The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-24
CITY LEGISLATION.

THE ALDERMEN's ACTION ON THE MAYORS LATE
MEssAGE-coMPTRoLLER GREEN AND HIS Me-
MORAL business REBUKED.
at the special meeting OF the Board OF Aldermen
yesterday, held to consider the Message OF the
Mayor OF the 18th INST. the Law Committee. to
whom the Message was referred, presented
through its chairman, Mr.. Purroy the following
report:-
The Committee on the Law Department. TO whom
was referred the special Message o; His Honor tna
Mayor o; Marcn 49, 1875, respectfully beg leave 10
report:-
In our opinion the various matters referred to
In the Message OF His Honor are OF sucn vital lm-
demand calm consideration and prompt action
upon the part OF this Board. speaking and acting
elected representatives OF the people. We sln-
c G regret that the time afforded 10
OF the questions raised IN the Message
to which their Importance Justly entities them.
elaboration we are pleased to be able TO report
that we July and heartily concur IN eacn and
every one OF the views ana recommendations so
clearly and iorclbly presented by His Honor the
Mayor. Especially do we agree WITH him In the
opinion that the unrestricted ana independents
powers now possessed by the several departments
TO undertake and pro 'ecute public works and ~
cur obligations in the name OF the city without the
consent or approval OF tue Common Council ana
without the ability In the Board OF Apportionment
must be paid are powers which OF necessity pre-.
vent the harmonious working OF the municipal
machinery and necessitates the constant Increase
OF the burdens OF an already heavily taxed com.
munlty. Not only IS This the case, but the Whole
system Itself Is in direct violation of every primer!
pie OF republican government. The Common
council is, or al least ought TO be- the legislature
OF the city and every department should De subject
to It's supervision and control. With 1t all public
works OF whatever kind or character should orig
mate. and the departments should only be the IN
struments for carving It's resolutions aud Ordin-
ances into effect. Such was the case IN the earlier
and more economical days or the citys history and
and reckless Increase OF the city debt date from
the time when uni ust legislation stripped the Com
and transferred them to Independent s tan" ana
irresponsible commissions. In our opinion a
change should be at once had III the legislation
a1ectlng TINS city by which the sole management
or the affairs OF New York should with all It's con-
sequent responsibility be again restored TO the
Common Council. Each year It's members are
elected by the people, and we believe that the
safest guarantee tnat any officer VIII perform
faithfully and well the duties intrusted him VIII
always oe found in ms drect accountability to his
constituents. II this he not true then the whole
system OF republican government in this country
is egregiously and fatally at fault.
Tne Mayor reminds us that the public debt OF
figure that We may well pause and consider ma
turely wnetoer IT be wise or eXpedlent to lurtner
city whose great resources have as yet been but
little developed and II they are not to remain
public improvements and expenditure are abso.
uteY necessary. These two facts present q prob.
lem which, In our opinion, can only be solved OY
the more harmonious and economical adminlstra.
hands OF some one responsible body. as well as
by a wise and efficient management of our
desired result legislation Is necessary and we
think that 1t Is the duty OF this Board
in one strong eTort to obtain It. AS before stated,
want OF time alone has prevented US from the
Tons in deta we can onIy reIterate That WE uiIv
and heartily agree with HIM IN all his views and
eesPecy IN those se!ang 70 city
OF the dock and law departments. II your honor
able Board agree with this committee ana deter
mine that the interests OF the city demand some
additional legislation, Then we believe that tue
sole right to specify what that legislation should
be and to memoriallze the Legislature In Its
behalf resides III the Mayor aud Common Council,
and we respectfully protest against the indlgnity
offered to your honorable body when any su0-
ordinate OF the city government arrogates TO him.
sell the right OF speaking TO the Legislature as
sne OF tine whole city In GonG
etecs the wise views ana recommendations OF His
nouor the Mayor. respectfully recommend that
appointed to meet and consult with the Counsel
TO the Corporation tor the purpose OF drafting
interests OF the CITY, ana OF presenting them, alter
they shall have received your approval, to the
Legislature and urging their immediate passage.
HENRY ID. PURROY.
L. j. STANDBY.
When the report was read Mr.. Gross moved that
the Mayors Message should be taken up, point by
point and discussed so that members could openly
consider the details ana give full expression Of
their views.
Mr.. Gilon moved as an amendment that the 70
port OF the Law Committee be adopted as the ex.
preston OF the Board.
MIR. Mccarthy advocated the adoption OF MIR.
Cross motion, and IN speaking in favor OF 1t said
that the Board should not act hastily IN so I'm.
portant a matter He said that the issue Of rev.
enue bonds was ques ion which needed thorough
consideration. AS an illustration OF the way the
Board OF Revision did its work, he cited
where, in 1859. contractor got contract Tor the
building of sewer under the Old CrotOn Auueduct
Department.. 1t was completed IN 1871. The as
sessmenJ list was made out and sent over to the
Board OF Assessors, where II was Kept for
month ana then the Board OF Revision got 1t. The
list was kept by tne Board nearly three years,
although there was not single valid oDjec ion
against It, Thc Board faally passed II. The total
amount represented In the contract was $780, 600.
and yet the amount OF interest the city Dad to pay
on this SIS, 000 and it was only last month
That the taxpayers began to pay their assessments
for this work. ''rnls case,' said Mr.. Mccarthy,
.'Is only one in a thousand"
Mr.. Purroy tooK the view that Mr.. Gross and
Mr.. McCartnys motions were not Inconsistent.
AS the special committee TO be appointed III the
report was adopted to draw up Whatever laws
they deemed necessary tor the welfare OF the city
would have to submit them to the Board when
full discussion could be had upon Them the better
way, In his opinion, would DE Tor the Board, then
and there to adopt the Law Committees report.
This view of the case was finally accepted, the
report was adopted and the following committee
was appointed :-Messrs. Purroy. Shandley, Bill.
llngs, Gross and Mccarthy.
The Board then adjourned.
JOCKEY CLUB BETTING BOOKS.