anss w We sas noea AsT Ng9s e
He warned the majority against this attempt to
build up Ring in the city, which, he predicted,
cty-a Ring. too, that, unlike the old democratic
Mr.: Beebe next got the door and delivered .
powerlul speech against the proposition to abolish
the Board. He quoted Story and John Adams to
s19Y THAT a. to PLACE sovereign powers in one AZ.
terests OF q few individuals, and he declared that
. 49,, intent Of the men who were pushing the bill
was TO crafty their own interests, regardless of
the wants or wishes OF the people. Intrigue and
cunning. he said was at the bottom Of the whole
movement to fost this charter on q million of
people And then as to the claim that the abolish;
Of the w4a red noor ae Of
TIC: la Essf a Ess OF DOLLARS AND CENTS
II involved principle o Of tr govern
always found wanting, and every city that ever
tried 1t was glad to turn Its back upon IL. Mr;
asked Mr.. Beebe II he lMr. Hustedl could ask linn
O simple question. Mr.. Beebe bowed his assent
and Mr.. Hustled put 1t a. follsws:I $500 :, -, o,,,
government Of New York when first organized
under the Donnegan charterYn
"There was but one" replied Beebe.
"Ahn exclaimed Hustled, resuming bis seat and
hooking about him IN triumphant sort OF way az
:. 70 & sss 60, e sr
That Is but another proof OF my argument The
city nad but one beard, got sick Of the system and
There was smoker all around at this, but when
Beebe suddenly paused and again turning to-
was irresistibly funny gravely, almost solemnly
asked evil the gentleman be kind enough to ask
me another question: there was
A ROAR OF LAUGHTER
on beth sides OF the House that even the chairman
70 alter
there was too much gas" blown on by
the minority and toe much "wool pulledi'
deal OF party devotion, as well as party wit but If
he did the galleries alsne agreed with hin. Mr..
Weed in taking the floor alluded 10 the charges
that had been made against the government OF
New York In past years. He admitted that bad
men had dishonored the city IN tne past ana cast
only made darker and placker by the crimes OF
bride takers and perjurers in the national egisa-
ture (Here the majority looked excessively pious,
AIberger crossing his hands prayerfully and look
ing up ntently at the ceiling as II there was pleD
tul supply OF Mobilier stock among the frescOes.l
He was not, Mr.. weed continued, a champion OF
bad government under any party; but the major
ity, in insisting upon the adjustment Of the Board
OF Assistant Aldermen, were really champiening
A SYSTEM THAT INVITED CORRUPTION
and general msmanagement In the AFFAIRS OF the
city. He was opposed TO giving the Supreme power
10 any party-supreme In the sense that there
was possibility OF there being no minority repre-
sentation. He believed In the equalization OF the
power OF the majority and minority In all depart
menS OF government, just equilibrium rather
than supreme control. The fact was that the
Legislature legislated too much for New York. IL
was plain that the proposition to abolish the second
Board was part and parcel OF this too much legis-
latlon system but he felt convinced that by Its
abolishment the people OF the city would be left
without local representation, 20 much 30 that
CabsI In one ward with money and political