The New York Herald Newspaper, March 7, 1874, Page 5

TEMPERANCE. Se THE CRUSADERS APPROACHING. Remarkable Awakening of the Spirit. Sketch of Present Temperance Organizations. The fact is undeniable that the wave of the great temperance movement, now swelling and surging tn the West, has at least caused a rise in the tide of temperance reform in the metropolis, But as yet the NEW MOVEMENT has no head or regular organization here. All is as much in chaos as when Andy Johnson went to MALEeé from Washington to organize a govern- ment of law and order out of the muddle the Con- federates had left the State in, As tn Olio, the cru- sade here requires a proper leader, Butsome fresh and vigorous individuai will, no doubt, in due time spring up to lead the temperance hosts new in an \nchoate state of organization in our city, So “THE REGULAR TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS, Méantiiné the regular temperance organizations in the city are aligning their forces, preparatory to the grand straggle when the new, or commonly callea women’s, movement shall be inaugurated here. But it should be understood that the wom- en’s movement, so called, out West, 1s not the mainspring nor the foundation of the temperance reformation that is quietly but steadily going on in this city. This new movement is peculiarly metropolitan, or a New York one, and, whether the Western feminine crusaders act as auxiliaries to | \t or vice versa, they will both, no doubt, actin harmony in order to accomplish the great good aimed at, THE NATIONAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, of which our well known citizen, Wililam E, Dodge, | ls President, and among the managers of which | are such respectedgnen us the Rey. Dr. 1. L. Cuy- ler, Rev. A. G. Lawson, Rev. M. C. Sutphen, Rev. | * Dr. Jonn Hall, Rev. Cyrus D. Foss, J. N. Stearns and many others, was organized in 1866 for the special work of creating and circulating a sound temperance literature. Among their monthly issues Bre the 7ruth’s Temperance Banner, with a circu- lation of 100,000 copies, and the National Temper- ance Advocate, with a circulation of 10,000, The publication house of the society is constantly pub- lishing temperance books, printed and bound in handsome shape, which have been scattered in every State of the Union, among the inhabitants of the Dominion of Canada and in the Old World, Teaching millions of persons who have never had temperance truths brought home to them before. At this time the demand is so great that the presses of the publishing house can scarcely supply it, and yet the society, capable of accomplishing 80 much moral good, is in debt to the amount of $10,000. Meanwhile, itis gratifying to find that the PLEDGE OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE, kept at the rooms of the society in Reade street, is being daily signea by numbers of our best known citizens. The society and all the new members | take a warm interest in the new movement. SONS OF TEMPERANCE, This is a temperance organization so well known that a reference to it is scarcely necessary here, {t was instituted in 1842, ramifies throughout the | United States and Canada, and numbers thirty- seven grand and some 2,000 subordinate divisions. The officers of the Grand Division in this city are | 8. 1. Parsons and E.H. Hopkins. The Sons also take a great interest In the new temperance move- ment inaugurated in Ohio, although not exactly agreed as to the mode of prosecuting it. The Sons | have already taken initiative measures for getting | = @ general demonstration to meet the demands | the temperance revival now going on in various | parts of the country. THE ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS was instituted in 1851, numbers forty-five grand and about 6,000 subordinate lodges. This Order extends all over the world, incluaes men and women upon perfect equality, has Robert Simpson, of Glasgow, Scotland, for R. W. G. U.; Rev. Charle: Garrett, of Liverpool, England, for R. W. G. ., and Mrs, Mattie McClellan Brown, 6f Alliance, Ohio, for R. W.G.W.M. The latter has for some time past been engaged in working up the new move- Ment in Ohio with remarkable success. THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLARS OF HONOR was organized in 1945, and embraces twenty grand temples, with subordinates in nearly all the States of the Union. Among the officers of the Supreme Council of ‘the Order is R. C, Bull, M. W. RK, of this city. m MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS. Besides the above we may briefly refer to the other organizations known as the State Temper- ance Society, Social Temples, Snow Social Unions, Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, Rechabites and Cadets of Temperance. THE CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETIES. Perhaps there is no class in our community that has larger temperance organizations than our Catholic fellow citizens, and they are all doing good work, although they do not endorse the wom- en’s movement as now conducted. HOW THE WORK GOES ON IN THE CITY. From the above it will be seen that the temper- ance organizations in the city have been of long standing, and when the new movement 1s fanrl: inaugurated there will be no want of well-disci- pltned battalions in the army of temperance to Support it. Whatever the movement may eventu- ally amount to in this city it cannot be concealed that there isa GREAT AWAKENING among many persons in the habit of using ardent spirits to excess, as well as among the liquor deal- ers, saloon keepers, bar ‘“‘princes” and others wno have more or less to do with the traffic. It is the talk of the town. The public mind ts becoming aroused on the subject. Its discussion is not con- fined to churches or hacen meetings. but our fash- lonable clubs, as well as the other places we have pamed, have taken stock in the newidea. What the friends of the cause have to do is to make the rresent movement s0 powerfal, both pecuniarily Bnd in regard to numbers, as to carry moral as well as physical force with it. There are no doubta ey many small dealers who would give up the Mc if they were shown any other way of making an honest living. The object should not be to crush these people out. Tms would be wrong. The cause of temperance can never be pro- moted by the employment of coercive measures to wecure the desired purpose. Opinions may differ in regard to the proper mode of stopping the sale of liquor, but, aiter all the coercive steps that may be suggested are taken to that end, the quotation becomes apt— He that complies against his will Ig of his own opinion still. And as for women—and we are pained to say that some of the gentler sex require as much tor ane for in the matter of the use of ardent spirits and exhilarating wines as many men who are called confirmed drunkards—attempt to coerce her, and — Jf she will, she will, vou may depend on't; And if she won't, she won't—so there's an end'on’t. Although of but a little more than a week’s birth in this city, the new movement has aroused the old horte of “‘strikers’—known as such in political conteste—but who may now be termed the TEMPERANCE LAZZARONI, ‘whose business is to select some prominent tem- perance convert, and atter protesting their devo- tion to the cause conclude their interviews by borrowing a dollar, or perhaps a quarter from the kind hearted convert. The nearest ginnery might Ree, tell balance of the story. ese temperance lazzaront may be expected at almost every corner alter the grand temperance wave begins to roll over the city. These fellows are tne first to see any poiiti- cal or moral revolution, and will ‘go for’ anybody they think they can swindle out of a dollar, WHAT THE HOTEL AND FIRST CLASS RESTAURANT KEEPERS SAY. From a pretty thorough canvass among the principal hotel and restaurant proprietors in this city touching the present temperance movement it ed be concluded