The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-03
THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The Rapid Transit Commissioners
Resolutions Defeated.
THE ROUTE OF THE ROAD CALLED FOR.
The Board of Aldermen met yesterday afternoon,
President Lewis in the chair

the reservoir.
Mr.. Blessing said that the resolution was piece of
mpertnence. If Mr.. Morris had had friend removed
that the business of tho Commissioner of Public
Works. The idea Of asking the Commissioner why he
1T TO remove a subordinate ridiculous.
Mr.. Morris remarked that he had no friend in Office
He did not know Mr. Ellis had no ever seen him,
but he knew the facts in the CASE and that he was a
competent man who had held the place for nearly a
quarter of a century - and was always competent
Mr. Blessing suggested that Mr. Morris ought TO look
back 10 the time when, under the charter Of 1870,
through the influence of republicans, democrats, who
competent to fill the places they had occupied for
thirty and forty years, put to make for
the republicans. The democratic Board Of Aldermen
did not then ask why the removals made.
Mr.. Reilly called for the reading of the resolution
second me and hearing it read stated that his
opinion Board had right to question any head Of
department to why he removes a subordinate in his
Office 'why," said he 'does not Alderman Morris ask
Comptroller Green why he has discharged of the
most competent officers in the Finance Department to
make way for friends Of his at least for the friends
OF Alderman Morrs2" Qaughter)
motion made by Mr. Mccarthy to have the resolu-
ton referred to the Committee Law finally sup
pemented by motion OF Mr. Blessings to place it
file This motion Mr.. Mccarthy accepted, and it
carried by strict party vote
MR. GREEN'S FIGURE WORK.
President Lewis offered resolution that statement
should be printed in the city Record correcting gross
made by the Comptroller in his financial report
dated the Both ult The in giving ST. 152 as
the amount Of city contingencies spent by the Common
Council since January l. As the appropriation but
S. 900 for the year 1875 the Comptrolers led
the inference that the Board had exceeded contln
gency appropriation by $4,000, whereas the fact
that only $97 so had been expended from the ap
preparation
RAPID TRANSIT RESOLUTIONS
Mr.. Purroy called up the resolutions sent to the
Board by the Commissioners, in which they ask the
Aldermen give their to the designation by
them of the of the be built before making
the route known 10 the Board
Mr.. Seery moved that the resolutions be laid
The Commissioners should first locate the route before
the Board took action He had heard that likely
the road would be put Third avenue On behalf Of
his constituents who resided portion the ave-
nue. in his district protested against the being
fixed there until the property holders had been heard
on the subject
Mr. Purroy said he agreed in some respects with his
colleague He would prefer that the ronte should DO
first fixed; but he ought to bear in mind that he
of the Common Council that represented the entire
city, not merely single district The time drawing
when the Commissioners powers would be at end
and some action ought to be taken on the resolutions
The great majority of the citizens wanted rapid transit
The Corporation Counsel had given his opinion the
resolutions, and all doubts to their possible effect
ought to be dispelled. If the law allowed it he would
in favor Of rapid transit road Fifth
rather than have none at ALL
Mr. Blessing said that no act of the Aldermen could
contribute TO the defeat Of rapid transit If the Com
missoners only do their duty and fix the route before
asking the Board to give them carte blanche the
ter 1t idle for them TO try and shift the RESPONSE
bility the Board that rightfuly they alone should
bear. If they were afraid to come out in manly way
that their business, and the people would know
where put the blame, If blame for anything relating
TO the subject had to be attached TO any one
Mr. Gross Of the opinion that the Commissioners
ought first to indicate what route the road to take
and then come to the Board for its consent Still he
a.. Aav avufth h.
