The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-07
.rucL,c IMPROVEMENTS MUST cozrMgE."


COHnmisstoner Van Mort Requested -
Remain I'm the Depa rtmeat of Public
Works--''The Party OF Progress Should
Ruie-Resolutions Passed.
large and influential meeting or property
owners who. In the words OF the cali, .sbeiieve
that the resignation OF Commissioner Van Mort in
wolves general or partial suspension OF che
public works equally disastrous 10 public and prt-
vate interests" was held at No. Ill broadway
yesterday afternoon
Mr. WILLIAM r. MARTIN. IN calling the assem-
oage TO order, said
aSe ss1S ns sI f seSs
public improvements aud the conduct Of the city sd-
t ts Obstructive influence o he Mayor and Iomprosr
|, Is now depressed and ansaiasie aud YOU are %
In his roo das ss DAY al an terry you 81 haws
sna ays r5
al t he ana !, moi YOU ese alone but that q
well a. mp town Mr. Green has ixel policy q
the take; thI t6Iri
When ney get cr tax bills October S W. iacs
We want the stree, ana park improvements completed
they are three.,oarshs doue now ana want tleu.
ready sa Sui w' s
taxes, which now are destructive II our property up
isSabie yaluaaen viii s srsssly acissssa, mi:
There way. The TAX wi 10 raised On a,argss
amount ., propsrts ann ths veal sad popuIa.ioa
d9watewn tasatou win increase year by yesr take
siOco5So d properly ~ just a. Central rsrs does
@ s yersde F. on , lhs ss nas
his siOasDon Of property, adj tens q milops 70 tAt
know aid 4. %s a. S 81 a NJ s
nan ia ana we 1ppSir IT,
70 him Is whether he iatioms him beforehand or after
Above fortieh the real estate is valued for tax
a i, ~ szS.vy@ The expenditure OF less thai
eropsrty, Womb d i6is sesaps.ies: and: via
an clear headed psns
ZION and aetracon he energetic honest and capable.
Inc political power a this County, lies IN organized
public opinion organzed as you see j. eyerywhore IN
S grSGs asa a9er
is,encs DO not doubt your power We are stronssr
hs party holds wothirds tue votes the city Is
ballot
Mr.. Martin then nominated Tor Chairman Mr..
Idcwellyn e. Barry, hut before the meeting could
vote upon the motion Two men, said To be John d.
Tracey and Teddy Donovan. in the n0slest pos
sibis manner, endeavored to create a row. They
yelled to Mr. Martin asking ''how many positions q
you noldr' and when MIR. Barry attempted to speak,
called out ..iou amt elected we are property
holders" Cries OF put them ONT" and Kisses
came from all parts OF the room. ''Ye can't pue
us Quit" shouted back Tracey ana Donovan, and
when Mr.. Fowler, the lessee Of the place. en-
deavored to quiet them, Tracey showed Deputy
Sherrs shield ana insutingly animated that no
would arrest him. The matter, however, was sum-
marty disposed OF ana the Doisterous individuals
silenced by Mr.. Barry being elected, save by Ira
cey and Donavan's votes, unanimously
Mr. John II. White being introduced said he was
aStonished to ind present one or TWO persons who
felt like disturbing their proceedings The prop
erty owners had right to express their feelings
snu eparna the
It's OF the Commissioner OF Public Works and tho
Comptroller: and, as they were indebted to tho
latter Official for the inauguration in 1865 OF the
Riverside and other west side improvements, tx
panied him to notice men present-evldentlyi the
Comptroller's employ-trying 70 stine public ex-
area or the proposed improvements, between
Forty-lourth and 152d streets, and Eighth avenue
and the North River, will find that he has been
assessed for such improvements II he has not
already paid them. And this Is as solemn con-
tract between the city and property owners even
as a mans note is and should be carried out. Tho
city cannot refuse to do So Some may say that
such work must stop" That's the sentiment OF 5
footpad, although destitute OF iootpad's honor.
The proposed Riverside ana Norn1ngslde parks win
be an ornament to the city. and We must ana win
have them. The question nov is, VINO shall carry
out the improvements" The speaker stgmatixed
done' as the Rip van wrinkles OF society,
covered all over with barnacles. On the
Aldermen ana Commonaty ne dwell a mo-
ment. The two bodies named have
among them thirty six lively and bouncing mem
bers, which hydra-headed monsters. II the work 30
time IN bestowing patronage that 1T will never %
completed. 1t was not the proper body TO give such
partment Of Parks, but there we're also too many
neads there. The Commissioner OF Public Works,
he who is invested with the power TO buiG sewers,
lay mains, &C., should carry out these Improve
ments. As matter Of economy and as matter
OF justice that department. at the head OF which 70
we have faithful officer let us stand by him. The
abandonment OF these improvements would ho .
NJ wi White then introduced tue following resolu
tions:--
Resolved. That in view Of the financial policy % TIE
ton dilia ant progress in the puhc improvements Of
Resolved That this progress is beneficial to taxpayers
al over the CITY, and VIII bring relief from the burdens
kssaSea 1 nas 1--WE Re-
and energetic public officer who the needs
ton ana tina! honor hun for the courage with which
Resolved, That request him resign his ONCE
n sappo and a III 'nA' 70 our
Mr.. - +. CHURCH was then introduced, who, At
soule length. discussed the question before tho
ture between the Commissioner OF Public WORKS
and the Comptroller he would have but little to
say on the matter I; but IT was question whether
the growth OF this great city should be retarded
and 1t go into decay, whether 1t should continue
IN prosperity and become the residence OF 2000.OOQ
instead OF nalt that numoer. There were two par
ties In the field, one working under the sham ban
nei Of reform, and crying ont. eve don't want
any more boneyards; don't want any more I'M
progress, lighting for the good OF the city, and want
just as many improvements as can he obtained.
suppose the taxation OF our city Is great, that
matters not, SO long as we have productive prop
erty that will stand 1t. The party policy OF those
VINO say "Hoid on" Is that y barrier shall be
erected at Fity-ninth street. and the word OF COM
mand Is, that 'thus far shalt thou go and no lar
rher.' II we have In the future taxable property
worth twice as much as we now have. 1t will nos
be more burdensome. We cannot rest. The Young
American Van Mort says, "Run in debt. build up
your city, aud We can stand is.r We want men
who are competent to develop the resources OF
the city: men VINO represent the party OF prog
ress. IL Is really Of no consequence who does
the work, whether 1t Is under one depart.
ment or another but II must be done. Il
never be done. and you Will 20 on for years paying
taxes without sod being turned. We also want
rapid transit given us. 1t is disgrace that one
hair OF this city Is m0rass; and Is 1t a wonder
that our taxes are greatY Let the Legislature pass
all the rapid transit bills before them. They will
not do any harm. Much as the speaker dfshked
Vanderbilt he thought the Vanderbilt Harlem Ex-
tension bill was among the best OF such projects;
and the proposed extension of the one-tegged rail-