that, as a class, they do not apprehend any legal or other serious difficulty. ese places pay a license fee to the city and revenue fees for the sale of liquors, cigars and as restaurants to the general government. They hold that if their business i interfered with by the visiting women’s committees, or their saloons occupied, or the sidewalks are obstructed to the injury. ot, thetr Fegular tramo, by Lif lg ether they be singing, praying or ex. rting parties, male-or fmt they have a right to invoke the ald of the city authorities for the abatement of this as of a common nuisance, and call upon the police to have their demands exe- cuted. There are very few hotel keepers who are lkely to invite their ‘visitors to occupy their bar- rooms or parlors for prayer meetings. ney argue that If the power of prayer be reuliy effective, it can be as powerful when offered up in the chorches and chapels as if uttered on their own premises. Hence we do not anticipate any great degree of reformation either among liquor sellers or liquor drinkers in this city by the interposition of the power of prayer in the places where liquor is sold, If it be sincerely thought by the temper- ance pecple that we are mistaken, in God’s name let the experiment be tried; and if good come of it, let the praise be His foreve PIONEER MOVEMENTS, a Already the female temperance phalanx have thrown out their skirmishers preparatory to the work of regularly investing the citade of the liquor traffic in this city. In the Ninth ward they have already organized for a temperance crusade, NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. 8 ii A ce aA lg A A ag hI IT SA yy RAG SLT MPG A NRT RR TC AA Rama eee See ain pas nance Sunday law, In other words, prefiminary ar- ont mhing. sat re Pp ng ag rin king joons visitant has already appeared betore the proprie- toro! a well known restaurant down town and asked him to sign a pledge to stop the sale of Hauors. His reply was couched in broad Anglo- Saxon, when his Visitant remarked, “I am a lady, sir.” “And Lam @ business man, madam, an will not permit it to be interfered with with im- punity.”” And the lady departed. These pioneer movements show which Way the present crusade is tending, and by the aid of the pulpit and the parsons, and the personal efforts of enthusiasts and fanatics, they are destined to create more than a nine day wonder in the city of New York, THE CHAMPIONS OF WATER. Meeting of Temperance Women at Bain Hall Yesterday—Filthy Lucre Want- ed—Sister Lawrence Declares She Will Pray in the Mud if Necessary—Harry Hi) to Open a Soda Fountain, The working organization of temperance women met yesterday afternoon, at two o’clock, in Bain Hall, There was @ very slim attendance, which in- cluded George Francis Train, and when the hour Jor opening the meeting arrived no lady was found willing to play an introductory on the piano, Mrs, Donellan, a wan, slim little woman, offered an impassioned prayer, in which she besought the Lord to give the New York women the power he had given to the women of the West. Wickedness and corruption were spreading through the land, and this country was becomihg @ byword of re. “proach for dishonesty and intemperdice, Before the prayer was offered a bymn had been sung with |.- much spirit, and pow another nymn, “Rock of Ages,” &c., Was sung. Mrs, ANNIE E, SMITH, avery tall, stout lady, took the chair. She opened the exercises by a lengthy reterence to the meeting at Dr. Deem's church appointing & committee of temperance women to visit the saloons, To-day this meeting was calied to enlist other women in this cause, and to enroll them as visitors. They were in no hurry to go to the saloons, as the proper time had not come yet. The women ergaged in this move- ment were women of God, and whatever He would | make known to them they would do, All women who were willing to distribute tracts should volunteer for this service, This terrible, terrible— what should she call it @— TIDE OF SIN AND INIQUITY, which was now sweeping over this country, must be stopped. To show how wretched men were made by drink she cited the case of a mother who died from a paralytic shock, and her son, who had Jost all his Jove Jor her through his trenzy for drink, She reiterated that it was time to stop this terri- ble tide of iniquity, Some people, Mrs, Smith continued, had an idea that when any particular excitement prevailed women were ready to do almost anyihing. There speaker alluded to the many different and far more serious dangers she had encountered in the course of her eventful career, God was capavle of taking care of His handmaidens if they went into liquor saloons, She did not believe in praying bejore a saloon and ovstructing the street trafic, althouyh sue would gladly go inio a rum shop if she Jeit that God desired her, but not otherwise. Mr. A. T. MOMULLEN said all who were here were probably interested in the success of this great work, and that they were im sympathy with this great Movement. ‘They had all only one wish, to accomplish the will of Almighty God. They would ask God to tell them what to do, 1t was im- possible tuat the enthusiasm in the Westcould tail to do a great deal of good here. ‘the stronger the liquor party the stronger the laws in their favor, and while they were bitterly opposed to the liquor trafilc 1t must:-be remembered that they were no enemies Oi those wao carried* on the <raffic. No man, however, had a right to trade on the misery and degradation of his brothers. 1{ there was any one here who had seen one oi! his dear ones coming nome reeling and intoxicated he would appreciate the motives which impelied them to this move- ment, They who had been redeemed from tuis curse, could they SUFFER OTHERS TO PERISH ? He would coniess again that he once was a victim to this cursed appetite, When men robbed them of their property or money 1: was bad enough, but when they were robbed of all peace and happiness by this curse, was it not time tor them to go to work? Let them ge to work prudently, but let them proceed at ouce, They had pledges here, and they could out and obtain signatures to them. They could go to the proprietors of vuild- ings, and ask them not to rent houses to be used as Tum shops, Within a gunshot of this hall there was one Oi the jargert liquor places in this city, where tue clinking of glasses and music could be heard even on sunday evenings in the church next door, and still that building was owned by an elder of a church, who was thus instrumental im sending souls to the devil. ‘hey should also invite the Roman Catholics to heip them in this work. When they went to heaven novody would ask whether they had been Protestants or Catholics, but they would all be kneeling to- gether to snout the praises of uod. They required tunds, although they paid no saiaries. They must pay for printing and also for the rent of halls whien they engaged them. ; “Nearer, My God, to Thee” was then sung with fervor. Sister LAWRENCE, & short, thin lady, with sallow complexion, dark eyes and short hair, said there was a power in the land now, and she believed that the time to work was “just now.’