New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-28
CHARTER DISCUSSION.
A FIELD DAY IN THE SENATE.

SEVENTH SECTION IN THE FIELD-MAyoR HAVE
MEYERS STANDING
tFROs THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
AbEANY, March S7s-The morning session of the
Senate on the Charter was a very qniet one.
The greater part of il was spent in discussing
the amendment proposed by lMr. Woodin
aboishing the Board of Assistant Aldermen
after the LIST of January 1874. The principal speech
made by Senator Benedict, who began by reading
the session laws OF 1871 20 show that the term of
office of the present Assistant Aldermen did not
pire until Jan l. 1875. He in favor of retaining
the Assistant Aldermen an Office until the expiration
of their term and, general principles, advocated
q Common Council consisting of two boards. No
body, he said, had thought of disturbing the Board
of Assistant Aldermen until the Committee of Sew
enty laid their profane hands upon it. But what
bad become of their crotchets now They were all
gone; not trace left of their projects. He de-
nouneed rings. If you want to make ring, said he.
make your body small. Eight men would be a ma
jority of the Board of Aldermen, and FIVE would
be a majority of that majority and would constitute
O ring.
Mr.. Tiemann gave his opinion, formed on his
experience as a member for several years of the
Common Council that two boards were necessary as
check on each other. Even when the Aldermen
were most corrupt each board defeated great many
Of'the corrupt jobs of the other,
Mr.. Madden also advocated the retention of the
second board as in harmony with the Federal and
State Governments of America
Mr.. WoOdin maintained that there were sufficient
checks under the present provisions of the BILL with
out the Assistant Aldermen. No ordinance involving
the expenditure of money the laying of any
ment be passed without the vote of threefourths
of all the members elected. The Mayor has his veto
power No bonds can be issued without the vote of
the Board of AppOrtOnment The public money is
secure
Mr. Murphy said that as Senators they should be
governed by principle. What was the purpose for
which the Common Council was created To exc
cute the will of the people and give their wishes the
force and effect of law If he were TO decide these
principles which of the two bodies constituted IN
the bill should be abolished it would be the Alder
men. He argued in favor of representation by dis
triets and the retention of the Board of Assistant
Aldermen.
After the Assistant Aldermen were disposed of by
the adoption of Mr.. WOOdin's amendment, the same
Senator moved to amend the bill so as to have
Board of y Aldermen elected, three from each of the
five Senate Districts and six from the city at large,
no voter TO cast ballot for than two of each
three to be chosen. THE bill as reported
provided for Is only on a general ticket Mr.. Muir
ply moved as an amendment that the 2l Aldermen
he chosen, one from each Assembly District. MIR.
Murphy's amendment was lost 10y vote OF to II,
and Mr.. Woodin's adopted.
On motion of Mr. Woodin, that part of Section
which makes the present Presidents of the Boards of
Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen iTremovable, was
struck out
motion Of Mr. Tiemanns for Spring elections
was voted down by large majority without any
discussion.
The Committee having reached the twentv-seventh
section MI Woodn said the section as il now stood
was nobOdys proposition, but was merely put in TO
enable the Committee TO make a report. He said be
had no substitute to offer for IT, but afteTwaTd sub
United and advocated the latest CustOm-hOuse in
vention that of vesting the appointing power in
commission to be made MP of the Mayor and Pres-
dents Of the Boards of Aldermen and Assistant Alder
men He gave warning OF his intention TO smuggle
this into the bin through the medium of conference
committee if any opportunity presented itself
Senator Lowery offered as a substitute for the
twenty seventh section, the established method OF
giving the appointing power TO the Mayor, subject
20 confirmation by the Board of Aldermen without
snv other limitation. Senator lOwery has been in
favor of this plan from the beginning, and is OPP
ptsed 10 retaining in office Henry Smith Delaheld
Smith or any one else. He made an earnest speech
In favor of honorable dealing with Mayor Have
never and read among other papers, the letter in
which Thomas Murphy rendered Mr. Havemeyer
the Republican nOmiDatiOn for Mayor. lie gave 1t
~ his deliberate opinion that the Senate passed
the bill in the shape that Mr.. Murphy wanted it, it
would be the destruction of the Republican party
Referring to the Federal and other Ofice-hoders
rom New-York who have been hanging round the
Legislature for weeks past he said their wishes had
no more weight with him than those of plain citizens
ID private station. They had a right TO be here
and 10 submit their views but they had no right TO
dictate.
Mr.. woodin was bitterly opposed to permitting
The Mayor to nominate. lie said, in substance, that
II should be the policy of the Republicans to keep
what they get and get what they can To question
Of Mr. Lowery's If the Mayor of the City of New
York is to be held responsible for its good govern
ment why not give him the appointment OF his sub
Ordnates ~ be replied that he did not believe in
personal responsibility. &" Give me-" he said
the responsibility of political party" To give
the Mayor the power of making nominations
was 70 put dangerous weapon in his hands. There
were thousands of men III the City of New-York
whom the Board of Aldermen dare not re-
fuse to confirm. This was the peril he
wished TO escape from. The Republican
party throughout the State demanded partisan
charter; would be dissatisfied unless the offices OF
the City of New-YOrk, from Mayor down to scaven-
ger, were filled by Republicans The Senator's bold
ayowal of these noble sentiments seemed particular
ly 20 impress Senator OBrieD who had reason at one
time to suppose that few Democrats of certain
stripe might be allowed to share in the fruits of the
Republican victory" Of last November.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. WOOdn's remarks the
Committee rose, and postponed the further cOnsid-
tratiOD of the Charter until the evening session.
lAo more o. 1as Of gong pTessl
THE SITUATION REVIEWED.