The New York Herald Newspaper, November 10, 1857, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 17740. © MORNING EDITION—TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1857. THE UNEMPLOYED WORKMEN. The Crowds im the Park and Tompkins Square. Important + the Common THE MAYOR’S LABOR MESSAGE. THE COUNCILMEN AND THE PUBLIC WORKS, ’ THE LABORERS ON CENTRAL PARK. Proposed Measures for the Relief of the Poor. 4 Poroe of Marines Despatched to Pro tect the Pubiic Property. MAYOR WOOD AND THE PUBLIC PEACE, &c, &o., &e, BOARD OF ALDERMEN. ‘Mhis Board met last evening—John Clancy, Esq. , Presi- dent, in the chair, Several bills for fitting up election polls were referred te the Comptroller, with power to act. PAYMENT OF LABORERS ON PUBLIC ROADS. Alderman Jackson offered the following:— Resolved, That the Comptroller be and he is hereby @athorized and instructed wo draw his warrant in favor of peyte the laborers employed on the pyblic roads, who ve not received compensation therefor, on proof being farnished that such labor has been performed in accord: ance with the bills furnished therefor. Laid over under the rules. ‘THE UNEMPLOYED LABORERS—THE NEW RESERVOTR, Alderman Banta offered the following preamble and Fesolution :— Whereas, it is believed that at least three thousand per- fons might be employed in the construction of the new reservoir, and as the whole matter is now being litigated fm the courts as to the award of the contract made by the Groton Aqueduct Department; and, whereas, suits are ow pending in the matter, therefore Resolved, That the Counsel to the Corporation report to ‘his Board the condition of the suits now pending in the said matter, and whether there is any prospect of an early termination thereof, in order that the money appropriated may be immediately applied to the construction of the Proposed new reservoir, Adopted. Alderman TvckeR offered the following on the same sabject:— Whereas, in consequence of the stringency of the times thousands of the laboring classes have been thrown out of employ, thereby causing much suffering and destitution, ‘ta season of the year when there is no prospect of any change for the better for some months to come, but must eontinue to grow worse; and whereas, the rigns of the times indicate a state of suffering and ‘destiteaien, far be- yond anything of the kind that has taken place in the an- ‘als of this city since its foundation—a state of things that should admonish the government as well as the citi- wens generally, to be wise in time and adopt some mea. ne the same may be alleviated—therefore, it Resolved That it be referred to a special committee, to eonfer with the Governors of the Almshouse, the philan- ‘thropic associations and the citizens generally, as to the Dest measures to be ad in relation to the subject and the resultto this Board at an early day. Adopted. ‘Caam annovnced Aldermen Tucker, Banta and Har- vis as such special committee. Alderman VaLenrive offered a series of preambles on @e present distressed condition of the poor; also the fol dowing resolution: — ‘That the Governors of the Almshouse Department be re- to take into immediate consideration the expe- -y of quickly organizing an eflicient corps of out door ‘Vieiters for the suffering poor, so that prompt relief may De afforded in all cases where it may be needed. Adopted. THM HARLEM AND NEW HAVEN RAILROADS. ‘The petition of several merchants and others, in favor of permitting the Harlem and New Haven Railroad Com- panies to use the tracks now existing in Fourth avenue, ‘and all the other privileges pertaining to the same as they Row enjoy, believing that to interfere with them will be of irreparable injnry to the business of the city, which re quires the facilities to freight and travellers now afforded Dy said companies. Referred to Committee an Railroads, A WALL IN FIFTH AVENUE. ‘The report of the committee in favor of concurring with ‘the Councilmen, permitting the contrac tor to erect a re- taining wall in th avenue, between Fifty-fourth and Fifty-ninth streets, at an expense not to exceed twenty cents per cubic foot. The action of the committee was founded on a communication from Mr. Turner, Deputy Street Commissioner. Aldermen Blunt, Banta and Tucker opposed the adop- téon of the report, on the ground that the price was extra. Tucxer said that the wall would make one Dundred and eight thousand feet, which, at twenty cents ‘8 foot, would cost $21,000. He said he could perform the work for $8,000 and make money by it. ‘The report was ultimately laid over. IMPORTANT KEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ON THE ‘MAYOR'S MES#AGR RESPRCTING THR UNEMPLOYED POOR AND ‘THE ISSUING OF STOCK TO PROVIDE FIFTY THOUSAND BARKRIS OF FLOUR AND SELL TIKM AT COST PRICK TO THE LABORKES ON PUBLIC WORKS—THE COMMITTER CONDEMN THK RRCKNT PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS OF THR UNEMPLOYED, ‘The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the communication from hisjHonor, the Mayor, transmitting a petition from the working men of this city now unemploy the communication from his Honor, the or joneena an issue of stock to purcharse food, and also immediate commencement of our public works in ordgg to afford employment for them, respect- fully reyort, being deeply impressed with the impor- tance of the 7 and the necessity of action, so far as ® consistent with their obligations all other classes of ‘the community, in veipte = png to aleviate, in part, the distress and suffering which now exists and is likely to Continue among our laboring population during this and the coming season, they have given it that attention its seemed to sd. - petition of the unemployed working men asks the Common Council to put in operation the following public works, fof the purpose of giving them employment, viz —The’ Central Park, new reservoir, regulatinng and sewering streets, &c. Your committee, in answer to the prayer of the petitioners, would state, for their informa. ‘as well as of our citizens generally, that the Board of Aldermen have passed an ordinance appropriating $260,000 for the Central Park improvement, only awaits the action of the Board of Council the approval of the Mayor, to meet, in part, the demand for labor by the unemy ed. It will, no doubt, be made a and applied to Purpose intended during the to the commencement of the new reservoir, your committee nor the Common Council can do to forward the work, a¢ the whole matter is It is to be pug and the money immediately applied to the which it was intended. lic works, such as regulating and grad. avenues, rey wharves and piers, and lic buildings, have passed the Common Coun. ed the approval of the Mayor, which, owing warrantable interference of the State Executive the Street it, 3 are matters which the Common Council cannot control, as this t branch of the city governmer® ia now under re- etraint, and will be imely to continue so until the judiciar: Daneful blight of partisanship, and off je's choice supersede the appointees of the Kaxocutive at vy ‘Your committee: ire to have it distinctly understood ‘that while deep!” tympathizing with this portion of the people in their distress, and being anxious to afford them ery relief in their power, yet it will be remembered ‘that We Common Council in making appropriations for the ederying on of the public works aro in a measnre restrict. @4, ana are compelled to frame their ordinances in con- formity with the requirements of the charter and the laws ‘of the State. Thus in reference to building sewers, Tegulating and grading streets, &e., &e., an applica jon by a majority of the owners of property on the dine of the proposed improvement must be made before ‘tue Common Counct can order the work to be done, and fs the law points outa direct mode for constructing such ‘worke tho Sommon Council