? Yesterday she interviewed Harry Hill, and found his saioon filled with men who were drinking liquor. She ‘was shown into a kitchen, where Mr. Hill presently made his appearance. Sne told Mr, Hill tuat the mothers and sisters of this city wanted hm to abandon his business, as they desired to SAVE THEIR OWN BROTHERS AND SONS from becoming drunkards, Mr. Hill said that he was under great expense and must make money. She asked him if it would make him happy in eter- nity to know that he had put poison in the moutns of young men? Mr. Hili asked her what other business he could begin, and she suggested a soda. fountain or @ tea and coffee saloon. She declared that the women meant work, and that, with the aid of God, they would shut up every rum shop in the clty of New York. (Applause.) ‘They loved the rumseliers, they loved the drunkards, because they had immortal souls. Some people taiked of the impropriety of women going to saloons, but as for herself she would pray in the mua from Monday till Saturday to save these immortal beings from perdition. (Applause.) They could not bear tne leariul curse any longer, and they would pray so that they might live and their children might live and be saved irom liquor and ruin. (Applause.) A collection was then taken up, after which the meeting adjourned. The Seventeenth Street Prayer Meeting. ‘The usual daily prayer meeting took piace yes- terday at the Seventeenth street Methodist Epts- copal church. The attendance was somewhat smaller than on Thursday, The proceedings were almost entirely confined to devotional exercises, although special prayers were offered up in two instances for the benefit of dealers in ardent liquors. It is, however, expected that the ladies-of the congregation will shortly organize and pro- ceed to a Vigorous distribution of tracts, while they will inaugurate a system of special prayer meetings on behalf of saloon keepers. is thought that at present it is better to confine the proceedings to an attempt at arousing public sympathy by the aid of religious exercises rather than by the taking of more acisive measures. Efforts to Engage the Clergy. Yesterday, in accordance with the resolution Passed the day previous by the Board of Managers ot the National Temperance Society, circulars were sent out calling a meeting of the clergy of all de- nominations to be held at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association on Monday afternoon next. The Methodist preachers will make the present religious and temperance revival the spe- Cial subject of discussion on Monday next at their morning session. It is proposed that they attend is meeting at the Young Men’s Christian Associa- jon. The Sons of Tempera: Extraordinary efforts are being made by the members of the Urder of the Sons of Temperance toinsure a large attendance at their mass meet- ing, to be held on Friday next, at the Seventh ave- nue Methodist church. A large number of the Order, both in this city, Brooklyn and Jersey City, have already signified their intention of being present. On this day special prayer meetii have been announced to be held in Brooklyn, the ex- pressed object being to pray for the success of the efforts of those working in the cause of virtue and sobriety in New York. Sunday at Harry Hill's, To-morrow evening Harry Hill’s concert saloon will be again thrown open to the public in the cause of temperance. It is expected that, owing to the peculiar characteristics of the place, as large a crowd will there assemble as was the case last Sunday. Mr. Hill says he is willing to be con- vinced, put wishes to have both sides of the question discussed. ‘Those who will appear ana argue on the part of total abstinence will be, it is said, Rev. G. J. Mingens, P. R. Lawrence, General Mullen, “Brick” Pomeroy, Chauncey Schafer, Ru- fus F. Andrews and others. The parties to repre- sent the other side have not yet sent in their names, although many well known public men have linted their intention to take part in the are ment. A number of ladies have sent letters to ir. Hill announcing their determination to be pres- ent if proper order is kept. Mr. pine reply, has written to assure them that lagies will be the mosy | was no danger in visiting the saloons, and tne | | | Se violation of the | welcome guests, and that no disorderly conduct need be apprehended. Active Measures in Harlem. ‘The ladies of Harlem belonging to the diferent churches are taking vigorous steps towards ar- Tanging lor & mass meeting, to be held during the latter part of next week, as the first step towards be aed the great benefits of temperanee. The v. W, C, Steel, pastor of the Beekman Hill church; Rev. Dio Lewis, who has had so much to do with the Western movement, and others, are already engaged to speak 60 soon ag a day for the meeting is fixed, ‘To-morrow @ mass prayer meeting is to be held Qt the distillery, kept by Mr, Sands, at the corner of ligth street, under the leadership of Rev. W. W. Bowdish, of the 119th street Methodist £pisco- palchurch. Mr, Sands has expressed his willing- hess to give up the trafic in liquors, [he result is expected to be that his place will be taken for the purpose of holding a dally prayer meeting therein, in the Sunday following a special prayer meeting will be held in the 119th street church, Alarm Among Saloon Keepers. Considerable anxiety is felt among the German lager bier and other saloon keepers in the Twelfth, Nineteenth, Twenty-second and Thirty-second wards as to the ultimate result of the crusade, which they evidently fear is being commenced against them. Several of the most prominent of them came together last evening at a saloon on Third avenue, and discussed the question of form- ing @ mutual protective association, Considerable discussion was had when it was finally determined to await turther result beiore taking any action in the matter, THE MOVEMENT IN BROOKLYN. The Women’s Temperance Society met yesterday in the Reformed Church on the Heights, Monroe place, the President, Mrs. Elwell, in the chair. Ad- dresses weré made by Miss Sarah Smiley and others, The ladies prayed that ‘they might not sbrink from any duty, no matier however dis- agreeable and hard,” and that “the drunkard may fall on his knees and say, ‘Lord save me, or I perish.’'? It was resolved to canvass the churches and community for the purpose of obtaining the names of the women who are willing to engage | personally in the work, It was decided to establish and maintain temperance prayer meetings ia vari- ous sections of the city. Temperance pledges are to be circulated among all classes, and landlords will be urged against the renewal of leasing premises for the sale of Hquors, Circulars will be distrib- uted among the “ginseilers,” appealing to them to ive up their business and enter upon some more faudatle occupation in life. Bands of ladies of six each are to be assigned to a limited number of Uquor saloons to visit them from time to time in a | quiet way ior persuasion to desist from the trafic, It was resolved to call a mass meeting to he held | in the Hanson place church on next Thursday evening. THE MOVEMENT IN JERSEY. Last nignt an enthusiastic meeting of the follow- ers and propagators uf temperance was held in St, | Paul’s Methodist Episcopal church, Jersey City, Rev. D. R. Lowrie presiding. The church was well filled, the principal part of the congregation being composed of ladies, Several speakers addressed the meeting upon the great good to be effected by proper organization and perseverance, especially by personal visitation and action by the ladies, It was announced that other meetings would be held during the ensuing week, when-it was hoped that the say portion of the community would show their zeal in the cause by attending. Among those present were Mrs. Adams, of Har- Jem, and Miss Anna Raymond, both of whom have done good work in the work of organizing the ladies into @ temperance league, THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION IN CONGRESS. The Proposed Commission to Collect Statistics on Whiskey, &.