The New York herald., 1875-11-25
A COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
Provision for Pure Government in
New York City.
NO POLITICS IN FUTURE.
Merit and Honesty the Only Pass
ports to Office.

To get honest to nil the ofices in the govern
ment OF the city aud county Of New York, and to NIL
the legislative representation Albany has long been
the standing problem. Various expedients have been
tired from time 10 time Citizens Association, with
the venerable Peter Cooper at It's head essayed ong
since solution Of the much vexed question II made
semtannua reports to the people, and warned them
against this and that abuse and against this and that
set Of men, The Citizens Association and lis directing
spirit meant we'll but lacked the elements Of strength
and popularity It very feeble In its earnestness,
and II finally to be looked upon a collection OF
some few old gentlemen who accustomed to meet
in back room about every few months and write
letters to an unhceding public which looked upon them
bore
The Committee OF Seventy is well remembered for It's
services in arousing the people for the overthrow or
the Tammany Ring but when, subsequently, il UNDER
took TO look after the interests Of tho city It
that the interests OF the Committee Of Seventy we're or
moro Importance, and 1t fell TO pieces The members
OF that celebrated committee unable resist tho
thirst for office that upon them, and what
ganized, as everybody supposed, to put good men in
and keep bad men out of Office, and also supervise
afterward an honest administration Of the local gov
ernment turned out in the main to be gang OF olnce
seekers marching under the banner OF reform.
In the past there have been many combinations op-
posed TO Tammany Hall ostensbly with view OF put
ting better men in nomination than the regular organ
| ization was accustomed 70 present This year Il
| antTammany democraticre republican combination
which succeeded in eectng several very worthy can
ddates past years, under the cry Of 'The People
and Reform candidates have been elected who turned
out better than those put forward by the regular
organization and denounced corrupt advance or
being elected
| 1t appears, then, come down 10 this, that no
proper method has yet been put practical operation
to for the taxpayers Manhattan Island honest
men in Office and honest expenditures OF the public
money An old reproach yet illogical and laacious
one has been that the classes OF the city do
take part politics. but stand aloof election day.
and leave the work of voting the worst 1t is
that in the pamy days OF the Tammany Ring very many
good citizens stayed away from the polls because tho
methods of election noorously corrupt
tered nothing whether they voted not but IL Is
trey say that the respectable citizens OF
New York have all these years lost faith repre-
sentative government On the contrary, they have
demonstrated on each when the proper cand-
dates offered them and fair election guaranteed
that they can do wonders
PROVISION FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
To render reign of the rogues and exercise OF
''one- power' impossible in future Is pro-
posed TO organize a Committee Of Safety which viii
take in moral sense, possession OF tho city
and county governments II win point out to the
ruling powers where this or that thing corrupt
/ extravagant undertaking; il will keep sharp watch
on the conduct of all city and county officials will
take the local nominations made by each party at
election ana, after thorough scrutiny by personal and
impartial investigation, mark out such the pubic
should vote for; and it win do all that in lies to
make thieves government Tor the future in New York
an utter impossbility
ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT
Shortly after the late election gentlemen Of
eminent responsibility met up town and discussed this
project ofa Committee ofSafety Since then they havo
had repeated meetings and the project is in such
form that II will be shortly ready to launch before
the public 1t Will not be secret organization like the
Tammany society and its weekly meetings after
IL becomes fully organized will be open the press In
the first place 1t Will consist of 100 members from
whom will be selected an executive committee of
, twenty-onc whom viii dcvove the practical work
of the organization. No person holding any political
Office of emolument be member None but bona
e tax payers within the city and county New York
can be received Politics and religion to be ignored
4 in considering the qualifications ofmembers No men,
ber will be retained instant who the influence
of the organization to secure political nomination.
OBJECTS OF THE CLUE.
Recognizing that the first essential is to form COM
mttee composed Of those whose only interest in ctv
politics is the placing of honest Office is pro-
posed to name only such for members a. viii AZ tho
! very first mention secure the public confidence The
very highest names in the community will be presented
II will be ono OF the duties, and not the easi important
advance Of a local election the wnames OF
such candidates as each party intend to offer sub
committee will then be appointed to scrutnze the fit
OF each candidate to the office for which he is
named This will be done with strict impartaty, and
If the candidates merits not what the public have
right to expect the organization TO which he belongs
will be notified. IL he be not withdrawn and better
substituted his opponentor should there
or more candidates running for the one Office the best
nominee-w receive the Endorsement the committee.
1t hopes when fully organized to have constituency OF
at least 20 600 votes holdngthe balance ofpower The
members Of what may now be called the nucleus Of tho
forthcoming organization argue that politics have
ceased divide the citizens OF New York. The great
question in national politics-a thing they don't
touch-is hard soft money; in local politics
simply question between honest men and roguea
ARGUMENTS coMsnTTEE.
This being so, they insist that their committee
must command tho confidence Of the people and the
q
burdens, while the times threaten TO be harder aud
harder, reform IN every direction must be popular.
They also present the argument In favor of the
their scheme thai never before in tho whole history
of New York were the mercantile and respectable
classes so alive to the necessity of municipal rcrench
ment Real estate has gone down below zero and
and assessments are eating away the props from
under many fine family home on Fifth and Madison
avenues All this and more they advance 70 demon
strate that committee Of safety, "hoding moral pos
session Of the city government" is Just what the
people ripe to receive
Ii will also be the duty OF the committee 20 see how
the various departments of the city government are
administered. No head Of department who feels
conscious Of his honesty well refuse 70 allow SUBJ
committee appointed from the Society Of Safety 70
examine his books and look into tne conduct OF the
WORK AND QUALITY OF THE COMMITTEE
Tho committee will make an examination OF the
various works going on under the control Of the Depart
ments Of Public Works, Parks and Docks. II viii employ
ne own enrneers and In all respects will take charge
before said ain moral sense Of the city government
The public wall give a willing ear 70 subcommittee on
examination composed Of such men, say, as Cornelius
Vanderbilt Royal Phelps Moses Grinnell A. I.
stewart L r Morton John A. DIX, L. b. Nor
gan aud John Jacob Astor Men Of this
slass are the kind. Il Is hoped, to embrace
In the Committee Of Safety. The work II Is de-
signed Il shall accomplish will not be that which
/ may only ouflve year. II will be permanent club
of the best citizens, and to be a member of IL will be
something feel proud Of y will be founded for all
time ana not Tor the cxpedencies or one more cleo
tons As ''ctcrna vigilance Is the price of lbertyn
A. eternal vigilance Is the only safeguard Of the city
treasury. AZ the appeal 70 the people OF New YORK
wal be ready about week from now, and the mo-
t,xcs and methods Of the organization will then ba
fully sct orth Il not thought worth while TO give the
names here 0 the gentlemen who compose the nucleus
n The committee especially when they do not court
publicity ID INV matter. Anyone however, who takes
~ me directory aud picks out hundred OF the best
known and most irrcproachabo names therein con-
tanod Will come having complete list Of the
members who viii compose the projected Committee Of
safety.