Year: 1873

Is There q Nigger i'm the Fcnce.-Actfon
Of the BOARD OF Aldermen Ycsterday-
The Legal Limo OF Koch as Against
the Legislatures Acts.


There seems to be . great deal Of difference of
opinion among the politicians just now as to
whether the city ought to have new city prison
or not Ever since the proposed site for the new
building has been decided upon by the Commits
sioners authorized by the Legislature to act in the
matter, there has been considerable talk as to
there being big job in the thing, and the call last
week by eight OF the Board OF Aldermen for u
special meeting to be held yesterday, to consider
the subject OF the site, gave color TO many OF the
ugly rumors anoat about the j0bbery part IN the
proposed institution.


PROTEST FROM TAXPAYERS.


The Board met yesterday IN pursuance Of the
call, and the ball was opened by Mr.. Koch. who
presented, on behalf OF the taxpayers Of the city
generally, and the property owners in particular
who reside IN the vicinity OF the site selected, a
remonstrance against the selection. Among other
reasons urged against the action OF the Commis-
sioners was that great deal OF expense had been
incurred by property owners in the neighborhood
in the widening OF Canal street some years ago,
and that 1t has become an important centre Tor the
invested 1his business, they think, would be
ruined by the erection OF prison In The locality
s win tsey
and that, judging from the experience OF the city
In the building OF court houses during past years.
they believe that the cost OF the building and site
will in the end be $12,0u0,000


CAN THE TOMBS BE tMPROvED2


The reading OF the remOnstrance over, Mr. Koch
presented resolution, with long Whereas"
ab0ut overburdened taxpayers. and all that In
watch 1t was declared that the present city prison
can be enlarged and improved and made in every
way suitable, and that, consequently the Commits.
soners be requested to discontinue all proceedings
in the matter OF selecting the site until some future
time. Wncu the taxpayers are better able bear
the burden.


DECISIVE STEP.


A desutory discussion ensued upon this resOlu
ton, large majority being evidently In favor OIL
and, nnay, MIR. Van Schaick offered, as substi-
Supreme Court be petltioned TO postpone all pro-
ceedings in the matter Of the site until the 18th Of
OCTOBER.


The question, on motion Of Mr. Monheimer to
appoint u select committee before whom taxpay-
ers might appear and present their views ON the
subject, was then taken up, and Messrs. Van
Schaick, McCafierty and Kocn were appointed as


NO MORE COURT HOUSE JOBS WANTED.
The Board at this stage adjourned. The commit
tee Immediately met. and ex-Alderman Radde APP
peared before 1t and made o few remarks. He
argued that the Board ought to move carefully in
the matter, and so act tnat there would be no room
for corruption. He believed that there were plans
being set on loot TO make "a big jobr out OF the
erection Of the prison. and 1t was lust this that the
taxpayers were anxious should not occur.


NO NOTES, NO ARGUMENT


Mr.. Jenney was also present as u protesting tax
payer, but he hadn't his 'notes" with him, and so
had reluctantly to take back seat promising,
however, to give the committee piece OF his mind
regarding the site Of the proposed prison at the
next meeting OF the committee.


A LEGAL ALDERMANIC ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Koch, one OF the committee, then got up and
ventilated his IDEAS about the new city prison. To
make himself better understood ne got possession
OF a copy OF the Session Laws OF 1873. and for
nearly half hour held his hearers spellbound by
the profundity OF his legal argument, the gst Of
which went to show that he knew more than all
the Legislature rolled into one Alderman.


TIE VALUE or OBsCURiTY.


he traced In lively c0.0rs, the conscientious
travels he had made through the city prison, and
how he had not let even pipe (he did not spe-
cily what KIND escape his notice. Finding at last
that the energetic and lucid manner in which he
made his protestations as TO how noby he had
done his duty was working his fellow Aldermen
into convulsions OF hall suppressed hlarty he
launched out INTO the region OF metaphor and trope,
aud dragged into his legal effort so many figures
Of speech that even Alderman McCafrerty's
classic lore put out OF JOINT in brain-cracking
endeavor to follow understandingy his col
league in his ianciIul musings. But all
things have an end, and so did Koch's
peculiar argument, and the committee adjourned,
exhausted, even II not convinced that all tnat
Koch had said was not based on gospel
foundation.