The New York herald., 1873-08-06
MORE REFORM WANTED.
The Merchants and the Bureau Of Per-
mits.

mits.
meeting Of the merchants Of the west side was
held yesterday afternoon, ut Stewards Building,
corner OF Reade and Greenwich streets, to take
counsel IN regard TO abuses which they claim to
suffer at the hands OF the Bureau OF Permits. The
complaint Is general that unjust suits are brought
against merchants for alleged violations OF Corpo
ration ordinances in regardto Obstructng the side
walks during the reception and delivery OF goods.
While the merchants do not claim the right to in
terlere with the free passage of ordinary street
traffic they insist that the commerce of
the city must be carried on, and that
they have invariably conformed to the law
by taking out permits purpOrtng to accord them
the privileges in this particular necessary to the
conduct OF their business. In spite OF this authori
tative permission, however, 1t is charged that
system OF matchmaking, by parties connected with
the city government, is enforced upon them and
that the practice has grown to be into erapic.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. George
A. Merwin, who acted as chairman. Alter briefly
auding to the object OF the assemblage the chair
man called upon the gentlemen present for an ex-
preston OF their views This invitation was re-
sponded to by MIR. L. Carsdens, William Lindsay
and others. The last-named speaker announced
that, at the request OF several aggrivecd par
ties, he had investigated the whole lcehse
system as practiseG towards .he mercantile CON-
munity, and he had come TO the conclusion tnat the
Mayor has no right to grant any permission to
cucumber the sidewalks, which are intended solely
Tor the unhindered Use OF the public. he referred
to Judge Moneis recent decision IN support Of this
view Of the case, the Judge having held that the
city cannot grant permission to any one to v0late
u Corporation ordinance Mr.. Lindsay iurtner
remarked that most dealers took out license
under the impression that 1t empowered them to
keep moderate amount OF goods constantly
the walk before their premises. This IL not the
case, as a careful reading OF their permits will
Council would listen attentively to any complaint
which the merchants might make in the matter
Tic SPEAKERS stated that the system OF permits
was originated to afford sinecures for lazy politI-
cans. &nd that 1t costs $4,000 to collect the
Tne Seefetary, Mr. Frank b. ThurDer, OF II. X.
Th9rberj CO., then read the following preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted,
as expressing the views OF the meet,ng:-
RESOLUTIONS.
NE Of our municipal laws
the practee OF bringing suits ag ns rchants
ne % fs
gain 'as nance sHs
the permits issued BY the Mayor for me regulation Of
legal py whatever and the charge OF ten dollars
for such permits is an unius and improper tax and
government, AMI is interference with ana burden
upon the commercial interests OF New YORK city there
Kes.ysd That the IN merchants Q, this city unite and
mutual r9m & the unjust operation OF The laws
ali and SonoTao means repsal or modeao S
OF the obnoxious 'ordi inances above me ntoned.
to oecome members of this association and that such
membership shall be free to all those interested and that
no moneys whatever be exacted for such membership.
Resolved That we recognize the desiratiiy Of keeping
but we also recognize the sc that the commerce Of the
sony aetes or the o business 10
sary Tor the proper regulation Of ru stands psd Hers
&C. yet we beleve tnat business men, who pay rent and
the legitimate the sidewalk In front OF
for the and delivery OF goods as they are entitled
residences up town. and as Justly might permit be
exsced for one s as for The other b, ,, ,s
duty of keeping the sidewalks for pedestrians as
Keeper obsructs the sidewalk SO that foot passengers
cannot he should be arrested the same az refractory
institution of suits large proportion which never
brought to trial ana another large portion at at d
does nQ attain the object in view besides giving rise
70 and great dissatisfaction among mer
Resolved That our municipal laws should be examined
and that committee apponted to call the attention
Of the Mayor and to this mater and urge SuSe Se
tie duty Of the committee to wait upon the Mayor and
nsttutng Of suits and collection Of moneys under these
ordinances until the subject can be presented to the
Board OF Aldermen for their sction.
Mr.. CARsDENs offered the following preamble and
resolution which was, by vote, added to the lore
going res0lutions:-
the Dnes % q pm + to ys
TO be right tor money; therefore, be IL
ssS rs he ss ama q Fr% ana MSd
earnestly petition the Mayor and Common Council to
The following gentlemen were appointed to act
upon the resolutions :-Messrs. John r. wilson,
Henry N. Morgan, L. Carsdens, william Lindsay,
The meenc am then subject to the coll
OF the chairman.
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