The New York herald., 1879-02-12
THE ALDERMEN.
WHAT THE CITY FATHERS DID YESTERDAY
RAPID TRANSIT WANTED BY THE ANNEXED
DISTRICT - THE f-o~rpAcT sysTFM DE-

WHAT THE CITY FATHERS DID YESTERDAY
RAPID TRANSIT WANTED BY THE ANNEXED
DISTRICT - THE CONTRACT SYSTEM De-
NouNcED-vEToEs BY THE MAYOR.
The usual throng of persons present at the
regular weekly meeting OF the Board of Aldermen
yesterday. At the beginning of the session only
fifteen members were present but toward the end
OF the meeting all the Aldermen. except Mr.. SEWN,
who is i'll at his residence. put in appearance.
President Jordan L. Mott occupied the chair. The
session Of yesterday the longest that has yet
been held by the present Common Council, lasting
from two o'clock until five P. NJ.
The first business brought before the Board was q
petition signed by residents of West Farms and by
property owners of the Twenty third and Twenty
fourth wards. which was presented by Alderman
Robert Hail. The petition rectes that valuable fran
chises have been granted to the elevated railroad
companies for which they have not yet made any
adequate return to the residents of the upper dis
trict. The persons owning property in the annexed
territory were taxed the same amount those living
In the lower part of this city aud in the opinion of
the signers of the petition the managers and drec
tors of the elevated reads should complete their
structures soon possible The matter
ferred to the Committee on Railroads.
By DAYS WORK OR BY CONTRACT
Alderman Shells created sensation among his
colleagues by offering measure providing that all
work in charge OF departments and bureaus OF the
city government shall be done by days work. and
that the contract system be abolished The resolr-
ton Of Mr.. Shells was short one. and listened
to with marked attention. especially by the republ-
and anti -Tammany City Fathers At the conclu-
sion of the reading Alderman Morris moved that the
matter be referred to the Committee Public Works
sharp debate then took place. Mr.. Shells said he
hoped the resolution which he had offered would
be adopted. Nothing whatever would be
gained by laying the matter over or by
referring its consideration to any committee of the
Board. large proportion of tho work done for the
city was ut present done by day Is work, and there
no reason why all Of it should not be completed
in the same manner. 1t had been said by some of
his republican colleagues that the Common Council
had no power whatever to pass such measure he
had introduced This was not so. The Board of
Aldermen alone possessed the authority to designate
in what manner tile work of the city should be per-
formed. This view of the question had been upheld
time and time again by competent authority, and
was. no doubt, true construction OF the
law. It all very well for people to talk
about the cheapness OF contract work. but ne (Mr.
Sheils would say this much-that il it
cheaper and more economical for tho city to
have its work done by the contract system it would
be much better done if performed by days work. In
support OF the assertions made by him Mr. Shells
ferred to the falling Of the Fortysecond street arch
relation to work being done on Morningside Park.
The Alderman then spoke for some minutes about
the methods employed by contractors.
Alderman Stewart wanted to know who it that
inaugurated the contract system, but before the
question could be answered Alderman Robert Hall
sprang to his feet and asked whether in speaking
about the laborers wages Mr.. Shells intended to
make any insinuaon in relation to his course in the
Board Alderman Shells disclaimed any intention
OF rejecting in any manner upon the motives which
induced his colleagueto to introduce his resolutions OF
last week.
hx-V,1a hal with 1;y,v
countenances by those in the chamber and at its
conclusion Alderman Burns made eloquent and
sarcastic speech on the merits of Mr.. Shells
luton. The Alderman began his remarks by
pressing sorrow for the workiugman and went
Councils on this subject OF laborers' wages He de-
Tended his party the republican, and conended that
its members had no hand in making it necessary to
have city work done by contract II anybody said
that the republicans had anything whatever to do
with bringing in the contract system they stated
what was not true. and he could prove 1t by facts
which could not be gainsaid
After some further remarks of the same character
the Alderman sat down amid some applause few
which Alderman Shells resolution was adopted by
THE CORPORATION ORDINANCES.
A resolution introduced by Alderman Morris.
and passed. which provides that the Board of Police
Commissioners 'be requested to direct all police off,
GERS post duty, before making complaints at the
station house for violations OF the Corporation or
and ice, to notify such offender verbally to
the Of complaint and If the said violation is
moved within twenty -four hours time then com
| plant shall be made but not more than one such
| notice shall be given for any offence"
| The same Alderman also submitted resolution
which recited that "in order to indicate nearly
possible the location of every fire alarm telegraph
box in the city that the glass the top of every
street lamp located on the street corner and
the lamp in the street every such
box, be colored red; and that the Commissioner of
Public Works be directed to carry into effect the pro-
visions OF this resolution. This measure laid
over, was also resolution of Mr.. Morris, direct
| ing the Gas Commission. which consists OF the
Mayor, the Comptroller and the Commissioner of
Public Works, to test the prscticability of having
the electric light used in the Streets avenues, parks
and public places in this city.
4 resolution providing for ceding to the United
States government triangular piece of land at the
Battery. which was introduced by Alderman Burns.
referred to the Committee on Salaries and Offices.
Alderman Sauer moved that the Department of
Docks be directed to have reports of their meetings
published twenty four hours after they held.
The motion was carried
vEroEs FROM MAYOR COOPER.
Twelve veto messages from the Mayor we're handed
to President Mott. Nearly all of them related to per-
missions granted for the erection of meat racks and
BARRIERS poles and were all laid over. Two vetoes
of His Honor, which were sent i'll some time since,
overrdden and the resolutions which author-
lied the putting up Of meat rack and sign and
sign post were passed. The Mayor vetoed the rcso-
luton which provided that persons accused of vio-
lating Corporation ordinances should be brought to
the court i'll the district in which they reside or do
The special committee appointed to investigate the
charges made against Albert Osborne the sergeant
alarms of the Board presented report In which
they state that the charges have no foundation in
fact The report was ordered to be printed.
Tho Committee on Ferries and Docks reported in
favor of having all buildings erected piers along
tho water front constructed of hreproof material.
Tho Committee on Streets presented report which
recommended that the street the north side of the
Post Office be designated u mail street. These re-
ports were all lad over.
Before the adjournment OF tho Board Alderman
Strack said that q meeting of the committee having
in charge the investigation OF the charges made in
to the inspectors of weights and
would be held ut tho City Hall Saturday next at
twelve O'Clock noon Tho Board adjourned to meet
OIL Tuesday next ut two =. NJ.
HOW THE FIRES WERE MANAGED.