eral order and not allow II to remain Enacted upon
any 1onget There should be no 7ioTe pr6cfassaafion
The people meant 70 have rapid transit and the Board
should heed their wished
Mr.. Purroy said that The non-acon Of the Board had
given cause for scandal that was not justified
Mr.. Blessing said that the Board ought to know be-
forehand where the of the road be- that
property holders could have say about II before it
too late What could he say TO his constituents if he
voted for the resolutions and the Commissioners should
60 work and build road that would be Objectionable
TO property holders in his district that would depre-
ciate property and be general nuisance. He for
would not vote for the resolutions long the Com
mssioners refused TO tell the Board where they
| locate the route of the road
Mr. Mccarthy was heartily in favor OF rapid transit
but he prepared to vote the resolutions He
would greatly prefer that his constituents knew where
the route TO be- and he doubted whether the Board
could legally, rightully and with justice adopt the
lutions before tho route was known He asked to be
excused from voting II the resolutions however,
fairly amended, as he understood Mr.. Purroy intended
to amend them so as to relieve them from the doubtful
character they had in the eyes Of some Of the MEMBERS
| he ready TO vote for them-not otherwise
Mr. Strack did not believe in centraizng the power
of twenty-five persons elected by the people In the
hands of two or three Commissioners appointed
Office If the twenty-five be held responsible for
the exercise Of the powers Of the two or three He be-
lieved the Commissioners should designate the route
| beforehand.
Mr. seery's motion to lay the resolutions over was
Mr.. Reilly remarked that he represented the Sixth
Senatorial district and before voting for the resolutions
he desired to understand fully the sentiments of his
constituents on the subject He moved that the reso
lutions be made special order for Monday
Mr. Blessing said that if the Commissioners did not
establish the route by the Sh Of the month the whole
| thing would fall TO the ground
Mr.. Relly's motion was put and carried
Mr.. Purroy after wordy sparring TO get his
amendment before the Board, offered amendment TO
the resolutions follows :-"Provided that nothing
herein contained be construed TO prevent the necessity
OF the Of the Common Council being obtaped
after the route shall be fixed by the Commissioners Of
| Rapid Transit"
Mr. Seery said that as that amendment was really an
attempt to amend State law the Corporation Counsels
| opinion had better be obtained upon t.
Mr.. Purroy denied that it was an amendment 10 n
State law. 1t was simply provision that the route
should be first approved by the Common Council before
beng decided upon definitely by the Commissioners.
Mr.. Blessing said that section Of the Rapid Transit
law expressly provided that the route first be
fixed by the Commissioners before the local authorities
give their consent
Mr.. seery moved that the resolutions as amended DO
referred to the Corporation Counsel he send his
opinion Of them on Monday This motion was lost the
vote standing yeas TO 10 nays.
Mr.. Purroy's amendment was then put and defeated
as lolows:-Yeas President Lewis Cole, Gilon, Gross
Rowland, Mccarthy, Purroy, Smonson-6. Nays, Bless
ing Deane Lysaght, Morris Power, Reilly, Robinson,
Seery, Shandley, Southworth Strack-1L
Mr.. Blessing moved 70 mako the resolutions
special order for Monday This lost by a
Of 10 TO TO- The original resolutions were then called
Mr.. Gilon said in his opinion that every vote cast
against them would be vote against rapid transit
Mr.. Rowland said he would have liked TO have seen
| Mr. Purroy's amendment adopted If the resolutions
were defeated to-day and should be defeated
next Monday again then the whole question OF
rapid transit would fall 10 the ground. He did
believe any route could pass the Board property
holders would come IN with their influence and defeat
| It, II defeated on Monday when the powers of tho
Commissioners would cease Wednesday, nothing
under the Rapid Transit act could be done till the
ing Of the next Legislature The was finally taken
the resolutions, and they defeated by the fol-
lowing vote:-Ycas President Lewis Cole, Gon
Gross, Rowland, Morris, Purroy, Smonson-6 Nays
! Blessing, Deanc, Guntzer, Lysaght Power, Reilly
Robinson, Seery, Shandcy, Southworth, Strack-IL
Mr. Mccarthy excused from voting for the reasons
ain nv him during the dnhaLn