cannot deviate from its plain Provisions. Your committee, however, being desirous of affording Work for as man; eee eo ee ae erat ‘ hctdition to the w Hilt HE Hy i 3 H B i i i z bo Council , york, kpready propessa reported to be done in grading Ham! Hare, improvement of the Central Park and such other public ‘works as they may from time to time order, should cause to be done immediately the working of the Second avenue from Forty-nooond street to Fighty sixth street, and ite entire length, if deemed advisable as a country road, by Macadamizing 4. We have no avenue east of the Bloom- ingdale road ft for the travel of priyate vehicles between the upper and lower parts of the city, and also several of ‘our streeta tray the upper part of the city, from the North to the East river, now almost impassable, might be worked in similar manner. In former years, when the iecessity was not so great, appropriations were invariably made for macadamizing the principal avenues and streets in the upper part of the city, thereby providing work for large numbers of poor ; but for eeveral years past this practice has been discontinued, and that of dispensin Public charity by the Almshouse Department substitute: If thie suggestion is met with favor by the Common Councit, your Committee would recommend that the Comp troller be directed, in making up the annual tax levy for the year 1858, to inser} therein the amount of $60,000 to be expended for the above mentioned pees, ye committee deeming it a much more judicious mode of ap- Propriating the public funds than by the purchase and gratuitous distribution of fuel, food and other necessaries of life, especially ag this public charity is dispensed to ‘those who are willing and anxious to work whenever an ‘opportunity for so doing is afforded them. ‘our committee does not agree with the suggestions contained in the communication of his Honor the Mayor relative to the proposed issue of stock to purchase lar; quantities of food to be sold at cost price to laborerson public works, as any such indirect mode of benefitting the poor would be fraught with evils which would more than counterbalance the good thus intended to be conferred. ‘The congregation of large numbers of persons in our parks and public highways, as demonstrated by those who assembled in one of the public squares and tore down and carried away the fences under the pretext of supplying themselves with fuel, and the more recent aesembiages in the Park, are not calou- lated to enlist the sympathies of our tax-payers nor your committee, bat tend only to bring odium upon them- Selves, and create the impression among our citizens that the leaders in such assemblages are not actuated by the desire to benefit those whom they address, but rather to acquire for themselves @ questionable notoriety. Your committee cannot dismiss this subject without expressing their unqualified condemnation of all such proceedings, and hope, for the benefit of those people, that in future such ae will be discontinued, and hereafter to let their wants be known and their wishes communicated to the city authorities in a manner partaking less of the style of the disaffected population of European cities. Your committee cannot permit the present opportuni to pass without giving their views in reference to what ix called the present crisis; and in endeavoring to show, by what they deem conclusive argument, the revul- sions in trade, the depression of all descriptions of labor, the apparent’ scarcity of money, and the various other causes which have conspired to bring about the present distress and suffering, which is to exist among the laboring and certain other classes of our citi- zens, is bat temporary, and in a short time, from the nature of existing circumstances, the coun- try will assume its wonted prosperity, and trade, commerce and manufactures again resume their al- lotted spheres of usefulness, and confidence again take the place of the universal distrust now pervading all classes of our community. A comparison of the present revulsion with that which paralyzed the country in the year 1837, will be amply sufficient, your committée believe, to satis” fy the most skeptical, that the present is only a temporary embarrassment. At that time the whole country was im- poverished. From Maine to Texas, which latter"was not then ours, we were dependent upon Europe for the very grain we used to support life—and we could only pay for it in specie and cotton—the first of which articles was im. measurably scarcor than now, as was also the second, for the reason that the absolute production of silver and gold amounted then, and for 180 years previous, to only $50,000,000 per annum, through the whole world, while during (he past eleven years it has amounted to $160,000,- 000 per annum, of which we have had more in proportion than any other nation. So much for the specie, ex- cept this, that England and Russia, prior to eleven years since, owned, in respect to the United States specie as ten to one—now we are nearly even with them. Our cotton wag even scarcer than specie, for the United States Bank had undertaken to control the whole of our cotton crop, both that in hand and that coming forward, and from the foreign advances made to that institution and others concerned with it, we found ourselves with a vast portion of that article of payment in the hands of foreign owners. For three years previous we had short crops, and when the crisis overtook us, in the midst of what was called the “great land fever,” the price of labor fell at once to its lowest margin, while the prices of all the aecessuries of life were maintained at a high point, and even rose above it. ‘The great laboring and artisan classes were reduced al- most to beggary. ‘That this was not consequent upon the “great land fever’ speculation is plain enough, when it is known that lands in Maine four years afterwards were sold and bought profitably at prices above the highest point of speculation prices during the “land fever,’ and the same is certainly known of property in this city. The South, at that time, was perfectly bankrupt. at the contrast. To-day the foreign debt of tho United States is absolutely less than then. The South is not only out of debt, but absolutely rich. She owns her ‘own cotton, sugar, rice and tobacco, and adds nothing to the burden of indebtedness. The North is in debt, but the immense surplus of her productions from harvests hitherto entirely unknown are amply sufficient to meet it all, and yet the prices rule lower than at any period for four ears. - Then, again, the vast majority of our indebtness ts of such a character as really to amount to little. It is rail- road loans, and these once confined to the railroads them- selves, in the hands of their creditors, nearly all of our debt is “wiped out.” The suspension of all our banks is a most fortunate cireumstance, and it is to be hoped they will not resume until they are beyond the necessity of anetber suspension. we bank currency will thus be equalized throughout the Northern States, and exchange will be as abundant within sixty days between the East and West, and rule at as low prices, as th any prosperous ear. . Another erroneous idea is that luxurious living, extra Vagant dressing, splendid turnoute and tine houses are the causes of distress to a nation, No more erroneous im. ression could exist. Every extravagance that the man of 100,000 or $1,000,000 indul in adds to the means, the support, the wealth of ten or a hundred, who had litte or ing else but their labor, their intellect or their taste If a man of a million spends principal and interest in ten ears, and finds himself beggared at the end of that time, he has actually made a hundred, who have catered to his extravagance, employers or employed, #0 much richer by the division of his wealth, He