The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-14

divisions receive their appointments from different
sources This is complicated and inefficient system.
These separate organizations tend, am informed to
excite discussions between the individuals composing
them, which incompatible with the efficiency of
well regulated police.
BY the act passed by the Legislature of this State
May 4 1874 entitled IAN Act for the establishment Of
to the Common Council to adopt by ordinance and thus
put in operation the sections of that act relating to
fit to enact such an ordnance but it is competent for
You to do
This law appears to contain within itself complete
system It confers powers and imposes regulations
which the city does not possess and establish
der its charter any former law and which
tal to the object in views it is presented to us under
circumstances which deserve respect and appears
to be better calculated to give efficient police than
the system now in operation, any which is within
the legal competency of the Common Council to carry
into effect.
Nothing short of radical defects in the plan which tho
City Government cannot remedy by auxiliary legislation
ought to prevent from avaing ourselves Of these
valuable grants, which, if reject in this form,
session OF the Legislature and almost at the close of
official existence The defect which is prominent
is the appointment of policemen for a single year.
Their term of Office being the with that Of the
aldermen, assistants and assessors who to appoint
them there is danger that the whole system will be in
volvod in the ncessant srfe and annual changes Of par
ties and its agents precluded from the experience and
independence which indispensable to their useful,
constitute strong objection the plan may be
died by the Legislature before its effects expert
enced This important subject merits have doubt
II VIII receive, your early and careful consideration
] am informed by the President of the Croton Aque
duct Board, that the department under his supcrinten
for the year ending the 3lst December, ls45 were
$ilsooo and from present appearances, they promise
rS cav 20 ieacn ,ne sum OF siSoooo some improve
will be explained in detail in the communication which
the Board will shortly make to your honorably body.
The administration of tho Government of the City has
been committed to US at PERIOD and under circumsan
ces which require Of the greatest prudence energy
and economy. We are forewarned that profe ssons will
be dlSreCarded that shall indeed according
our works. If we deprecate such judgment,
willing to invoke it. we unpreparcd for proper dis
charge OF the responsibilities which have assumed
The only safe rule of official conduct is to do what in
our convictions, right in entire disregard Of personal
or temporary consequences II follow this rule and
continually bear in mind that temporzing policy is
policy that leads inevitably to ruin we shall be amply
compensated Tor any immediate Inconvenience to which
this course may subject by the final verdict Of public
approval
nicpal administration indications Of instability in
the popular judgment, but the natural results Of msgo-
vernment That the city has been msgoverned is fact
too well established to admit OF controversy.
That this msgovernment has arisen from want Of ORR
gna integrity of purpose in those who have been char
ged with its administration do not believe The evil
lies deeper has its origin in the system itself and
until that shall be changed it will never be eecualy
permanently remedied.
same as when instituted to regulate the affairs of
petty municipal corporation while the community upon
which It acts has grown until it embraces larger popu
aton than several of the States of the Unionpresents
In tho business relations and social condition of its nha
bitants greater variety of subjects for regulation and
requires larger number of officers and the collection
and application of q greater revenue.
The government, affecting these vast and varied in
erests is without those divisions and limitations pow
er which all experience has shown to be absolutely in
dispensable to wise and honest administration Its le
gsation is wholly unchecked The separation into two
ed for the same term and by the constituencies.
And the veto the Mayor has no practical effect
sist the passage of measure.
The Common Council, too untes in itself nearly all
executive with all legislative powers appoints all
officers removes them at WILL and holds them accouna
bic to itself alone performs most of the proper
cutive functions through committees which restrain
ed neither by the publicity which belongs to its own
proceedings the definite and fixed responsibility
which attends the official action Of individuals The pow
ers OF the municipal government are concentrated in
lew men, thus unchecked and absolute.
The annual election Of thirty -four persons, whose dis
creon IS thus Unlimited and whose main business is to
tronage. nearly million and half Of dollars, is an
event OF 40 ordinary interest The nature of must
be prevented 7rom being regarded in some degree
as pecunary prize to be commended for and to the
tent to which is regarded it is corrupng in its Of
iects tends to corrupt the electors by inducing them
to choose their representative with reference to the dis
trbuon othis patronage and the Representative, by
which dictated his election.
also exercises evil influence upon the people in
another respect 1t creates and stimulates appetite
Tor public employment to the abandonment of the more
sober reliable and ultimately lucrative pursuits of pr
yate industry change in the political complexion of
the Common Council is generally followed by change
Of all the officers in the from the highest to
the most subordinate and this change has become
almost universal.
The facility with which it is accomplished leads to
combinations to effect it-those who in this year hold
their oces by the same uncertain tenure those whom
they disPacedare assailed by the combinations
and are in turn thrown of employment await the
chances Of the next years competition. This is dsqua-
hiying process The man elected from Office seldom
turns to his original business he does it not with
that reliance upon it which commands success.
lie generally becomes politician, and seeks no other
employment The uncertainty of his chances of
and defeat generate excitement which, like that of
gaming leads to habits Of Incidence and rreguary In
proportion as he becomes unfit for Office he grows
dependent upon it. and more INSCRIPTIONS in its pursuit
government whose organization does not provide the
guards which have universally been found necessary to
prevent errors and abuses in Administrations which pro-
duccs inccssan fluctuations in the officers who conduct
IT. utterly incompatible with their competency and
the distribution of public avors ought be toera
ted where the power to change it exists.
bic service to our constituents than at to take
sures to procure such alteration in the charter of the
city as will remedy these evils in its government In my
Judgment its executive and legislative functions should
be vested in different and independent hands.
The heads of the executive departments should be
with the consent of the Board of Aldermen The subor
dinate oncers should be appointed by the Mayor-or in
cases provided BY ordinance BY the heads Of the depart
GERS should hold their place for fixed term, during
which they should be removable only for cause ascer-
tanned in some mode defined by law.
The city Legislation ought be divided in fact well
as in form into two bodies the members Of which should
DC terms, should
rent CONTINGENCIES for which purpose the city might
be divided SO that each district should elect alder
man, and each ward one more assistants annually.
The veto of the mayor instead of being as now,
ly nominal should, like that Of the President of the
Union tho Governor OF the State have the effect Of
requiring larger vote to repass act against which IL
had been interposcd.
Those rcfomatons will require the Intervention Of the
State Legislature and therefore cannot be accomplished
until the next annual session of that body. But it is
within your competency, and is necessary TO
ton at that session, to mature before that time tho
qurcd amendment of the city charter
This You can do yourselves, or through convention
OF the people. In either case, the amendments which
are agreed upon will have first to be presented to the
Legislature for its sanction, and should then be submit
ted to the electors of the city for final adoption nas
much as your present duties already and
in all cases where alterations in the organic law
CURED an appeal to the original of is most
h am Of the opinion that it is better to submit this
whole subject at as early day is practicable to the
deliberations Of body specially chosen and delegated
by the people for the purpose.
twould certainly have been preferable that the act
converting such body should in the first instance have
received the confirmation of the Legislature but is