New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-04
THE CITY CLUBS WORK.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AT THE AN
NUAL MEETING.
EFFORTS OF TIE CLUB IN THE CAUSE OF RE
FORM-sPECIAL MEETINGS HELD DURING


FoRM-srEC1AL MEETINGS HELD DURING
THE Wharf.-The rREAsURER's REPORT.
The annual meeting Of the City club was held
last night at the clubhouse, no. ca fHth-aVe'
James G. Carter. president. called tn meeting TO
order Frederick Bronson treasurer. reported as
follows: Recelpts-lnitaton fees. $500; dues So
s2s g. as against 5l.G7 q last year, and special
fund. $685.. as against $lG935 last year
Payments Sccrctarys Office, SIZES as compared
with 1926 last year; loans to Good Government
clubs $5e9 and total cost Of manag cement, S2ss7S.
as against 2>.io last year; credit TO House COM
mttee Si2 0OJ as against loss last year
He also reported that he had signed a lease OF
the clubhouse for another year at the same rent.
The question of a new clubhouse did not therefore,
come up FOR discussion
The valuable work performed by the City Cluo
in the cause of good government for ;his city dur
Ing the last year IS indicated by the report which
James ". Pryor. the Gibbs secretary read at the
meeting last evening. There are given full de-
tails OF the action of the club during the CAM
pa gn OF last fall. when the club united with the
Committee OF Seventy and other reform orgahza-
tons in support OF the non partisan munlclpal
ticket and of the later action of the CLUB IN sup
port of non-partlsan methods, both at the mass
meetings in Cooper Union and in the circulation OF
literature on the subject The establishing Of new
Good Government clubs has been an important
part of the work Of the City Club during the last
year. and has been conducted with marked success.
The number Of clubs has increased from SIN III
March. 1904. TO twenty-four in March. 1888
OF the literature circulated by the City Club dur-
ing the year. one Of the most useful is the circular
setting forth the operations of the Good Govern
ment clubs These have been used in large num-
bcrs in the formation of new clubs About IV'V"
copies in English have been circulated ana ABOUT
bC9o in German
Other documents circulated were: "A Plain
Statement Of the Election Law 5000; circular
headed Don't Cheat" - 0co; special edition of the
Police Departments compilation OF the ElecUoh
Laws 300; circulars advocating the seven consul
tutional amendments particularly favorable TO re-
form in municipal matters, No. to .. about 'so"';
No : II 900: Ne. s. 10000; total number Of docu-
rnents distributed 11&5Ot. The circulars relating
10 snecaI constitutional amendments were sent
throughout the State. but most Of them were used
in this city.
In the spring of 1894 the attention Of the club was
called 10 the deliberate intentions Of the Park Com
,oissioners TO violate the law relating to the new
soee lwav along the Harlem River The law re-
ouired that sidewalk at least ten feet WIDE shoui
extend along each side Of the speedway thiOuEfoI'
its length The Commissioners had made contracts
providing for the building Of only one sidewalk along
parts OF the speedway. The municipa government
committees subcommittee on the Department Of
Public Works took up this matter ana the heces-
sary suit for injunction was brought by MEMBER
of the club as taxpayer. The Commissioners hau
defence,
of the speedway were amended so as 10 comply with
the law The Commissioners had procured the in
PRODUCTION in the legislature OF a bill designed 10
lesalize their illegal acts but the character OF the
bill was exposed and it failed TO pass
The subject of ballot reform has received careful
attention in the Legislation Committee. Inc COM
mittee has given unqualified support to the form or
blanket ballot known the Massachusetts, ballot IN
which the names of the candidates fer eacn once
are arranged alphabetically under the ute OF 'he
office The Good Government clubs have taken
similar action and have circulated an address upon
the subject \ bill has been introduced in the Leg
.slature embodyng the results of careful STUDY ana
The club has he'd a number OF important special
meetings during the last year on hpri i,isc, ~ ~
election frauds the principal speakers were {. NJ.
Van San;voorr. Of Troy, VINO gave viva ana I'M
had been prostituted in that city, and John W.
Gon The meeting was ATTENDED Dy "a oeltsd p siGi
OF fifteen members OF the Troy commute 81 IL, iuD
lie Safety. october %, 1884,. meeting was held 10
T nrl lh5 one a Zoyeber q jss meeting OF
the club was held to consider resolutions which
limiting and defining the efforts of the club so that
these efforts should be made more effective on
cessful antl-Tammany candidates to which the
Committee Of Seventy and officers OF Good Govern
ana the candidates ma<e informal adqre5se - OI
January 26 1872 special meeting was neg 10 con
ing was addressed by Admiral Erben. NiIlam NJ
The possibility of making the work Of the club
continuously effective, in connection with that OF
the Good Government clubs. depends largely on the
existence OF sufficient political fund. since the
election in last November the political fund Of ne
club. from which eli the expenses OF the
clubs work has been in such condition that II has
been necessary TO limit expenditure in all branches
OF The work. often with the result Of losing the
benefit which had already been done.
Tho secretary finds that the number OF persons
and of subjects requiring attention in the Office OF
the club constantly Increases. and indicates the
necessity for a large and well-equipped business
machine. II the club is the influence which
81 ought have factor in the struggle for good
municipal government both here and in other cities
Any satisfactory solution Of the financial problem
Icust include the Good Government clubs. and must
contemplate the strengthening of the system as a
whole
The subject OF permanent headquarters foc the
Club has received attention at the hands OF the
trustees and has been discussed At the meetings of
the board. but without definite result The lease Of
fhe present clubhouse has been renewed for year
from Nav 1885. Al the end Of that time probably
sooner tie club must decide upon some policy as 10
a home.