—The Politi- cal Drift of the Agitation, the Suppres- sion of Intemperance, or Repressive Measures from Congress—Cheap Trans. portation asa Branch ot the Temper- ance Movemont. WASHINGTON, March 6, 1874. For 9 week or two past the Senate has been dis- cussing from time to time a joint resolution pro- viding !or the appointment by the President of a commission of five persons to Collect statistics of the consumption of alcoholic liquors throughout the United States, The commissioners are to serve without pay, and only some $10,000 will be required for the contingent expenses of their re- searches, The ultimate object of their labors is not expressed, but it is admitted to be some legis- lative measure or measures from Congress for the suppression of alcoholic intemperance. The idea of the commission is said to come from the Uon- gressional ‘'emperance Society, of which Vice President Wilson is an active and earnest mem- ber. The statistics contemplated will doubtless embrace the capital and labor employed in the manufacture of spirituous anda fermented liquors in every State and Territory of the Union, and the quantities of such liquors consumed in the several States and Territories, the number o! per- sons in each State and Territory employed in the liquor tramMc, wholesale and retail; and the statis- tics of crime, destitution, disease and deaths re- sulting from the intemperate use of alcoholic stimulants, and the resulting costs and losses to individuals, families, communities and to the States and Territories and to the United States, REPRESSIVE MEASURES TO BE RECOMMENDED. The commission will next doubtless recommend some repressive measures from Congress—some rigid system of taxation against the manufac- ture and sale of spirituous and fermented liquors from the distillery and the brewery to the corner grocery and the beer garden. Such ts surely the unaerlying purpose of the temperance party in thts proposed commission. Their pur- pose is to bring the temperance agitation directly into Congress upon a bill or bills for the suppres- sion of intemperance throughout the United States, and if they can suppress it in no other way to tax it out of existence, 4 PHASE OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS. The proposition has assumed already the form of @ republican measure. There is a temperance party in Many oj the States which is deemed worth conciliating—in New Hampshire and Connecticut, jor instance. Above all, the present astonishing crusade of singing and prayer by the women of the West against the liquor saioonsis a women’s rights movement. which cannotbe despised; tor behind these bands of singing and praying women stand large bodies of voters who will be heard from in the fall elections on the temperance issue. Such is the driit of this temperance agitation. Like the abolition movement, having passed the incipient stage of a moral agitation, it is becoming a pollti- cal movement, and is coming into Congress, THE COVERT DESIGN. Democratic members may cry out State rights; beware of trenching upon State rights; beware of further steps towards a centralized despotism! Mr. Schurz may say that this commission {or col- lection of alcoholic statistics is outside the proper fanctions of Congress; that you’ may as well in- quire into the statistics of diseases resulting from the consumption of soda biscuits or into the evils resulting from female extravagance in dress; but the liquor commission will be ordered as the clear- ing of the ground for the suppression ot alcoholic intemperance, so far as it can be suppressed, by act of Congress. There i3 no harm in this commission, In order to act wisely in the laying of taxes upon distillertes and liquor dealers Congress may need these proposed statistics; but it isa movement of the Temperance League, and behind it lies their grand design—the suppression of intemperance by coercive measures from Congress, GREAT INCREASE OF LIQUOK TRAFFICKERS. We are promised some extraordinary revelations touching the spread of mtemperance in all parts of the United Staves since the war, ‘from the centre ali round to the sea.” We are informed that within the last ten years, except the New England States, there has been an increase in the liquor 8loons Of most of the cities, towns and vil- lages of the Union that is perfectly astounding; that the census of 1870 does not furnish the neediul statistics upon that matter; that within the iast four years, irom year to year, driven by want of other employment, or attracted by the profits of the retail liquor traffic, thousands upon thousands of men, beyond the annual average increase in the business before the war, have gone into it, and that the numbers added to the business in 1873, particularly in the Western States, are as two to one against the increase of any preceding year since the war. CHEAP TRANSPORTATION AS A REMEDY. The want of cheap transportation in the West has operated SSE nOr to enlarge the manulac- ture and consumption of whiskey in that section since the war. The production of wheat and In- dian corn in the Western States of late years has been go immense, and has so cheapened tue arti- cles, that after the transportation of these pro- ducts to the seaboard the profits of the farmer are almost nothing. He converts his surplus corn, where he can to an advantage, into f, pork, mutton and wool; but the bess article for ready cash into which he can convert his corn 16 whiskey. Dear transportation has thi perated to increase the whiskey distilleries, whiskey seliers and whis- key drinkers over all the W The Temperance League, therefore, are with the grangers tor cheap transportation, though against th gers in going for exhaustive taxation on whiskey. This longress will amuse the grangers in the discussion of cheap transportation this session, and with the promise of a relief bill at the next; but the Tem- perence, League, in addition to their commission r whiskey statistics, will get from this session pemee faresenes roe * o whiskey: if for rae Ing else, ior the good will of the bands the women of tlie West. aaa PUT NONE BUT WOMEN ON GUARD. To THE Epiron oF THE HERALD:— Af this war against the liqoor dealers is to be carried to a successtul issue it must be conducted by women, What should be the plan of the cam- paign we venture not to suggest; that must be leit to the fertile resources of female ingenuity. It may be @ question whether our New York rum- sellers are as easily reached by the power of prayer as were those in Ohio and Indiana. We fear that ours are of the kind that go not out but by fasting and prayer. If they conid be made to fast a8 long as the women prayed the result would not be doubtiul, The ladies of New York and Brooklyn are as wise and brave as their sisters in the West. surely they have a3 good reason to be in mighty earnest, Their cause is the same. The wrongs they have suffered are as great, They seek not to avenge | those wrongs, but to protect themselves against | their repetition, They ask not ‘indemnity ior the past,’? but they demand security jor the future, Temperance movements have been inaugurated and managed almost invariably by men ever since the organization of the old Wasbiigtontan society. A thirty years’ war has been carried on by the “Washingtonians,” the “sons,” the ‘Rech+ abites” and kindred associations; but during most of this time the war has been conducted ou peace principles, A dignified con- servatisim has prevailed, Few aggression cam- paigns have been placned, An occasional attempt bas been made to secure legislative action for pro- hibiting or regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors. ‘To this end alliances with the politicians have sometimes seemed expedient; but they have proved ere “entangling alliances,” and have re- juited In little good, Politicians, as a class, are not friends to the temperance cause, and this as- sertion includes ail grades, from the lowest grog: shop brawler up to him who sits im our State or nauonal Legisiavure and calls himsel! a statesman. Temperance men have learned to put not their trust im politicians, The societies above named have done a noble work in reform- ing drunkards and in saving thousands olf young men from a drunkard’s = iife, But what have they done in ail these years tuwards | suppressing the rum traffic? Nothing. We ven- ture the assertion that there are now more grog shops in proportion to the population in ihese two cities than ever before. Since the efforts of men | have so entirely failed to reach the source of the great evil we are giad that women are ready to come to the rescue. We welcome them as the | forlorn hope. We would have the temperance | army reorganized, with women as leaders and | women to constitute the rank and file. Let but few men be enlisted—just enough to do the drudg- ery of tho camp. Assign them to no places of honor or danger. Few of them can be trusted within sight (or smell) of the enemy's lines, But | we can trust the earnest, faithful praying woman, | “Put none but women on guard’ should be a special order from the commander-in-chief. Issue but one proclamation to the liquor dealers, and let it be this, “We propose to move upon your works mmediately.’