may be ruined, but the nation is better off and richer, for a hundred minds and hands, with $10,000 apiece, are far more productive than one with the whole. ‘The great truth apparent in all this crisis is, that it is simply what is called a “panic.” It is universal distrust —every man doubts his neighbor's means, and has his doubts returned. The moment confidence ‘returns, men will look into each other's faces and feel ashamed that they allowed this panic to disturb the public mind to the extent it has. ‘The distress is merely temporary and urgent because idenly thrown out of employment; 80 many have been «i but ample provision can be made for the deserving at al times, and the public may rest assured that the Common Council will take such measures as may be deemed need- ful in the premises; but the unemployed must forbear until such provision can be made, and remember that the peace and good order of society must be maintained throughout the “crisis.” The following resolutions are, therefore, respectfully recommended for your adoption :— Resolved, That it is inexpedient at this time to adopt the suggestions contained in the message of bis Honor Mayor, transmitted to the Common Couneil on the 22d of October last, relative to a proposed issue of stock to pro- cure large supplies of food, to be furnikhed at cost prices to the laborers employed on the public works. Resolved, That the Comptroller be, and he is hereby, directed to expedite as much as possible the contemplated grading of Hamilton square, and that upon the passage of the Central Park Improvement appropriation he take im mediate steps to realize the money coutemplated to be raised by the passage of the ordinance. Resolved, That, in making up the annual tax levy for year 1858, the Comptroller be, and he is hereby, au- ‘ized and directed to insert therein, in addition to the annual appropriation for roads, the sum of $50,000, to be expended in macadamizing the Second avenue, from For- ty-second to Eighty ixth street, and such other streets and avenves asthe Common Council may from time to time direct. ‘Alderman Wasox moved that the report be accepted, the resolutions adopted, and two thousand copies printed in Pamphlet form. Adopted. he ‘d appointed a special committee to concur with the Councilmen respecting selecting a site for a New York Post office. Adjourned to Thursday, at 6 o'clock. BOARD OF COUNCILMEN. ‘The Board was in session last evening, the President, Mr. Phillips, presiding. The chamber was crowded by the unemployed men who filled the Park during the day, and Mayor Wood occupied a seat beside the President. As soon as the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved, the report of the special committes appointed to consider the Mayor's message relative to the employment of the laboring men now idle was presented and read. It is a follows :— EMPLOYMENT POR THE WORKINGMEN.—REPORT OF THR COUN- CTLMANIC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS—MEANS OF RELIEF PREVENTED IN CONHR- QUENCE OF THE STREET COMMIRGONER DIFFICULTY —Tine NEW CITY HALL COMMISSIONER! URGED TO COMMENCE OPE: RATIONS FORTHWITH, &o., &¢., £0. The Special Committee to consider and report upon the expediency of Tee Common ‘Counc adopting measures whereby Fane works might be advanced and unemployed labor be made available in the coming et ee aid to the working classes in supporting themse| their families pending the pre- sent financial difficulties, as suggested in the communica tion from his Honor, the ‘or, of the 26th ult., and in the application of the wi n for employment, res] Hy report:— at much consideration and reflection have been given to thie subject so highly important at the present time. It is with difficulty that a speedy solution can ve had and a course of action entered upon that will render forthwith the essential aid called for in the message of the Mayor 4 the petition of the unemployed workingmen While your Committee gprdially agree with His Honor in reepect to the necessity of relieving the poor, and particw larly the working classer—a movement dictated alike by policy and humanity—they are obliged to state their con firmed opinion that your honorable has not the power to provide the relief mecessary, in the direct man. ner pointed out by His Honor. The Common Council has not the right to enforce the improvement of the Central Park, the repairing of the streets and docks, nor the constructing of wharves and slips. All executive power in these matters is vested in certain commissions and departments, and the full extent to which the Couneil can legally go is to recommend and urge upon the said different commis- sions, &e., to whom are intrusted the construction, repair. ing, &c., of any public works and the cleaning, guttering and ering of the streets, the especial necessity now ex- isting of employing, to the fullest extent possible, those of onr working people now out of employment; and that thie be done your Committee would earnestly recommend. ‘The great inflex of immigrante during the present year has served to increage the number of unemployed hands in as the larger portion of those arriving have re. n the city instead of seeking homes in our lese populous districts, and your committee are of opinion that & great proportion of the destitution, as well aa the inability to procnire work, now existing and complained of, may be auributed to this fact, rather than to the existing monetary difficulties, to wit:—that there is a greater supply of workmen than any ordinary demand would call for. His Honor soagies the possibility that violence may be resorted to by classes in case they be not speedily relieved or furni with work, but your Com- mittee have only to hope that all fears upon this point may prove groundless, and perceive nomeans within the power of the Council to avert any such unhappy result, while tae doubt not that in the case of the occurrence of such violence, the proper authorities will be prepared to act in the premises with promptness and decision. ‘The Common Council, as has been already stated, being but a legislative body, hag but little, if any, compulsory wer over the departments of our government; it enacts jaws and ordinances directing certain work to be done, but cannot interfere with executive duty, if the depart- ments neglect to act, or are restrained by judicial proce- dures, as in the case of the construction of the new reser- voir—a work of great necessity to the inhabitants of this city, and which, if under contract, would give at once employment to large numbers, ‘Again, two or three commissions created by the last Legislature are composed of State officers, who are en- tirely beyond the control of the Common Council, except sofar as regards appropriations, such as the Central Park and new City Hall commissions. Your committee would further state that a special com- ittee has already been unanimously appointed by this oard to confer with @ like committee to be appointed by the Poard of Aldermen, to take into consideration the ex- pediency of immediate action by the Common Counci: upon the erection of a Post Office. ‘The undersigned, there- fore, do not deem it within their province to repor thereon, as doubtless the said committee will promptly discharge the duties entrusted to them so soon as the Board of Aldermen shall a their committee, which it is hoped will be done forthwith. Your Committee would now beg leave to allude to the subject of street cleaning as one of the most essential requirements of the city, and which would give employ- ment to a very large number of laborers. The Board of Councilmen have adopted, by a three-fourths vote, a con- tract at a certain rate per annum, which they have deemed advantageous, and which would guarantee to the cit} cleanlinces. This contract is now before the Board of Al- fermen for action, which your committee hope will be d at an early day. The subject of regulating Hamilton square is well worthy the immediate attention of the Common Council as an im- provement that will be of a two-fold benefit to the city. ‘This matter has passed the Board of Aldermen, and awaits the action of the Council, and simply requires a concur- rence. This measure, if made effective, would give em- ployment to‘large numbers of the poor.’ Your committee accordingly urge upon this Board the passage of the bill at the earliest moment. ‘The business of the Street irtment is unfortunately paralyzed. Atleastone half of the executive duties of the city governmentare vested in this di ‘tment. It has “cognizance of opening, altering, regulating, grading, flag- ging, curbing, guttering and lighting streets, roads, places and avenues, of building, repairing and lighting wharves and piers, the construction and repairing of public roads, the care of public buildings and places, and the filling up of sunken lots.’ This work, indeed, is done under or- dinances of the Common Council, but legislation in the premiges at this time would result in but litte benefit either to the city or to the working classes. Again, the Common Council can do but little through the Croton Aqueduct Department, which has charge of the structures and property connected with the aqueduct, and these are either complete or do not admit of winter work, the construction of all sewers being prohibited after the first day of December in each year. The commence ment of the new resorvoir, as previously alluded to, is prevented by litigation, and’ the Common Couneil can but direct by ordinance, through this Department, the paving, ving and repairing of streets. hus your committee has reviewed the powers of the Common Council to advance the public works and give employment to the laboring classes thereby; and by this review it will be seen that but little can be effected, espe- cially by this Board, except what may be accomplished by urgent recommendation. Your committee present the following recapitulation: — The regulation of the Central Park and,the construction of the new City Hall are in the entire c of powerful owed ne, beyond the control the Common yuncil. The new Reservoir is before the courts for adjudication as to whom the coutract shall be awarded. ‘The subject of the construction of a Post Office is in the hands of a special committee of active members of this Board, who are unable to act until the Board of Aldermen appoint a like committee. ‘The vontract for strect cleaning has the Council and awaits the action of the Board of Aldermen. ‘Pre matter of regulating Hamilton square demands the immediate attention of this Board. ‘The Street Department is paralyzed, and the little that can be done through the Croton Aqueduct Departinent the Common Council will doubtless order. In concluding their report upon the message of his Honor, your Committee would beg leave to state thetr fall assurance of the readiness of your honorable body to as- #ome any and all responsibility justly entailing upon it in consequence of its acts, trusting in the purity of the mo- tives inspiring it. Tm accordance with the foregoing report tho following resolutions are submitted for — 1. Resolved, That the Cent Park Commission is hereby requested to employ forthwith from fifteen hun- dred w two of the working men of this city in the regulating and improving of the Central Park, and that they likewise be requested to return the names and residences of those employed to the Common Council. 2. Resolved, That the Common Council will maxe pro- vision for the payment of any such number of men em- ployed by the aforesaid commission on the Central Park. 3. Resolved, That this board will immediately concur in the adoption of the resolutions pertaining to the regulating of Hamilton square. 4. Resolved, That the Croton Aqueduct Department is hereby requested to commence and proceed immediately with all work now under their charge and which has been ordered by the Common Council, and to report what fur- ther contracts can be made which will be bene- ficial to the city and give employment to the laboring classes; and that the said department use their best endeavors to have the Fey of Maiden lane and Cortlandt yt ym | wi ‘m_accordance with the ordinance already passed by the Common Council, without delay, as the same would furnish work for a con- siderable number of men; and, also, that no efforts of the said department be spared to bave the construction of the hew reservoir commenced at an early day. 5. Resolved, That the Governors of the Almshouse be, and they are hereby, recommended to purchase and store flour, corn meal and other provisions, in anticipation of ox treme destitution among the laboring population, as sug- gested in the message of his honor the Mayor, Mr. BooLe moved to accept the report and adopt the re. solution, which was seconded by Mr. Franklin, who said he agreed with the views of his Honor the Mayor, but maintained that they did not go far enough. He thought that men should be paid for their labor and employed in erecting a new City Hall. Mr. Brapy concurred with his Honor’s views toa cer- tain extent. Mr. Boor, in rey, to that gentleman, eni¢ that the re port enumerated the defects in the plan of Mayor Wood, and suggested what could be effected in getting employ ment for the working classes, Mr. Brapy said that the report of the commitlec was feasible and correct #0 far as it went, but the com- mittee forgot that froet would be on the ground before their suggestions could be carried out. The Strect Com missioner’s difficulty presented an insurmountable obstacle to the employment of a large number of the idlers, for two months would necessarily elapse before anythin, practical could be done. The streets and sewers cou! not be attended to while the affairs of that office were in such an unsettled condition. The Croton Aqueduct Board were able to alleviate the distress of the unemployed but only to a limited extent; and nothing could be effected in Hamilton square, for the frost would be on the ground before the contracts could be made. He (Mr. Brady) would vote for the adoption of the resolu- tions, but wished to do so understandingly, and not de- ceive the workingmen. Mr. Boous affirmed that the Croton Aqueduct Board was should be enges 10 grade and flag the streets of our ony. ir. Orrarson, in reply to an imputation cast against the Commissioners of the ontral Park, remarked that the reason why their work was was because the Common Council did not make necessary appropria Mr. Boor indignantly denied the assertion of the last speaker. It was as false as b—I. The Commissioners, in his opinion, were well enough able to proceed with their work without any money from the Common Couneil. Mr. Jowes, ab clquent speech, counselled the thousands of our unemployed citizens to remain calm for a few days, assuring them that the Common Council would do all that they had the power to do under the constitu tion for the relief of their necessities. Various public buildings should be erected: w Post Office—an eve nue to relieve Broadway, and other matters should be at tended to, which would receive the eerliest ateontion of the city goverument. The report was accepted, and the resolution unani Mmously adopted. THE CRNTRAL PARK APPROPRIATION. The report of the Committee on Lands and Places, re commending the appropriation of $250,000 for improve mente in the Central Park, which was adopted by the Aldermen this evening, was called up, and, op motion of Mr. Boole, the ral suspended in order that the re port might be o rred in by thie Soard. Mr. Warner posed to giving them such a loree amount of money until they showed how it was expended. He pronounced the Central Park Commission a ‘star chamber.” The business of that Board wae transacted secretly, and their conduct should not be sanctioned by this community. He moved to amend by isting $50,000, ontil they satiefied the Common Gvuncil that they acted in a straightforward manacr. . 