The New York herald., 1877-01-21
MUNICIPAL REFORM.

THE CONFERENCE BL-wEES rEoMrNESr crrI-
zESs AND XEssRs. ELY AND KErLY--wHAr
THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE TO SAT.
With the view OF giving the city improved gov
ernment ami efficient servants At reduced cost tho
Municipal Society las for several weeks past been
holding conferences with The heads Of various depart
mentS The Suggestions OF the society were cordially
received by the officials Of both parties, and IL was
suggested few days ago that confer
ence OF similar character should bo
held with the newly Installed Mayor and
Comptroller. This was decided upon alter tho dinner
to Mayor wickhaln, at which many members Of The
Society were present Prominent members OF both
political parties made speeches tha, occasion prais
ing the official conduct OF Mr. wckham. ana the utmost
good feeling prevailed. The opinion was expressed
that Mr.. Ely and Mr. Kelly would administer the
municipal government in the interest OF the taxpayers
and suggested that conference should be held
with them The officials gladly asscnted to the propo-
sition, and in pursuance OF IL the following call has
boen Issued
Dsas s'mrhs committee named eso. o, whsh yon % Are
the Mayors Office ON Tuesday 23d inst quarter past
party purpose express felt by the commit
tee n The Of this city. aud TO tender 80 .hse
ss,s: .. their official wAa .f fS %
William Cullen BRYANT, John jay Howard Potter lIer.ss
.ae Jain stswss ss1iis Thsoders
fkc Sinclair roses John H. Hail. Frederick D. Tappcn,
o@s,endSrfI'T Que I 4 oss.r@an samuel S"Sssss; john J.
Joseph seisman. joan ii. Sherwood. William H. Appleton,
T. Van vokenhurgh. B. @, Arnold Henry spaulding.
R Whitney, Gscrss D. n gillespie. Seth b. Hunt. 7. s.
Winston aud Charles $. smith.
THE CONVENIENCE
When the gentlemen shall have assembled IL is un.
derstood the Mayor will call tho meeting to order
ana invite the gentlemen to mako such suggestions
they may deem advisable. Addresses will then be
made by William Cullen Bryant and Messrs Schultz,
Booth, Jay, Cisco, Babcock, Spaulding and Tousey.
These speeches Will necessarily be short and will
force tho necessity Tor reduction OF the force
poycd by the city reduction Of salaries the closest
scrutiny Of all bills to be paid from the city treasury
AMI, in short, the general management Of municipal
affairs with as much care and economy as the business
oil private individual Is usually conducted
Mayor Ely will then, 1t Is understood, point
suggestions as to what should be done TO remedy
the existing evils. No doubt his suggestions will be
invaluable for the guidance OF the committee II II is
Their intention to frame suitable reform bills for
transmission to the State Legislature. Mr.. Ely has
made special study OF our metropolitan system of
government in all its details, and hts opinons will
doubtless have great weight in The dslibera.'oIs.
MAYOR ELY'S VIEWS.
In interview with HERALD representative
yesterday ho remarked that he did rot feel
which win probabiy come up for discussion at
Tuesdays gathering, considering It out OF place
for him to forecast what might be the line Of
argument used or what remedies recommend to
reove the people 10 view OF the present 'chaoc
dtion" OF our municipal departments. The Mayor,
great necessity exists for simplifying the city
government. He favors distribution of powers
among the different departments and believes In cut.
ting down the lumber OF Commissioners. He cannot
see why head would not suit In some OF the de-
partmsnts as well as three or four Mr. Ely Is also
wide awake to the need OF immediate reduction OF
the cy's employees. Ho thinks that the city might
be able to get on with onehaf tho number that at
Comptroller Kelly, It is understood, will also attend
and VIII doubtless suggest some useful measures by
which tho taxpayers can be partially relieved from
WHAT THE COMMITTEE WILL SAY
Several OF the gentlemen invited TO attend the con-
ference were visited yesterday by reporters oi the
HERALD for the purpose OF learning what they will
suggest to tho Mayor and tie Comptroller. Tho re.
suits OF the interviews are appended.
MIR. Sinclair Tousey expressed his conviction that
much good would result from tho meeting. He said
the purpose OF the meeting nc understood it Is to
consult with the Mayor and Comptroller as to tho
general state OF municipal affairs and 10 give those
officials such encouragement as they may perhaps
stand need oi entering upon their new duties.
The COMMITTEES, Mr. Tousey remarked, was made up
Of men from both political parties order that the
had been called for and would be held in What
might be called municipal spirit-such spirit as had
man, the society thought had done well he could
and much better than many OF his predecessors, aud
II was thought good thing to say SO publicly for tho
sake OF the encct II would have upon those who
should succeed him.
Mr.. Frederick u. Tappen said he did not know the
object OF tho meeting, but supposed IT was TO con-
sder tho financial conuition OF the CITY, "Unless
restriction, SAID he. as placed upon the people who
arc running us into debt aon't see whcrc Tie devil
we arc gong! My idea has always bocn that there
should be some limit to the CITY debt based upon the
assessed vaIie Of our property Il IS now pns up at
alarming rate Certainly no harm can come or th:s
conference aud much go3d may arse from II.
Mr.. Oswald OucndorIcr had signed the call for tho
encourage the mayor aud the Comptroller, and TO
sure them OF the support Of the citizens ~ any reforms
they may make IN the best interests OF the city Are
ducton OF expenses would probably DO thc topic
Of discussion, though many other questions might
crop up ''You know" added Mr. Ottcndorfer. .'that
| have not OF late been personal friend OF Mr. Kelly
but hc is IN position and, Notwithstanding what
has passed, consider It my duty to support him rs
municipal officer SO long as he exer!s his influence
in the true interests OF the city,"
''vARIoUs VIEWS"
Mr.. jackson s. Schultz says he has views upon mu-
ncipal reform; various views In fact, but IL Is not
all probable that ne Will vcntlaio them at tho coming
conference TO quote Mr. schnltz:--"I VIII be there as
a listener; not as a suggestor"
MIR. Charles b. Smith says he has special plan to
submit to tho consideration OF the meeting He IS in
consideration and his best information OF the subject
is that nothing OF the kind is contemplated. move
mcnt may probably grow out OF the meeting; but IL
city government will be laid before the Mayor.
Mr.. scth b. Hunt SAID ho believed the OBJECT to
do all that was possible to Improve the city govern
mcnt and to take measures to secure reduction or
taxes. Mayor Ely, he understood, had invited
equal number OF democrats aud republicans
his support in carrying out what may to be the
best policy IN that direction. He had no sugges-
tions to oncr, but Intended to be present
tho meeting. The trouble with our city government
Mr. HUT thought commenced when the Legislators Mt
Albany began meddllpg too much With Its AFFAIRS. He
believed IN property qualification to The right OF
voting for those who levy taxes Out Of every twenty
voters there not more than five who paid taxes,
aud the remaining fifteen had voice IN keeping
them up high lab0ring ander tho idea that II creates
a lively circulation OF money, and hoping they may
get hold Of some OF u whiie II is III motion. Sensible
men knew that such course was an injurious one
and the bound 10 follow must tell most tho
very who vote tor and support the canse OF their
troubles.
Mr.. j. j. Cisco said II would be time enough TO dis
cuss the business OF the conference when that body
met. informed tho reporter that he would not DO
interviewed on the subject.
Mr. George v. Lane said that he had not given tho
matter much attention He did not know the precise
object CT the meeting or what questions would be
brought up for consideration he could not say that
he had any particular project Of municipal rcorm and
tnt what m In ctlno