? THE FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE’S “CHARITY.” a To THE Eprror oF THE HERALD:— I am delighted to see that Hnglish dramatic writers deal with social subjects as fearlessly as French dramatists. Our Gallic brethren have never minced these matters, Vice they have held up for public execration, and hypocrisy they have always unmasked, Old classic British writers were quite ag bold, but their successors im these days have been afraid to touch social subjects for fear of being considered indelicate, American dramatists have been and are so squeamish that they dare not paint sin in any of its recognized colors, Al hail, then, to the effort of a new and powerfal English mind in the direction of vigorous combat upon the side of virtue! The occasion of these remarks 1s the recent pro- duction of W. 8, Gilbert’s drama, “Charity,” at the Filth Avenue Theatre. Here is a play which is the best we have had trom England in ten years. It surpasses Robertson’s *Caste,’? “School,” “Home,” &c., immeasurably. Its plot is strong, decided and absorbing; its dialogue witty beyond all reasona- ble expectation in modern plays; its situations intense and its incidents crowd thick and fast. I went to see it acted at the Fifth Avenue Thea- | tre on Tuesday night, because I heard it was a play that dared touch the sacred subject of woman’s folly. I knew, of course, it would be elegantly acted, because the best performers in Mr. Daly’s company were init, and I was certain we should have the subject presented at ita best. Well, what did I see? A play in four acts that lasted three hours and drew from the crowded audience pres- ent alternate tributes of copious tears, loud and hearty laughter and vociferous applause The au- dience was one of the very choicest ever gathered in a theatre—as the audience at the Filth Avenue is sure to be. This audience of intelligent, re- fined, pure and bright people, sharing with Wal- lack’s the cream of New York in solidity and intel- ligence, applauded ‘Charity’ to the echo, as they have applauded “Money.” At times the play had to be stopped to permit these outbursts of appro- bation, Never has @ play been so continuously interrupted by expressions of delight. Hardly a speech was spoken that did not “bring down the house.” Now, what were those speeches? They were pointed hits at the follies, the frailties, the deceptions, the lies and the hypocrisies of tie day! There was no mincing the lesson taught. Itwasa sound lashing of the wickedness of uncharitable- ness, and every lash echoed in the applause of the hearers, Then the tears that were shed! The sympathy excited by the sorrows oj the women of the piece was a sure sign of the feeling of the best American hearts for women who have suf- fered, but who have risen superior to their suffer- ings and their temptations. tell you, Mr. Editor, the people have hearts, and this play touches them. May the discovery of the fact excite our American writers to a sense of their responsibility, Our novelists are not afraid to tell the story of woman’s woe and woman’s re- pentance in books which we all read, but our dram- atists are afraid to tell that story in tneir plays, It is a truittul theme, Hundreds of plays might be written to expose the cant that stifles in our so- ciety the voice of sympathy. ‘The fallen have sunk lower for want of that sympathy. It is considered | | a revolting topic to touchon. Why? Our minis- ters and our churches take up the subject and try to work the reform of the frail, But the theme they may dilate upon is thought too “indelicate’”’ for the theatre! But the blow to cant has been struck. “Charity” delivers that blow iull between the eyes, and its moral is plain. As to the charactera in the play, they seem chosen by inspiration, Mrs. Van Brough, a young widow, and her daughter Eve, are ladies moving in the very best English rural society. The mother be- eves hersell to be the victim of her late husband’s villany, and that she was not his lawtul wife, Knowing how fatal would be such a discovery, she devotes her life to deeds o1 charity, which may be accepted by Providence as an atonement and pro- pitiation to avert a public exposure. But it comes at last. She is found out. Then comes the crush- ing revenge of Cant and Hypocrisy in the persons of Uld smailey, his son, d Smailey, and that precious vessel, Skinner (played with a power and brilliancy that were worth a dozen sermons), They turn the defenceless woman forth, rob her of her property, break off the match between her daughter and Fred Smailey and heap every degra- dation upomher, But the antitheses of these canting villains is found in the pure and upright Bishop Athelney, his son Ted Athe)ney, and the sharp but conscientious detective Fitzpartington. These three foil the efforts of the other three in their plots against Mrs, Van Brugh and Eve, restore the food name and fortune Of the injured women and bring the play toa happy conclusion, But the greatest picture drawn by the dramatist was that Ruth Tredgett. This was presented by an actress who on that night startled me and the public by stepping | with ease irom high comedy into a demandin intense dramatic power, fine sensibility and exquisite character painting. The personation was a marvel; thing to be remembered, Here is the character :— | A tramp, @ poor, wretched, ragged, fierce, un- tamed creature—a thief, a jailbird and—worse, But a woman! A woman who can be saved if a helping hand be stretched out. And that hand was found in Van Brugh. ‘True charity does its work, The outcast is saved. The cla l ig was hard. The aulience was melted to tears in that grand scene where the aristocratic English lady took pid the reluctant hand of the tramp, Ruth dgett, and lifted her into the light of mercy and reformation. This act saved the aristo- cratec lady. Ruth ih id was the possessor of proof of Uld Smatiey's villany, and, acting in con- cert with the good and nobie hearts in the play, be: “ imporcant Part in bringing the hypocrites 0 justics A Vedas Play for those who longed to see an Knglish treatment of what we have hitherto thought an exclusively French subject. All honor to the actors who made these remarkable char- acters live and walk and speak; to the Manager who had faith in the appreciation of an American public; to that audience whicn received the play with open arms, Every scene was applauded. The curtain had to rise twice alter each act, and the players Were recalled at the end to receive their due. A8 companion said to me when it was all over, “We have had ail the cardinal virtues here to-night. The manager had Falta, che actors had Hope and the auaience had ‘Charity,’ and the great- eat Of theve Ws ‘Charity.’ You We" JGNNIE MULMSLEY. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. More Mandamuses—Bills for Work on Armo- ries—The Power of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to Appropriate $700,000 for Contingencies Denied— Full Report of the Committee om Civil Courts—The Law Cited Pursuant to adjournment this Board held a session yesterday afternoon, Mr. Samuel H. B. Vance, in the absence of the Mayor, presiding, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. A peremptory mandamus signed by Judge Larre- more, directing the Board of Supervisors to audit and allow the bills of Patrick Stuart and others for serving tax notices from February 4 to May 4, 1870, amounting to $1,659, was served upon the Board. | On & motion made to lay over and make this mandamus the special order for Monday next Recorder Hackett rose and said that in this matter he could only express himself ia the same manner as he did in the previous session upon other man- damuses—viz., that the Board had no alternative | but to allow the claim, Supervisor Flanagan offered a resolution to this effect, which was | adopted, Supervisors Ottendorfer and McCafferty voting in the negative. The Committee on Armories and Drilirooms re- ported in favor of paying the olli of Jacob Weber for masonwork done on Centre Market Armory, original'y handed in for $21,474 41, at $20,994 51. Supervisor VAN ScHaik could not see why this slight reduction only should be made after the | committee had once reported in fayor of paying for the same work performed an amount o1 only $9,000, If the labor was done, and well done, why not pay the full amount claimed by Mr. Weber? He moved to lay the matter over for one week, to | give the members an opportunity to examine the | matter more closely. Supervisor PETER KEHR argued in favor of pay- ing the amended bill, inasmuch as a number ot ex- perts who measured the work done reported in favor of paying $20,994 51. Mr. Hatfleld, whose word was relied upon, proposed allowing Mr. Weber's bill at only $9,000, Supervisor VAN Scuaicx said—It has been said | that some member of this board has been inter- ested in the work done on this armory, at least so far as to endorse notes of the contractors furnrsh- ing material. He hoped, therefore, that the sub- ject would not be pressed at this time, but that | the members would be given an opportunity to in- | vestigate. The motion to reconsider the resolution already adopted, to pay Mr. Weber $9,000 for this { b work, was rescinded. On motion of Supervisor MONHEIMER the con- sideration of the report was laid over until the | hext meeting. A bill of the Manhattan Gas Company, for light- ing the County Jail from September 14, 1872, to December 31, 1873, for $2,837, was ordered paid, as also the bills of several morning journals, for pub- lishing the Stieriff notices of the last election. On motion, the Sixth regiment, N. G. 8. N. Y., was ordered to occupy Glass Hall, instead of Nilsson Hall, and the Major General commandin, the First Division requested to carry out tae said instruction. CONTINGENT ESTIMATES, Supervisor BILLINGs called up the report of the Committee on Civil Courts, made to the Board February 16, and laid over, concerning the power of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to make appropriations for county contingenctes, which was unanimously adopted. ‘Fhe committee recite the preamble and resolu- ons referring the subject to Said committee as LOWS 7 — Whereas by, the 112th section of the amended Charter ot 1873 (Chap, 835 of Laws of £473), it is provided, in order toenable the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to make the provisional estimate of the amounts required to pay the expenses of conducting the public bustuess of the city and county of New York, that the heads | of departments and the Board of Education shail send | to the Board of Apportionment an estimate in writ- ing of the amount of expenditure required in their respective departments, which departmental estimates were thus furnished by'the several departments before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment made its esti- mate for the current year, and were beforehand con- sidered by tt; and whereas in the sald departiental esti- mates there were included amounts suficient, tn the Judgment of the respective heads thereof, to meet and pay all expenditures which could not be ‘foreseen, usu- ally calle Known as contingencies, which In the az- aregate contained all the conungent expenses of all the | departments of the city and county; and whereas the Board of Estimate and Apportionment has, in its final estimate of the amount to be raised by tax upon the es- tates, real and personal, subject to taxation within the city and county of New’ York, included the sum of halt « million of dollars for city contingencies and $200,000 for county contingencies; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That inasmuch as grave’ doubts exist as to the power of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to include the said two sums, or anv other gum, in its Provisional estimates for cit contingencies genorally, that the Committee on Civil Courts be re- quested to inform this Board atits next meeting if there | be any power or authority of law for the Board of kst- mate and Apportionment to include in its provisional es- timate the said sum of $500,000 for the city and the said sum of $200,000 for county contingencies respectively, or any other sum: and if so, how, when and by what stat- ute such power or authority ts conferred and exists, The Committee on Civil Courts, in pursuance of the in- structions contained in the annexed resolution, to inform this Board i1 there be any power or authority of law for the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to Include in its provisional estimate the several items of $500,000 for the pity and the sum of $200,000 for the county, as special contingencies, or any other.sum; and if so, when and by what statute such power or authority is conterred and exists, respectiully REPORT: That, upon a careful investigation of the whole sub- ject, they are clearly of opinion that the powers relerred to do notexistin the Board of Estimate and Apportion- ment, which was created under and in pursuance of the provisions of section U2 of the amended charter of 1873 (chapter 335, Laws of neat and can only have and the powers therein granted. In order that the full scope and meaning of the section may be readily comprehended we insert itin full. It is follows :— gue. 2 [As amended by rection 20, chapter 757, Laws of ‘oller, President of the Board 1873.}—The Mayor, Com: ot Aldermen and the President of the Department ot Taxes and Assessments shall constitute a Board of Ksti- mate aud Apportionment, who shall, annually, between the Ist day of August and the Ist day of November, meet, and by the affirmative vote'of all the members make a provisional estimate of the amounts required to pay the expenses of conducting the public business of the city and county of New York, in each | department and branch thereof, and’ the Board of Education for the then next — ensuin, financial year. In such provisional estimate they sh: include sach sum as may be necessary for the payme! of the interest on the bonds ot the said city and county which shall become due and payable within said year, and such sum ag shall be necessary to pay the principal of any bonds and stocks which may become due and pay- able from taxes during said year, and also so much as may be necessary to pav the proportion of the State tax required to be paid by the city and county of New York in said year. Such provisional estimate shall be pre- pared in'such detail as to the aggregate sum allowed to each department and bureau as the said Board of Appor- tionment shall deem advisable, For the purpose of king said provisional estimate the heads ot de iments and the ard of Education shall, at it thirty days before the said provisional estinate is required to be made as herein provided, sena to the Board of Apportionment an imate in writing, herein called a departmental estimate, of the amount of | expenditure, specifying in detail the objects thereof required in their respective departments, including a statement of each of the silaries of their officers, clerks, employes and subordinates. The same statement as to salaries and expenditure shall be made by all other offi- cers, persons and boards having power to fix or authorize | them. A duplicate of these