4 ‘MIL seconded the motion. aad It 1111 went in for the entire appropriation, wished to have the unemployed laboring men at work at a reasonable compensation, In answer to an inquiry of Mr, Waugh, the Prrstpnet said that no communication had been received from the Commissioners. Mr. MeCanmit remarked that the very man who stigma- tized the Central Park Commissioners the other evening in the Board had applied for the post of paymaster (al tuding, it is said, to Mr. Waugh). Mr. Wansun flew to Mr. Wangh’s relief, oxpressing astonishment that any member should attempt to cast an imputation npon a fellow member who applied for an honorable place. Mr. Hasweit went in for the entire appropriation, and 80 did Mr. Jones, who affirmed that ft was useless to at- tempt to control the Commissioners, they having been ap- pointed by the Legislature, He rg-aflirmed his confidence in the integrity of the gentlemen composing the Commis- sion, and hoped the amendment would not prevail, Mr. Orrakson charged the Common Council with raising a storm about their ears, and wanted to lay the blame on the Central Park Commissioners, who it was well known could not take a single step until’ a specific appropriation was made by the Common Council. it was cowardly to make such a charge. Mr. Burress atlirmed that the Commissioners had only paid out $80,000 of the $50,000 which the Common Coun cil appropriated. Mr. Orransow corrected the gentleman, saying that they had paid out all the money to laboring men. Mr. Warner's amendment was lost and the original re- solution carried unanimously. Mr. Waren moved a suspension of the rules in order to take all the papers passed to a third reading from the table, and thus furnish additional work to the laboring men. Mr. Booxe had no objection to do so, but reminded the gentleman that in consequence of the disturbed condttion of the Street Commissioner’s Department nothing effectual could be done. ‘Mr. Waksrx rejoined by saying that in supporting his oe the majority would show their democratic philan- ropy- ‘The motion to suspend the rules was lost, 33 voting no- gatively and 13 affirmatively. PETITIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. A few petitions were referred to their approprirte com- mittees, among which wae a petition of §. Nowlan rela- tive to constructing a railroad to Brooklyn, which was re- ferred to the Committee on Wharves, Piers and Slips. A petition of owners of property and residents upon and in the vicinity of the Fourth avenue for an ordinance re- questing the Harlem Railroad Company to ran the small cars to Porty-accond street, was referred to the Commit- tee on Railroads. THE “UNEMPLOYED” AGAIN. Mr. Orrarson offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :— Resolved, That the heads of departments be requested to report immediately if any work under way or autho- rized to be done has becn suspended, and for what reason. Resolved, That committees of this Board having charge of contracts or asgessment, which, when approved, will furnish work at the public cost, be directed to report the same to the Board without pang Resolyed, That all persons holding contracts for work authorized ‘to be done for the city, be requested and di- reeted to proceed as rapidly as a due regard to the public interests will admit, and to furnish, as far as possible, labor for the unemployed. Resolved, If the Aldermen concur, that a committee of three members of each Board of the Common Council be appointed to confer with the Commissioners of the new City Hall, and urge the immediate commencement of work thereupon, and the employment of as many laboring men ag can be advantageously managed. Resolved, That in the employment of men upon the pub- lic works, city officers and contractors be respectiully re querted to give the preference, as far as practicable, to men who have families dependent upon their labor for subsistence, and particularly to residents of the city of New York. Mr. Hewrnni’s resolution, calling for an appropriation mis of both Boards of the Com il,for their services as Health Commissioners, was adopted. ‘A number of reports of committees, on various subjects, were referred to the Committee of the Whole. HE FIRE DEPARTMENT. The report of the Committes on Fire Department, in conformity with a resolution offered by Mr. KENNARD, was read, to Which was appended the following resolutions :— Resolved, That the conduct of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, Mr. Howard, in providing an unorga- nized Hook and Ladder company (now known as Hook and Ladder Company No. 11) with a temporary location ind apparatus , and furnishing them with firemen’s badges, in direct violation of the charter and ordinances of city, is hereby censured as disrespectful to the Common Council, reprehensible and dangerous. Resolved, That the Comptroller, for the better protec- tion of the city, be and is hereby instructed not to make any expenditure of money for work or supplies certified by the Chief Engineer, unless such expenditure shall have been authorized by the Common Council and otherwise true and correct, as required by the charter. Mr. Warner affirmed that the Chief Engineer acted without authority, and asked the majority to “face the music.” ‘The Prestpent declared the resolutions lost for want of a coustitutional vote, 17 yoting negatively and 16 afirma- tively. Papers from the Board of Aldermen were received and Jaid over under the rule. A motion to adjourn to Thursday was carried, after a session of three hours and a half. THE WORKINGHEN IN COUNCIL. More Gathering in Tompkins Square and at the City Hall—Mayor Wood and the Work- ingmen—Appearance of the Police at the Hall—Address to the Workingmen—Propo- sitions and Theories Advanced for the Re- "ef of the Workingmen, Some excitement was kept up in tho vicinity of the City Hall throughout the day yesterday in consequence of the appearance there of some fifty of the Metropolitan police, who were stationed in and about the building throughout the afternoon and evening, who were placed there to pro- tect the peace of the city. It appears that from the various demonstrations and speeches of the workingmen during the past few days, it was apprehended that somo difficulty might arise on Monday, and accordingly Genoral Superintendent Tallmadge was requested to inter- pose in aiding the Mayor to keep the peace about the City Hall, as the regular force in that building had been with. drawn. After a consultation the Superintendent pledged the Mayor any assistance in bis power. Everything at the Hall, however, passed off very quietly up to about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, when the Mayor was waited on by a delegation from the workingmen, who, in conver- sation with him, became violent in their demonstrations and language. THE MERTING AT THR PARK. Upon the arrival of the procession at the Park, Mr. Jouy B. Manrer, mounted the steps of the City Hall and pro- ceeded to address the crowd substantially as follows:— Fellow workmen—You have come bere because | told you if you would do so I would say something to you and give you my address, We have ail come here to demand work, and it is work that we want, I was at the meeting Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and you know that was amon the leaders for de. manding work. The committee has requested me to make up an address demanding work, which I have done, and which I hope will bring us the work we require. Seme say that if we do good, good will be returned unto us, but if we cannot get our demand, sooner than to starve we will be compelled to do evil that good may