New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-29
THE WORK OF THE ALDERMEN.
REQUESTING MR. LOWELDS RECALL.

IN FAVOR OF GIVING THE CITY LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENT.
Atthe meeting of the Board of Aldermen yesterday
the following preamble and resolutions were offered
by Alderman Martin:
Whereas. The pusillanmous conduct OF Minister James
Russell Lowell at Court OF StJamessi treating with
Earl Granville regarding the arrest without Wairat ana
imprisonment without trial. Of American cllzens Is SO
utterly nexcusabc and directly IA violation OF the
National sentiment respecting the the right, rights
shin that ii calls blush OF shame and Indignation TO
the cheeks OF every lover of this republic; and
Whereas, The gallant conduct OF the reprcSentaiv u
the United States in the harbOr of Smyrna on the ~,
mem9Ia6e occasion OF me ed CommaHd ne
ham, of the United States sloopof-war 81 LOUIS Is YET
fresh in the IONS OF n.y. ol our peodPg mu he
brave graham, clearly proved that me- prompt shI ue
csve action struck responsive chord III inc hear OF
whereas, The action Of lowell in dealing with Eng;
land and ingraham, in dealing with Austria in parallel
cases. is in such marked ana painful contrast that r-
sation of indignation and modification peryadcs the
Voices the wishes and feelings OF the people OF this city
when it asks their BEHALF that the President Of the
In his place q citizen of this Republic who will properly
represent the American people u the Engnsn oora
Of free people 10 keep at any Of the monarcca courts
P.s9rrS That Chester A. Arthur. President Of the
United States and is hereby in the most earnest yet
respectful manner requested to recall Minister Lowell
from the British Court and replace him by American
citizen who will TO 1t that the English Government
will not dare to outrage American nationality and who
will also see TO it that when directed BY the President
American law which provides that whenever
las !" heen nniSy deprived Of his liberty, it shall
he The duty ofhe President demand the reasons of
such imprisonment and if il appear to he wrongful and
in violation of American citizenship, the President shall
forthwith demand the release OF sIie clHen snail DC
Pesolrcd That duly authenticated copy of the fore.
going preamble and resolution be transmitted by me
clerk OF Common Council to the President OF the
United States.
The resolutions were adopted without discussion,
the only votes against them being those OF Aldermen
Mclean and Halves.
Mr.. Roosevelt offered a resolution recommending
that protest he made against the creation OF COM
missOners by the Legislators at Albany VINO are not
acquainted with the needs OF the city, and who are
not directly interested in its welfare; also that
protest be made against the appointment oil non
residents to offices of "power honor ana etno .so
ment y of purely local character who come to the
city with no intention of making 1t their nome;
The preamble further stated that the worst form OF
commission was that which Is called non-partlsan
and which, beng equally divided between the two
political parties first attends to DIVISION OF
office on purely partisan basis. The worst form OF
commission was that OF two commissioners ana all
LEGISLATION for the creation OF such commissions
should he denounced and the demand made that
commissions should be single headed. Furthermore;
as the greatest evils in the city government had
arisen from refusal TO give 1T local seli-g0yern-
ment the changes made in the charter by the pres
ent Legislature should he IN the direction OF giving
the people more control over their own affairs. 1t
was also recommended that copy OF the protest De
sent to each representative at Albany from tins
Alderman Kirk spoke in favor Of laying the reso-
linton on the table The city representatives, he
said were able to look after its interests Alder
man Martin said that tue 6G rs
marked that Commissioner Coleman was not cltl-
zen of New. York. and that men from New-Jersey
and Long Island filled all OF the prominent posi-
tons in the Street Cleaning Department Mayor
Grace he said. claimed to be in favor OF n0n-partl-
san government. but as fact he made more use Oh
his power for political purposes than any man he
Alderman MGtl2yo % hlyG 6rGn gOIi0n w in Vic
int of he Democracy.
lnssnESs :. U.s.: ga thet Us reeeln
were ao' ciiasn III G6aaSaIfaeT JSjS6SS i55
New Jeysey man,, inc continued waywly, = he ought
to leave. There is another man know OF who
receives q salary of $500, but lives IN New
jersey lie brings his dinner with him every day
in tin pail and spends no money here except Tor
beer"
Alderman McClayr asked what the result Of sin
pIe-bradcd commissions had been in political
sense; for example, in the ree,Cleanlng Depart
ment and the Department OF Pubic works.
"The streets have never been so well cleaned as
now said Mr.. Roosevelt
"Bnt Won must admit that twice as much money
is expended as ever before" said Alderman fltZ-
patrick.
Mr. Roosevelt said that there was no department
used so littl1 for political purposes as the Street
Cleaning Department, and that he was assured that
no removals had been made from partisan motives
al desire TO say something right here" said Mr..
McClavc, bristling up. " To my own knowledge
know that whoever has said that said what Is
so do l." said Mr.. Fitzpatrick
me too exclaimed Mr.. Kirk.
The resolution was laid on the table
A report of the Committee on Law III favor OF the
adOptOn of three amendments 10 the city ordinances
WAS called up By Mr.. Roosevelt. The amendments
had reference to Instructions on sdwalks The first
provided thai no goods, wares or other things
should be placed in front of any building III broad
wav Fift6-aye or FOurteenth-st. between Broad
way and Sixth-ave. In the second il was provided
that no show cases stands should be permitted on
the sidewalks OF these streets The penalty Tor
Violation OF these ordinances TO be 80 for each
offence. The third amendment was 10 prohibit
street vendors from trailicklng on these streets.
ali buildings hereafter erected III Broadway,
below Fifty-ninth-st.. should be built on the
street line, and that 10 rights on the
stoop line should be given. The amendment
WAS lost by a large vote. Mr. Roosevelt was
nettlcd by the result and declared that the amend
ments proposed by the Committee on Law were
Gmnly farces. There was no way TO enforce them.
Each amendment WIS defeated Iii turn.