departmental estimates and | statements shall be made at the same time to the Bi f Aldermen. The Board of Apportionment such departmental estimates aud other ements in making the provisional estimates herein provided, and in approving the salaries of the officers, clerks and other persons before named. After such provisional es- | timate is made by the Board of Apportionment it shail be submitted by said Board, with their reasons tor it in detail, within ten days, to the Board of Algermen, whereupon a spe: ‘meeting of said Board shall be called to consider such estimate, and the same shall be simultameously published in the Gity Record; and it shall be their duty carefully to consider and investi- | gate the said provisional estimate and the reasons as- signed therefor; but such consideration and it tion shall not continue beyond fifteen di Mons to or rectifications of said provision: by said Board of Aldermen shail be mac or count by said Board ia writing, and transmitted by the clerk thereof to the deration of such ee} ions or rectifications, and alter such consideration shall make @ final estimate Should the said Board overrule the objections or suggestions made by the Board ot Aldermen, the reasons for such action shall be published in the City Record. After ie final estimate is made, in accordance here- with, it shall be signed by the members, and when } so signed the said several sum all be and become appropriated to the several purposes and departments therein named. The said estimate shall be filed in the office of the Comptroller and published in the City Kecord. go estimated shall be certified by ‘oller to fhe, pupervisors of the county of New it shall be the duty of said Supervise and ‘e hereby empowered and directed annuall cause to be rai according to law, and collected by tax upon the estates, real and personal, subject to taxation within the city and county of New York, the said amounts so estimated and certified as aforesaid. The first mm ol every year shall be called by m the Mayor personatiy served upon the mem- sof said board. sequent ineoti all be called gs the said Board shall direct. At such meetings the Mayor shall preside, and one of the number shall act as secretary. In addition two herein provided ‘for, the said may at any timo, ion may require, by the affirmative vole of three members, authorize the issue of ay socks or, bonds for purpose of withdrawing or taking up at maturity any stocks or bonds for the purpose outstanding ; but the \ bonds or their proceeds shail be applied exclusively to ent, purchase and extinction of such maturing Board of eee who shall proceed to the consi- | | | uch Manner that the regate of the stocks or bot ‘id city outstanding s! fa not be increased thereby for a longer period than is necemary in effecting said chan; The said Board of Apportionment may, from time, by the affirmative vote ot three mem- bers, authorize the issue of the whole or any ortion of al stock or bonds which are now sy Imw authorized to be issued, upon compliance ith the provisions of law autho! them. ‘The said Board of apportionment may, trom time to time, @ head of any department, on the hee? of authorize the transfer trom one bureau or purpose to another in the same department of any sum theretofore ropriated for the purpose of such department or bu- reau, but no department or officer shall incur any ex- ense in excess Of SUM appropriated. The Board of Ap- ortionment may, within forty days after thi eo sence creo, reviee and readjust, in aecordance with he Dro- | duties’ entrusted to them ‘while acting as a | Commodore, James Clifford; President, visions hereof, the apportionment ies eric ontiieraah genta ot apariae aad Au Fecag endc aad tong ntine yt Bata aco prior to ‘the, organtzation “ot he vara Shall, not, nment by this act created, affect any act herethre powers now pos such Board not inconsistent w: act, are hereby continued and eS the Board hereby created and authorized. and all or proceedings in which th monalty of the ants sball have a preference and 1 ‘out of their order on the calendar. Any balances of appropria. Uons remaining unexpended, atver allowing sufficient to. satisfy all claims payable therefrom. may at any time, atter the expiration of the year for which were made, be twansterred Comptroller, with the approval of said Board of Estimate and Apportionment, to the gener! fund of the city and app! to the reduc- tion of taxation.”” Your committee are unable to discover, after a most caretul and critical analysis of the above section, any Bower of authority, cised by the Bou: gperepriate any sum of money for any pur than “to pay the expenses of conductii Ress of the city and county of New partment and branch thereof, and the tion,” after the Said provisions of law, which are clearly set forth there- on, and which require the several he: of deparuments and the Board of Education to submit to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment estimates in writing of the amount of expenditures required in their r ceive de- partments for the consideration of the sald Board, then De submitted to and considered by the Board of Alder- men, transmitted by the clerk thereof to the said of Bstumate and AbRortionment, with the objections and Tectitications made by the Board of Aldermen, and then a final estimate to hg made by said Board of ‘Apportion+ bower or talned vesting in the aald Board ot Betieats eat wee the right to make appropria those asked for by the different beads of departments and the Board of Education sc if i hi i cousequently the appro- poe els Ag led of the sum of $500 for spect on account Tegal and without warrantotlaw., the elty, is clearly ie ith regard (othe manner of makin; riatio: for expenses connected with the puolic busmees ata city, section 112 of the present city charter, which creates the present Board of Estimate and Appordome ment, and prescribes its powers and duties, 1s close aed im detining the mode and torm to be ‘ob- served by the Board ot Estimate and Apportionsnens, No power is therein contained that will, even by impli: cation, warrant the Board in appropriating, Sete bes done, the sum of $500,000 tor special elty contingencies, ach department of the city government and the Board of Education was allowed # liberal amount tor “con- tingencies,” and is not likely to need any portion of the large sum thus illegally appropriated" It is a most dangerous precedent to establish, a8 itis clear that tis floating tund, in the hands of ambitious or corrupt men (ana this or has been, and doubiless will again be, aftiicted with both), could be used as a whip toc over the heads of the departments of the city govern. ment and keep ther tn subjection. For many years past annual tax levies have been pro- vided for by the State Legislature, which contained grievous imposition upon our people, but in no case has such an anomaly as 4 floating fund of this character been provided. ‘The objects of appropriating for the use of departments ts to limit or check their expenditures, and toenable the Board of Alderinen and the public to know how much each department isto expend. This object is utterly frustrated if a floating jund of this or any magnitude can be held in reserve to enable any favored department secretly to increase its expenditure. Itis specially provided, by this same section 112 that no de- partment or officer of the city government shall incur any expense in excess of the sum 80 appropriated. the Board of Estimate and Apportionment have reduced the departmental estimates to wn amount which they fear will notenable such department to properly con- duct ity Dusiness, it was the daty of said Board to in- ¢rease such amounts, and not to take a seeming saving in one direction which is more than counterbalanced by any lilegal appropriation in another. With referenee to the appropriation of $200,000 for special contingencies for the county the law is differens, ut the facts are precisely similar. Chapter 779, Laws of 1873, being an act entitled “An act relating to raising money by taxation, in the count of New York, for county purposes,” passed June Li (subsequent to the passage of the charter), by section 1, provides that it shall be the duty ot the Board of Estis mate and Apportionment “annually, by the concurriny vote of all the meinbers ot gaid Board, to estimate an certity, in the manner provided in section 2 of chapter 573 of the Laws ot 1871, such amount as shall be necessary to be raised by taxation in the city and county of New York for county purposes” Section 2 of chapter 573, Laws of 1871, above referred to, provides that the said Board, “or a majority of them, shall, and are nerevy directed to, on or before the lei day of December, in each and every year hereafter, an immediately for'the present year, being the year 1s71, muke and agree upon an estimate of the various sums of money which, in their discretion, will be required to defray all the Various expenses necessary tor conducting the county forecnient and all legal charges against the county. under special laws, and also for paying the in- terest on the county debt and the principal of such debt falling due, and the proportion of the State tax sessed by an: visions of thi arly payatle by ibe county ot Now. Pocks nooomline asthe ee penses aforesaid are incurrable under and by existing 18 rovisions of law, and thereupon to fix and dete: ¢ Amount of such eatimates and various expenses, Chapter £83, Laws ot 1871, proiaes for raising the amount appropriated, under the provisions of chapter 573. Section 5 of said chapter 583 provides as follows :— “No liability tor any purpose whatsoever shall be here- after incurred by any department of the city of New York or officers of the county oi New York exceeding in amount the appropriations made tor such purposes; nor snall the city or county of New York eld liable for any indebtedness so tncurred."” Beyond question it is clear that in cases of appropria- tions for either the city or county governments, estimates of the amounts necess4ry for conducting the public busi- ness ig @ coudition precedent to action being taken b; the Board of Estimate and apportionment, if not base upon some existing provision of law. The powers of the suid Board are confined exclustvely to a supervision over the estimates of the several departinents of the two gov- ernments; on the city government over the action of the Board of Aldermen, dpon the estimate, if amended or rectitied, and to appropriate, in other cases, the sums ne- cossury ‘to pay expenses. ‘incurrable and by exist provislons of law.” ‘There isno provision of law in exis ence, that your commntice has been enabled to discover, that ‘empowers the Board of Estimate aud Apportion- ment to originate or create any sum or appropriation for any purpose ‘whatever, either for the city or county, that has not been first shown to be necessary for con- ducting ether or both governments or in obedience to existing provisions of laws, [tts also clear, in the minds of your committee, that no Legislature of the State, hav- ing in view the welrare of the people of the city and county, would entrust such an absolute control over their most vital interests to the keeping of tour public officials who, in the disposition of the financial concerns of the city and county, are absolutely removed froin all accoun- tability, if not responsibility, for the performance 2 ae ir of Estimate and Apportionment. Without direct accountability there is no, responsibility, and this was clearly understood and tully appreciated by those who were instrumental in the passage of the act chapter 573, Laws of 187i—inen who were tamiliarly known to our taxpayers as composing the old “ring.” Did the officials who form the present Board have @ con- tinued lease of power, it cannot be doubted trom their well known honesty and integrity, that these vital inter. ests would be administered in @ manner at once credita- Die to them and advantageous to the people; but with the expiration of the present year the terms of office of half the Board will expire, and there no cer- tainty that an entire ‘new Board tat the ‘time, not sooner, be called into exist. ence, whose acts may be in| mi contrast to those of the present members. The present Board having, as your committee believe, through an erroneous interpretation of the laws prescribing thelr powers and duties, added $700,000 legally to the taxes to be paid the year 4 by the inhabitants ot the city and ‘county, if such a proceed- ing is acquiesced in by our government and people what is fo prevent a subsequent Board from appropriating, in a like manner, ad libitum, to meet the supposed exigencies of the public business? If three-quarters of a million dollars can legally be appropriated in this mi thi ear five or ten or tweaty millions of do! ¢ manuer, appropriated next yooh, Jnitum, until the city and county are Dankrupt. In conclusion, your committee beg leave to ive itas their opinion that there is not any provision of law au- thorizing the Board ot Estimate and Apportionment to make appropriations other than those known to bt cessary to conduct the public business of the cit; county, and predicate { upon the estimates of ral Peres oft the city government and the Board of Education, or in obedience to Gruing pravinans of law; that they have not been able to ascertain what officer of department of the city government is authorized or em- powered to expend the money thus appropriated, when Taived by taxation aoe the Reople of this city, and be- lieve the appropriation to be illegal, a usurpation of au- 5 thority an without qrarrent of jaw. Ss. A. by ER, RICHARD FLANAGAN, } Civil Courts, After the adoption of the report the Board ad- journed to meet next Monday. WILLIAMSBURG YACHT OLUB, At the recent annual meeting of this club, held at-their house Joot of Eagle street, Greenpoint, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Commodore, William H. Rexter; Vice Tv W. Reeves; Secretary, Charles E, Mielke; Assistant Secretary, A. Parick; Treasurer, Charles Lahman; Measurer, Joseph Northrop; Steward, Edward Grissan; Trustees, S, 8, Free, Frank Thorne, Isaac Merrett, Edward Grissan, William Sware; Regatta Committee, Gallaudet Pease, Levi Smith, William Joy, George W. Kidd, &. 0, Tuttle. The club has a membership of over 100, and the balance in the treasury is of @ very satisfactory amount, A new club house has been built within the past year, and on the books of the organization is a fleet of twenty cabin and open boats, Tne annual Tegatta will take place in June, HORSE NOTES, The entries for the stakes to be run for at Mon- mouth Park during the coming summer meetings have been made, We give a comparative table of the number for this year with that of 1873:— 1873, 1874, Hopeful Stakes. . 24 pyy Monmouth Cup. 13 22 July Stakes... % 21 Monmouth Seque'! -M 16. | Thespian Stakes.. 2 93 Long Brancb Stake: “4 19 August Stakes... 20 WOUME Ys. ves vvees cenveuedcbasaanaie 166 The above stakes closed on the ist inst., and the numbers given are those received up to last night, There are, doubtless, 8|0me more on the way, and when all have been received we will publish the complete liste of the names and 8 of the horses. The above number for 1874 shows an in- crease in the ate over th thirteen, 6 wees @ previous year of ‘at Page Gaara races wel ¢ Mecting of t decided on—Fri ne oats Messrs. Smith & us, purchased the gray m: Ttie (trotter) Messrs. Lawrence & Lorillard have racing stable Hyder Ali, b; ton, dam Lady’ Suetwood: rer wet oe a erwood, three ol dam Walden will train for the above gentiomaa at lessrs. Lawrence & Co, have sol lebrated hardier ‘Lochiol to Mesare. Stewarts J. ' tease horaes True . F. Tr '@ race he Wednesday last. “They Tul sncch Satie Wee 1e| latter part of next wee 4 for b1,000 Leastingvon dasa [a jady Bruce, by Leaming- =