come out of it. I wieh to see you all bave your rights. You must therefore meet together. Let the Irishmen meet together ‘and the Duteh by themselves, and then both may appoint & committee , and that committee should do the work and get the work, which must come out of the City Hall, and Wwe will not support any candidate for office who will not support the workingmen's demand. Now I have an ad dress, as I aid belore,and if there are any reporters around I hope they will publish it, Mr. Maret then proceeded to read his address, as fol- % New Youn, Nov. 9, 1857. ADDRERE FROM THE CNEMPLOYED WORKINGMEN OF THR CITY OF NEW YORK, TO BK GIVEN BY THR COMMITTEE OF WORKINGMEN OW HEFORE THE CITY MALL, TO SUCH MEN AS THEY SILAL CHORE, AND KY THEM TRANSMITTED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL. ‘We, the workingmen of New York, demand work from the Corporation of the hy BY New York; and further. more, we declare that we shall obey the laws of the coun- try and State; and furthermore, that we will not support any man who will not bimeelf to what we, the work . demand. erefore, we now demand from those who are in power now, to give work toall trades and branches of Ia! Th, a Tae of whatever kind they ta ration to buy provisions that work for the Corporation or to anybody that will buy of them, and all shall be paid im gold and silver to the seller, who shall be clected to that odice by the working. men. ‘We nlen demand that the Corporation of the city of New York shall buy lumber and bricks to build houses, so as to give employment to the carpenter and mason, and tho Corporation shall have the power to let the houses at ten per cent from the first cost. We also demand that the Corporation shall buy cloth of oll kinds to take conte, panta, veste or any other articl which is necessary for every man to woar, and the Corpo. ration shall receive ten per cent from the fret cost. We also demand from (ie Corporation, from month to month, or monthly the price of all growth on sot) —the in crease of dectea- (hat the working man may knew the fee of all thee: that e may know what we haye to < through the prise: «6 alee nd from the Corpo- na DisckaMmHh gly), aud a good one at hat, Y workingmen, demand from the that all bor, of work of afy kind, shall be done by the €or. poration of the city of New York, and, furthermore, Gat wl! wor’ or labor of any kind, whatsoever it may be, shall uone by the day, and eix hours w the day's work, and no more, and, we also demand $1,000 per year for our labor, begiuning with the man who chops the trees up to anic of any kind, and the Corporation sball re. per cont above the cost on all the work the workingmen shall do. By the voice of the workingmen, which is the voice of God, we demand Immediavely after concluding the above document, Mr Martell was compelled to vacate his position, in conse. quence of fire engine which was trying its force in the Park, deluging the place on which he stood with water, thereby compelling the crowd to beat « hasty retreat. They, however, soon after re-collected in equads about the and it becoming evident that there Was a possibility, a breach of the peace being itted, the Mayor deemed it prudent at once to send to the police head. quarters for a detachment of officers to be sent immedi ately to the City Hall to protect tbe peace, Mr, nggprdingly,, at the head of what rar ve forem he had on , started for the Hall, first giving orders to telegraph to the various down town stations to send their rewerve at once to the Park. THE POLICE IN THE PARK. The police soon partially dispersed the crowd, which at once formed into squads about the front of the Hall, and proceeded to discuss the various topics most intimately connected with their interests at the present time, Mayor Wood later in the day sent a message to Broome street, for Deputy Superintendent Carpenter, who at once proceeded to the Hall and had a private interview with | the Mayor, with reference to the proposed steps to be taken for preserving the public peace. Meanwhile the police force at the Hall had been increased to about fil men under charge of Sergeant-Major Waterbury, wi instructions to arrest the first man or men who by act or word attempted to make any riotous demonstrations whatever, Sixtmen were placed on guard ata time at the front gate of the City Hall, and four men at the rear entrance of the same, with instructions to allow no rush of the crowd, of whom there were from. three to tive hundred lounging about throughout the afternoon inside of the Hall, About two o'clock word was received by the police that the crowd from ‘Tompkins square contemplated: marching down in a body, taking possession of the Hall about four o'clock, and coercing the Mayor and Common Council into: Passing measures for their relief. .Thisadded to the excite- ment already existing, and caused some apprehension for a short time that the crowd might attempt to carryth» threat into execution. This fear was, however, soon dis- pelled by another messenger stating that it was intended only for a deputation of the workingmen to visit the Hall, and being present at the Board of Councilmen and Alier- men, for the purpose of seeing and reporting the action of those bodies to the meeting to be held on Tuesday morning. The reserve police were for the most part stationed in room No. 5, where they were provided with a cold collation from. a'neighboring restaurant, at the ex- pense of the Police Commissioners. At six o'clock they were taken charge of by Sergeant Hicks, acting Inspector of the Sixth ward, with instructions to 'remain on hand and protect the Common Council from too much outside pressure, until it adjourned, as well as maintain the gene- ral peace outside. The crowd during the afternoon and evening, which had become divided into squads, passed the time by discuss- ing the tariff question, or the benefits to the laboring man of ahigh and low tariff, the price of food, house rents, wages, &e. ‘Toward evening a general rush was made by the crowd to effect an entranee into the Hall, butthe police requested them tomake room and keepinorder. Immediately follow. ing this a rush was made for some man at the bottom of the steps, who, it seems, had ventured to ask some of the head men of the gathering their names. For bis presump- tion, he was pulled and hauled about in a most violent manner, and finally ron through the Park, as far as the Beekman street gate, where he turned, and after remon strating with and explaining to the crowd his motives for so doing, was suffered to return to the Hall. This rush was regarded by the police as a ruse to draw them from their posts, and hence not noticed by them. General Superintendent Tallmadge and Gen. Hall wero about the Hall during most of the latter part of the day, watching the progress of things; but, happily, their ser vices were not further required, as, with the excoption of the above incidents, no disturbance was attempted, and by seven o'clock most of the crowd, hearing of the action taken by the Common Council, had dispersed. Aconsiderable number of the unemployed warkmen met yesterday morning in Tompkins square, and discussed in groups the prospect of obtaining work from the city Uuorities. Some attempts were made on the part of afew persons to organize a meeting, but they did not succeed; and after remaining afew hours longer the crowd dispers- ed peaceably to their several homes, A portion of these afterwards proceeded to the City Hall, and remained in front of that building from 2 to 4 or 6 o'clock, waiting to hear the action of the committee. Nb action, however, was taken by them, as they expect that something defi: nite will be done to-day towards furnishing them with em- ployment ‘The General and Deputy Superintendents held a long private consultation with the captains and sergeants of police