The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-29

Aloermon neg IoI Lie.
ALBANY. Jan. %, 1874
The redOubtabe Seventy, headed BY Professor
Dwight, made their appearance in the Capitol to.
day again, intent on modifying the Custom House
charter. James NJ. Brown, Roswell d. HATCH JACK
son G. Schultz, John Wheeler Joseph H. Choate
and Dorman B. Eaton comprised the following Of
the scholarly Professor, and
SENATORIAL BODY OF MEN THEY WERE.
In contrast to the little troupe mustered by little
Davenport they were as Hyperion to o Satyr. Not
. man among them but looked the Roman-tall
portly, commanding, venerable, strong and of win
ming manners. Not one among them less than six
feet, while OF Davenport's party not man was
apparently much over five. John d. Lawson, Con-
gresham elect; John Farr and George w. Starr
were their names, ana, with Davenport, they
formed rs small group Of men, physically and
mentally as the republican General flushed as 1t 10
with victory, dare send to match against the Sew
enty.
BLISS WAS ABSENT,
and his absence was sorely felt In the Custom
House ranks; for while even he, with his gift OF
retort and passable wit, was hardly creditabe
match against the ready and erudite Dwight and
THE PONDsRoUs 0RADGRIND SCHULTZ,
little Davenport, with his utter ignorance Of
city politics and woful lack Of experience In city
matters. had no show Whatever and was sub
merged at once. Bliss arrived tonight too late
to take part in the argument. but he will doubt
less lead in any consultations over amendments
that the clique may hold at the Delavan. Among
the
OTHER CITY CELEBRITIES
present on the general mission were President
Wade OF the doomed Board Of Assistant Alder
men i; Mr.. Dimonson, member Of that body, and
Mr.. Stephen DIN, long stripping, who repre-
sented the defunct Citizens Association. These
last three made
MOST LONESOME EXHIBITION,
Wade reading long petition from the Assistant
Aldermen, and receiving merciless quietus from
Davenport, who said that all parties had agreed
the abolition Of the lower Board and 1t was useless
to discuss the question: nobody wanted to retain
1t except the members Of the Board themselves;
and DIN making short and Hurried address,
claiming the paternity OF all the improvements in
the charter for the Citizens Association. The
joint committee sat in the Senate chamber, and the
galleries were well filled with listeners.
The two opposing committees are still here TO
night, and Bliss, Davenport and Lawson are in
close consultation over the best means OF satisfy
ing
The fight to-day went all in favor of the Seventy
men, and Bliss and Davenport begin to appreciate
instrument II they do not oner some very lmpor-
tant cessiOns. The proposition to tax all the
charitable and educational institutions was thrown
over before Dwight'S elOquence to-day, and Is
is question whether the sole appointing power
in the Mayor may not yet be given up.
ANEW TERROR ASSAIIIS THE CUSTOM HOUSE MEN
also. Governor Dix, In the appointment OF his
harbor masters and port wardens, has shown
most dePraved disregard OF purely Custom House
the Murphy endorsement was the sole recommend
alton o. candidates, he has had the unwarrantasle
audacity to demand additional recommendations
from the "highly respectable" solid men OF the
city. Chamber OF Commerce endorsements being
the best paper in his market.
THE PROCEEdINGs OF THE COMMITTEE.
Professor DWIGHT opened the discussion by say.
ing that, since tse last meeting the Committee Of
seventy had had the matter under consideration,
and had instructed him to make some further sug
gesti0ns TO the joint committee. They had con-
Guided to concur with the republican committee In
TO ABOLISH THE BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN;
but 40 not fs the plan
this amendment VIZ. -
Their terms of Office shall commence on the FIRST Mon
them shall serve Tor one year i've Tor two years and
I'VE fer three yeas; the terms for which
shall be determined at The nrst meeting Of the Board
have drawn respective ter shall be entered s on the
records Of said board and copy Of such record shall
nuaiy thereafter snail pc elected a an election on the
wo at the oc Sn hs a Ave IN
next succeeding this election, and hold office for three
years.
We are also in favor Of
SPRING ELECTIONS FOR ALDERMEN AND MAYOR,
and have prepared an amendment to that effect
voters almost entirely with State and national
affairs, when IN the case OF municipal elections
Professor DWIGHT then proceedcd to discuss the
other provisions OF the charter, repeating mainly
the argument he made at the meeting last week.
TIE TAXATION OF CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS,
Mr.. DAVENPORT said they intended to modify that
provision, and senator WOoDrN intimatcd that
he Il n hat nOiu
Professor DWIGHT then proceeded to criticise
other portions Of the charter as he had at the fer
mer meeting. stating the views OF the Committee Of
seventy, and commenting upon
THE PROPOSITION TO RETAIN VAN MORT IN THE DE-
PARTMENT or PUBLIC WORKS,
q department in which funds to the amount Of
So, 100000 or $10,000,000 are handled. This he
thought was altogether too much for any one man
senator TIEMANN said 1t was nearer thirty million
dollars
Professor DwIoHr-Then $4,000. 900. I did not
want to 0verstate the amount. But he SAID you
know
TIE ORIGIN OF THE GREAT rowEs IN ONE MANS
HANDS
and Its object. 1t was, as you know. in order to
put this vast power into the hands Of one partcu-
Professor DWIGHT said the Committee of Seventy
had not abandoned the idea OF
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION;
they had simply postponed IL. They adhered to
that idea, and hoped to see it put in force at q
future day.
Mr.. JOSEPH H. CHOATE next addressed the COM
mittee. In speaking Of the motive which seemed
to underlie the actions OF those who had framed
the charter, he said
A YEAR Oh TWO AGO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK
WERE ON TRIAL;
now 1t ia those who holding an Overwhelming
power. were about to act upon this charter He
called up0n the committee to remember IRON
whom 1t was this power Was derived, and that
those possessed Of 1t would be held to rigid ac-
countabllity. He said II the power was used
merely for the purpose Of perpetuating itself
THE PEOPLE WOULD RISE AGAIN,
n han W no MAJ He ar Cd
q Spring election II, said he, you do not want
the government OF the city Of New York run
solely In the interest or the republican or demo-
cratic party, then
DIVORCE IT IRON THE MACHINERY WHICH RNvELr
OPES 4 FEDERAL on STATE BLECT1ON
nyou do NOT do this You leave the afairs of that
city IN the hands OF politicians. AS to the reten
uon Of certain offlcers or heads OF departments he