The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-10

Junsketing i'm Boston

| SOME REMARKABLE RESOLUTIONS. WHICH THE
MASSACHUSETTS STATE TEMPERANCE ALLY
AScE IS CONSIDERING. l,,,., =
At the monthly meeting OF the Executive
Board OF the State Temperance Alliance in
Boston, on Thursday, Rev. Mr.. Vibbert Of
fered the following, which he said were not
written by himself. They were referred to
! committee: ;E..s gs5t..t .sH
Whereas an Incorporate, unlimited, ire
sponsible, and secret practice OF eating,
drinking, and smoking, and riding about
in carriages, commonly called the jlnket-
ing system, prevails among the Aldermen
and Council OF Boston, Involving the ex-
penditure OF from S25,00O to $4,000 year
or more, whose details are not published.
whose recipients are not known, and of
which the records are by the City Auditor
refused to be shown to the citizens !; whereas
such system is powerful mechanism Tor
corrupting new members as they enter
either board OF our City Council, or for
driving out or keeping out such as are too
strong to be corrupted, and also for breeding,
introducing, and maintaining other kinds
of corruption and debasement; whereas, in
manner harmoniZing with this system,
the Mayor Of Boston has been authorized by
the City Council to eXpend large sums OF
money at his discretion to entertain presi-
dents, India-rubber merchants, and other
strangers, and defends and practices the
furnishing of wines and other Intoxicating
drinks Mt the expense Of the city in such
entertainments; whereas, by way OF SAM
pie OF the operation OF the junketing sys-
TEN, at the recent excursion OF the City
Council 10 view the lands proposed for the
new city park so much liquor was con-
sumed, in all or in part at the expense OF
the city, as to put many members OF the city
government into q state OF intoxication
whereas rumo.s are increasingly current
that even grosser abuses than these,
amounting to false entries OF names and
actual peculation, are practiced in the mat
ter of both meals. and liquors.; whereas the
so-callcd junketing system is naturally
principal support and propagation Of such
indulgences and abuses as the above, as
we'll as Of all those corrupting and debasing
influences which always beset every large
city government, and which are liable at any
time to develop into "ring," after the
fashion of the Tweed ring in New York:
also, whereas complete clearness and pub
llcity Of every detail Of expenditure are in
dspensabIe requisites Of public economy
and honesty; whereas republican govern
ment ought always to avoid even o harm
less indulgence that Is likely to become Of
bad example, and to err rather on the side
OF sobriety and self-denial than on that OF
indulgence and luxury; whereas all public
services ought to, be- paid for by q proper
compensation, to be precisely fixed by law;
whereas the present city government OF
Boston has begun process OF retrench-
ment and reform; and whereas the tenn
perance reform is naturally allied to all
other reforms, - ,..r
ReSotced, That this Alliance congratulates
the citizens of Boston upon the positive
committal OF its Government to the princi-
pie and practice OF administrative retrench-
ment and reform. -.5..:.,.,T ..~.t .,@s5-
Resolved, That the adjustment OF their
own emoluments from the city, whether III
money or in liquor, food and tobacco, by
its aldermen and councilmen, is eminently
necessary first, in order to render the pro-
cess OF retrenchment and reform just and
consistent; and, second, on their own ac-
count, in order tnat they may not be left in
a false position before the public, as cutting
down other peoples pay while retaining for
themselves compensation suspicious in its
nature, unknown in each mans amount,
and concealed from public scrutiny. ..gri
= Resolved, That the immediate abolish
ment of the junketing system and the sub
stitution therefor OF a fixed annual payment
to the counciimen and aldermen OF Boston
is an easy. obvious, and useful means OF
reform, and urgently needed in that, city;
that it would instantly strike from the
Auditors annual reports the discreditable
items OF refreshments and "cigars,"
and that it would probably soon relieve
conscientious total abstainers from paying
for, and the city Of Boston from furnishing
to anybody, anything That he can get drunk
on. - 4 isrs.E;E -. sl.ts> %fi,it.stt ~ s;tis