yesterday, and adopted effective measures for pre- serving the to-day, should any breach themaf be attempted lice of the lower wards are to be 80 distributed as to cover the beats in. the vieinity of Wall and similar streets in large forces, also to guard the vari- ous flour mills and warehouses throughout the city, In addition to the police force, the Seventy-tirst regiment very opportunely, are to be in the Park, armed and equipped, this afternoon, for review and presentation if requisite will be called upon to aid the authorities. Resolutions in View of the “Bread or Work’ Amemblages—Mayor Wood Defends the Foreign Population—The Board Sympa- thises with the Working Men tn Want, and Resolves to Protect the Property of Citizens—Animated Debate, &. The Baard of Metropolitan Police Commissioners met yesterday afternoon, at their new room, corner of Broome and Elm streets—present, Mayors Wood and Powell, and Messrs. Nye, Stranahan, Bowen and Cholwell. Mr. Bow, aftor the reading and adoption of the minutes, offered @ resolution, which was adopted, appointing the same committee which had reported the poll clerks for the November election to report poll clerks for the De cember election. Mr. Cnorwsis. thought the clerks already appointed would serve. Mr. Bowky said that was not so. Mayor Woop said it made no difference, as the same men would be re-appointed. The question being taken, the resolution was adopted. THE MEETINGS OF WORKING MEN, General Nym said he had a preamble and resolutions to submit, which he proceeded to read, as follows: — Whereas, it has become matter of history and public no- toriety that large and tumultuous assemblages of peoplo are marching through our streets, and congregating in public places; and whereas, at these several gatherings, wild and inflammatory speeches are made, calculated to incite the mind of the ignorant but poor laborer to acts of an unlawful rac and whereas, there is good reason to suppose that gatherings, this excitement and pro- cessions are gotten b - hot by the honest laborer, to ask for work or bread, but by designing persons, who do not In- bor for bread; and whereas, this riment is not blind to the fact that, under the cry for bread by persons not hungered, cities have been sacked and governments over thrown: and fully aware how easy it is to raise a ¢ excite the prejudice of the poor against the rich, knowing that when excited” they forget the almost udbounded hospitality and the heavy and constant drafts that are made upon the wealih of the rich, for the support of the indigent poor; and whereas, the i ir laws stands out in bold contrast with the countries from which these persons who are now making the outcry have emigrated, and forgetting as they seem to, that property here is made to bear the burthens of the destitue; and whereas, threats of intimidation are not calculated, under our form of government, to redress Wrongs or appease hunger, butare well calculated to work a deep and irretrievable injury upon all classes of society by intimidating the business men of the city, who deal in the great staples of food, and likewise prevents the coun. ty dealers in produce from sendigg it to a destination where it is threatened with coufisedtion by an ungoverna. mob, adding thereby to the now high price of food the element of scarcity and increased difficulty in obtain. ing it—Therefore, olved, That the Board of Police in and for the Metro- politan district deeply sympathize with all the sufferings of all classes of the city, and pledge themselves todo all in their power to alleviate want; yet they firmly and kindly admonish all persons—native citizens and foreign born—to desist attempts to excite or keep alive the pre sent excitement in our city in regard to labor or supplies of food. Resolved, That the people and property holders of this city may reat with entire confidence in the disposition and ability of this department to meet, with promptness and efficiency ,any attempt by any body of persons to appro: priate the property of one class of our fellow citizens to that of another, without rendering a full and fair equiva lent therefor. a. wished the porton reflecting on the foreign or Tead over. La adopted citizens, . Nye eaid there was no such part. Mayor Pownt: said the preamble took it forgranted that the leaders of the meetings were of foreign extraction. ee eee a it Mayor Gen. Nyw asked where? Mayor Pownr: thought it was on tho firet page. Mr. Bown suggested that the resolutions should go toa committee, Gen. Nk said—As they pleased: he had offered them Mayor Powert thought Gen. Nye would find it well modily that expression. Gen, Nye suid he had no tenacity ahow any expression, and Jed to read the preamble, aad said he found nothing like what had been alleded to. Mayor Woop said there was a reflection on adoptet cit a, and . [ Nyv asked his Honor to point it out. P — ant to deseribe the pproved ax much any ot Then they charged inflammatory and incendiary appeals by adopted citizens. ve par be iid no such thing. He said merely, Whereas such speeches are A Mayor Woon said—Yes, he did. He spoke of the ‘coun. try from whence these men bad emigrated,’ thus assum- ing that these men were ad citizens. Nys—Don't you say they are adopted citizens? Mayor Woon—I do not know that they are. It is calum- nions to make a whole class of citizens responsible for the improper acts of a few men. . Nye said the resotation only speke of the ¢lass of men who were taking these measures. Mayor Woon concurred fully with the preamble and re. solutions with the exception of the alluston to the adopted citizens Gen. Nyesaid he had heard with his own cars when they said they would have ‘bread or blood.” HB said these expressions should not be tolerated. Mayor Woop said so too; and he eaid that t jen who were using these inflammatory aj ls were aie who were sunt there to do it, and hot by the democratic party either pane Nye eakl he knew nothing about the democratic Mayor Woop said he did know something about them, aud be objected to the imginuation agaist the party im tus ‘expression against the adopted citizens. He would not B@ @ party to it by adopting the resolutions. Gen, Nye was not aware that there was apy such nets ‘uation in them. Mayor Woon said if he would strike out that part of tha resolutions referred to it would be bettor, There was ax indiscriminate attack upon adopted citizens to which ba ‘objected. i and correct it By > “who have mostly emigrated,” &e. x degrees Mayor Woon was not diapored to make a whole class of People responsible for the acts of a few vicious men. If the preamble was amended as suggested he would vous for it; if not, not. Gen. Ny® said he would take the sense of the Board om the word “mostly. The roll was accordingly called, and the amendment was loet. Mr. Bowen moved to amend by inserting instead of “the country. from which they have emigrated,” “the countries of Europe.” Mayor Woop said he would adopt that. Mr. Bowen thonght the alteration desirable, Gen, Nye said he held no class responsible. not wrong even an Asiatic. Mayor Powrzt said that the idea of reflecting on tha adopted citizens was there. Mr. Bowen doubted the propriety of passing the resolu- tions at all. If they passed it should be unani R he would suggest to the Chairman tw put in the amend- ment before spoken of. Gen. Nyx had no objection. Mr. Bowen would rather leave the police to speak by acts than by words, Woon thought it would be better to adopt the re- c dations which he had made on this subject. He yesterday ‘ning, and again this morning, had given ex- plicit and direct orders to the General and Deputy Superin- tendents with relation to this matte Gen, Nvm supposed that the Mayor would act in conjunc- tion with the Commission. Mayor Woop had no design of consulting with the Oom- mission with relation to the performance of his official du- ties as Mayor of the city. Gon. Nyx said the amendment proposed was, “who hava emigrated from thie countries of Furope.’” Mr. Bowen said no—that was not the amendment. Gen, Nv hoped he would fix it (handing the paper). Mayor Powstt was afraid the metre of the hymn would be destroyed. Mr. BowRy thought there was much force im the objec- , tions of the two Mayors. Gen, Nyx said he offered the resolutions, and he was re- sponsible, . CHOLWELL moved @ reference to a special committee of two. Mr. Bowen would prefer that the Chairman would aecept the amendment. He would ‘The question was taken on the motion to refer, which was lost. Mr. Bowen moved the amendment suggeeted ty him, and truste tot the Chairman. Gen. Ny said it we ive his consent. ‘The question was about t be ken, when the resolution were by request of Mr. Stranahan, read again, Mr. Bowen asked if it was certain that these men wera entirely of foreign birth? ¥ said he had not said they were. OLWELL said he had done so in the resolutions, Gen, Nye said that he moved to insert the qualification “almost.”