The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-08
Meeting Of Prominent Citizens at
Chickering Hall.
The Proposed Constitutional
Amendment.
Secretary Evarts on Local Self
Government.
THE OMNIBUS BILL INDoRsED.

purpose
lake prompt measures 10 insure the passage, at this
session. OF the proper resolutions for incorporating tho
proposed amendments recommended by the municipal
commission INTO the constitution, and also TO
he pending measures for city reform before the
Legislature.
Among those present Secretary Evarts, Messrs.
l. 7. Morton, Thurlow Weed, John Jay, Peter Cooper,
Jackson s. Schultz, H. Bergh. E. v. Stout, $. d.
noulton. William A. Booth, Joseph Scgman, John II.
iherwood, Ethan Allen, Rush G. Hawkins william II.
Macy, Robert l. Stuart, William II. Leo. George B.
Butler, George G. McGann, Roswell D. Hitchcock aud
oorman B. Eaton.
Mr.. Rush G. Hawkins called the meeting TO order,
and Mr.. W. A. Booth nominated as chairman
The CHAIRMAN said that he had Intended to make .
lew remarks the question before the meeting, but
there several speakers to follow him he should
refrain from any further address than that Of simply
calling upon Mr.. Hawkins TO read the resolutions
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas the great issues In reference TO which parties
Sus ou and % Of .n and ss
a.Es SO called great mass q de-
conducted principles and ali according
-. the rnsus Of ady as ana .
Ind in q: ss S wa Il Nell 20
trsther than those who. sharing all the
nc:nms a X; .aoad hays para
ne use 70 BE- made Of the always howsvsr leaving
RS every other particular IN when the same re-
' orS % sy S .r
York in all the evils Of crushing deot and vicious and
ssws and parsusni 10 Joint resolution o the Legislature
% % Ms
eported-an improved method In city government to be
hose pay viii have their just influence
nss DO
party property respectfully calls the Legislature
= take such prompt ~ w insure the q
proposed into thsconstituon And in visw Of
and ING s sHs q, q ms ms
ss from hs IN snS R q.
and We assur. them that our convection that
state long as such remedy shall not be providsd for
ea members Of the
Lgsurs unswervsd BY partisan solicitation avori.e
this city Il now in isnsnsas adequate ssnd ii not put
y e g 'S
FEES to reduce salaries. whether large small just
oeers who .S. neglect the ely
s'.a sy sps
needless number ''s 81 ossrs and 's s%poyts %
Be
and Indignant community Of burden. under which business
becoming diseoar.xsG many wo%sS without
property can hnd no supplement- And where's cur IN.
sds..: behalf q shs yIsx.ng sios
TO appoint COMMITTEES Of fifteen with power IN the com.
snssss increase IS number to whose duty q
:apposs pending before the
said and the constitution ana that they are
also 70 sa turtle. public mssnss and raise
among the people concerning the merits and
A LRrrEK PROM COMPTROLLER KELLY
Mr.. Smith read the following letter, which he said
had been received IRON Comptroller Kelly
FINANCE DEPARTMENT. J
CoxPTEoLLkR's OFFICE,
CRY or new YORK Aprii 9 1877 ,
s H.w IL ,ie OF
DEAR sla- have considered the proprety Of accepting
q the public meeting to be held under the susp
views the objects Oft meeting and
that occasion Do nor Of, wish 50 be mlsndsrs.ooa
s hs New ~ IN ss"
Of reform and retreachnens in the homogeneous Of
This Is general classification which, suppose includes
Be numbered As good citizens We ali desire genuine re-
form IN the OF public affairs tor the pubic in
the best way TO attain IT,
purpose Of the distinguished and influential gentle
n-n who have signed the eal to the proposed public meet
with these gentlemen In the urgent need of municipal
debt and taxation from which it now suffers so severely
s.rs Ss aa msd"s
Not one Of them can be disposed to go further or will
than will promote genuine practical reform. by thor
on u reorganiiation Of our municipal which
will responsible and honest management pub
Two distinct objects are proposed in the call for tho public
l. the purpose of giving expression such as
The Legislature who are using their influence in the interest
FOR TUE anes puposa OF urging the passage Of the
III fully s arp Of the frs, object in 50 far as i
government In our city upon hrm and stable basis
against pernicious laws aud perpetual charter
pubic officers against exlraysesns and aamin
iraton it'll this general object in view am IN hearty
sii.usionai amendments which should be adopted are
SrinS TO lie discussion OF them an nIescnt compr.hen
sion q the true principles OF municipal government and
/ must dissent however, with some qualification
Of meeting of urging the passage Of the several
general IN J., scope and bearing and much
sppo ss pending the Ss
Ink in the Legislature are not genuine reform acts III
sss some financial measures which have consulted
ssss s srssoS s % ws
have perncious in their effects fraud and
. regulate al sspead,ares and ey
goysnmsnt TO reduce taxation and city debt There are
sss% which Fave not e BEEN sonsSlssd
DO not. IN my Judgment. promote tho public inter
ssts, but win operate injuriuusy.
do not wish Identity myself with amovcm mt which
may. through misdecton or misrepresentation. give
affairs. Which, IN The maine OF reform may sanction jus.
ty schemes interest and political intrigue aud
which, In fact only perpetuaton and repetition OF tho
medding legislation NJ Albany upon loc affairs. de-
reform advocates the and
Ill municipal and misfortuncs. aud
which they propose by the adoption OF tho pro-
posed constitutional arr ndinents.
think TOR example that the provision which reorgazes
She oard Of the sinking Fund unwo
innovation which IS wholly uncaled Tor No complaint Is
made against the Board constituted since the
tion OF the sinking fund its trusts nave been held sacred
and they have been administered with the scrupnlous
yegard to the public welfare BY the highest officers oil the
sity government. OF whom been held In public
sstcem eminent among citizens The aitnni
discharge OF the duties and exercise Of the Vt the
sinking Fund Commission depend upon the character Its
members II the highest officers vi tho city
cannot any longer be coned Ia tor the discharge these
in which the the city deeply and
decassy concerned then MI confidence In public nmthor
sizes had better be adandncd aud other VI
management Of public affairs be adopted.
There are Also great practical objections to
which introduces aud disturbing elements into the
VI the trusts and the duties
confined 70 the Sinsing Fund Commissioners No mnn