New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-11

CITY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN OPPOSITION 10
TAMMANY HALL, AND FAvonING A REDUCTION
OF CITY SALARIES.
The Anti-Tammany organization calling itself the
City Democracy, held mass meeting at Cooper In
sttute last evening, preparatory to forming Assem-
bly, District organizations. Speeches were made by
Johr B. HaslIin, Chauneey Shafer, Simeon E
Church and j. D. McCielland and resolutions favor
ing the reduction of the salaries of city officials were
adopted.
THE AUDIENCE AND THE SPEECHES.
The large hall of the Cooper Union was
well filed last evening" with the followers OF the James
OBrien, or, prefers to have itself called, the
Brunswick Hotel wing OF the anti-Tammany
party otherwise known as the City Democracy he
audience was made no of fairly Intelligent and or
DERBY body OF worklngnen, with a sprinking of ward
politicians. They running with enthusiasm at
the proper in support Of demands for economy
in city government and when the list Of vice presidents
read. gave loud shout Of pleasure and admiration
at the mere mention Of James OBrien's name. Men
stood and swung their hats one sprang into the aisle
and led in giving three cheers and tiger anu the Dand
played Wearing of the Green" In the mea ntime tle
secretary stood waiting for chance to on with the
reading people the platform smiled at another
Mr.. OErien, however, not present, though his
speech was already printed His presence was not
needed to enthusiastic meeting, and IL has
been Mr.. Oriens policy from the first to keep himself
as much possible in the background. In connection
with the prevalent belief in political circles that Mr.
Tlden is behind these anti-Tammany demonstrations,
his alleged purpose being destroy John Keys power,
50 as to secure the solid NewYOrk Democratic deega-
zion for 1880, 1t IL noteworthy that ex-sherlit
James O'Brien and Ex-Governor Samuel j. Til
den, few days ago, were seen walking up Broadway
together a confidential and fraternal manner.
Among those on the platform John B. Haskn,
.,f..t H. aFfh n finp
shafrer, ex-AIderman Fitzgerald, Vanderbilt Allen,
Washington Hadey c. Edgar Smith. I. J. Barr, Simeon
L. Church, William DemOrest Timothy Shea and A. j.
Ackert A large number OF prominent citizens, who
included in the long list OF vcepresidents were
not present. This list comprised Edward Cooper and
many gentlemen Connected with the Everett Uouse party
John B. Haskin, on taking the chair, greeted with
loud applause. lie said in substance:
FELLow-C ITIZENs: We are here this evening repre-
sent organization Of honest men, started within the
TAXATION The Ctty Government viii he bankrupted
in years unless the people secure through the egs
lature. reduction OF the most Infamous rates OF puDic
salaries known IN the civilized world lAppausel
Hamilton Fish. Jr, offered bill In the Assembly,
which passed the committee, and which provided for
reduction Of 20 per cent Ia the salaries OF city officials
subsequently it went to the committee again, and by
tuting IL the Pdbc Burdens BILL by which we are 10
have relief at all. This Is sham and fraud Jap
power to reduce appropriations for lab0T-and God
knows want more more labor IN New YORK. lap
plauseI They will be empowered TO reduce apprOprla
lions two millions OF dollars buare To De mace 10 90 ~
not now, when We are suffering but IN ls79
cabal existed between public officers to protect them
selves In public plGnder don't want TO say anything
harsh OF Sir Fish Mr. Fish has not only disgraccd MINI
self but the honored name OF his father by attempting
defraud million OF people by TINS tG9Lie burdens
x anf the affairs Of this city conducted on business
principles such prevail IN the great and successful
commercial houses Of this city. We ask and intend
that these exorban salaries shall be brought down TO
gne economical prudent ba You thluk You are liVlng
only maine here In $50 under the old charter the
Mayor was not now mere cipher. IApp!auSel
Your Board OF Aldermen doesn't amount TO anything,
except 10 pass ordinances and draw ~ 900 sala
ries Applause And your Mayor is nobody. AppIascl
This control the Old Ring Board Of Apportionment Is
IAppaliscl You must nave able, honorable men in
office. You have city charter, giving back
the people the right OF democratic government lap
plduse
Resolutions filed with words OF learned length and
laundering sound" were read by Robert B. Mooney.
The audience agape with wonder, listened to the rich
flow of metaphor, in which were mingled hydra
headed coalition" political ogarchs," and other
stock phrases and faithfully applauded whenever the
reader paused to regain his breath The resolutions de-
clarcd that the Public Burdens Bil recently passed in
the Assembly, sham measure OF reform that
new city charter was iaySred or similar 10
all unfinished public works was desired, ineiud
Ing all the elevated railroads in the country: that
maTded. and that the enormous debt should be reduced
at once TO three millions finally, that each
S59 p1 2a gn member of the CITY pemoacy
deem the Metropolis from misruc aud bad GOVERNMENT
Chauncey Shaiter was then introduced and said in
part:
FFLIowCIrIZEys and FELLow-sUTFERERs: feel rather
strange speaking here to night for really mud myself
at "A strange place and in strange business thought
Tammany Hall in the old times. 1 am Op-
No one need tell me there any necessity for taxes
which II not reduced Will make NeT, IN time sand
bank for monsters to iatten on. AppauseI There Is
something wrong all through down and up and criss-
cross. lLaughterl can remember when pubic men
guarded the public money for the people, and
were expressed In deeds not words Another man. also
for better things, stepped IN when Tweed stepped
out. John Kelly made good Sheriff. When ne hung
man, he did It like q gentleman Laughter. lie
assumes to control this city-a noble am0ltlOn-
aughter goes at It the wrong way because he at
tempts carry the same plan that Tweed tried
and met with gnOnmiuusflilure. IL Mr. Kelly were TO
make the effort to-day disengage himself from those
who surround him. he would lose his power at the next
election Applause and hissesl His fate depends
on his followers. They must ali hang together
some Of them will hang separately lLaughter.l
While professional men, teachers, clerks are living on
half larry these city magnates, hed with rum and
rOastbeef, do not come down one jOt BY aud by the
PARTY distinctions as did the pillars Of the tenn
pie, burying in the ruins these men who have been
Tecreant 10 their trusts.
Simeon E. Church then gave speech crammed with
statistics. The real estate owners he said, had paid
during the last four years S1OOO000O0 into the City
Treasury and yet this the class which city officials
thought paid assa by this oppression real estate
had been depressed TO less than half its former value
Loud calls were made FOR Mr.. OBren but IN his stead
appeared j. d. McCeland. He gave the old figures, the
old appeals to the working men, and developed the we'll
instances OF restitution as a repI0aeh To the pam
pered sinecures OF the City Government
John b. Haskn, in dismissng the meeting, called upon
supporters the movement 10 elect next Wednes
day. Assembly District Committees who would be- dele
gates To the General Committee OF the City Democracy
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