? Mayor Powrit thought that would be injudicious. Mayor Woop said it would be perpetrating a calumny upon a class of men—it was a gross, Unjust calumny. Gen, Ny#—You assert that itis, and 1 deny it, Mayor Woop--If the chairman wili act instead of bring- ing in verbose resolutions, it would be better. Gen. Ny® said the Chairman had always acted in such a way as he believed to be his duty, and he referred to tha minutes of the Board for proof. "He thought it as mach. the duty of this Board to prevent an outbreak and tow of blood, as to quell it after it had broken out. Mayor Woop said that there was certainly a great flow of ink, which amounted to very little. Gen, Nyp said that was easily said, and he trusted the Mayor would vote against the resolutions if he thought #0. Mr. STRANANAN understood the Mayor to wish to say that these men were mostly native citizens. Mayor Woop said that then he misunderstood him. He proposed that the Board should not make a wholesala ‘accusation against adopted citizens of New York, which, in the main, he pronounced as law abiding as any other class of citizens. He did not propose to be @ party to assertions which there were doubts about. Ha thought that the object of the chairman could be accom- plished without resorting to Uhis accusation against citizens. He thought the Chairman did injustice to many honest men. He desired to punish the guiity. He was glad that there was 4 disposition in this Board to meet this question, but he thought it should be done justly and with- out this reference to adopted eRizens. Mr. StRaNau, vas sorry that the Mayor was so tender footed as to fear that the truth should be spoken. Mr. Bowen asked—Was there any use in alluding the birth of these men? Surely all @at was necessary waa to warn them that the law must be obeyed, Mayor Woop said that was his idea, Gen. Nye made rather a lengthy speech in defence ‘of hie child,” the preamble and resolution, denying any inten- tion to t on adopted citizens as a class. said the fact was patent that it was assumed that most of these men were foreiguers. Gen. Nr said be knew it was #0. Mr. Bowsn said he did not know it. Wayor Wood and Mr. Bowen then wrote the amendment to the preamble, which were adopted, Gen. Nye voting tm the negative. The following is the section as amended :— “Whereas, the humanity of our laws stands out in bold contrast with the laws of the countries of Europe, forget- ting, as these turbulent assemblies seem wo do, that pro- ty here is made to bear the burthens of the destitute,” 1. ‘After the transaction of some minor business, the Board adjourned to to-day, at 2 P. M., and immediately wentinto private caucus, CENTRAL PARK IVESTIGATION. Examination of Witnesses in Regard to the Charges made Against the Commissioners of the Central Park, In accordance with the notice pablished in the morning papers of yesterday, a meeting of the Committee on Lands and Places waa held at two o'clock P. M., in the City Hall, to examine into the complaints which had been made against the Commissioners of the Central Park by various parties employed thereon, charging them with having in some instances reduced their pay, and in others of having refused them their wages. There were soma seventy or eighty persons present, among whom were & ble number of the complainants. The following members of the committe were present:—J. L. Waugh, W. H. Manatield, H. O'Donnell, H. O'Brien, J. 0. Hunt. The first witness examined was Mr. Egbert L. Viele, who testified substantially as follows: — IT am the Chief Engineer of the Central park, and wag appointed by the Board of Commissioners; | appointed umber of laborers myself to work there, but there wad thority delegated in that respect; the greatest num - nk did not exceed 700 the pay rolls at the Lae ny ber employed at one tme I th amounted to some 600 and ox howed about that fo k; all these were not em- ployed from the commencement; the force waa put om gradually, but what time it reached the number | hava stated I could not exactly tell; the force was -increased With tho view of having the work progress as rapidly ae possible: @. There was at one time, say for the space of four or five weeks, about 700 employed? A. Perhaps there was a little short of that number—say 600 and odd—I can’t tell the precise force. Q Were these men ail paid their wages to the beet of your knowledge? A. Yes, sir; I was presemt at the pay- ‘ment and knew they were paid; there may have been one or two that were not, but there was oo intention to withhold any man’s pay, I know of no deduc- tions having but know that the men con- tributed something towards the payment for some tools that wore lost, the foreman being for their safe keeping—that is for the tools of each of their gangs when some of these were lost their men were solicited make subscriptions, but i know of no man having had his money withheld’ by the paymaster or any other man, @ Have you ever heard any report of men having had their wages withheld? A, Never, except as I have stated where the men subscribed voluntarily. Q. Can you tell us the condition of the financial affairg of the Commissioners—if they have received the full understand e 000 pearly the. whole sum bas been ; i think the Treasurer has «till a small balance @ Have you any know’ who received those bonda impression it was the Bank of ledge from the Comptroller? A. Ihave not; Lam under the Commerce, @ Can Some OE A BO ony take one [nore of @ persou; 1 think the Mayor of the city @. Pid he did not tell you where you could get conn vndred thousand bonds cashed? A. Lam not aware. mate of what can be done to Could you put two thousand Q Tcould not put on such « number of men so soon. Q. How long would $260, last—would it not last @ long time? A. Yea, but it depends upon the force of labor that could be employed, ind’ that again depends the snow and frost; can only employ @ certain num! ‘of men when the frost and snow are on the ground. @ How many? A. I cannot say how many; if tha Commissioners were to go on with carta work’ Les a employ from 500 to 1,000 during the frost; itis in theig hands to say how much work will be done. We want to know if You can sot 1,500 oF 2,000 mem at work—we are anxious to Know, for the money is ready? ‘A. That is a large number of men to put on this work, ail at once, with advantage, I would have to organise tha we ork. @ Well; we will say a thousand? A, I think that num~ ber could be put to work. @ Can these men be set to work tomorrow? A. t would not like to take the whole thousand t morrow, Q Could there be that number placed on the work withs ina week? A. Ishould think there might. Q. Do you know of any member of the Common Counci} (CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGR)