The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-09

| The advantages of system like this cannot. in my
judgment be too highly estimated Instead of the ir
responsibility which is insepcrable from the course now
adopted u conducting the affairs Of the city, partly by
means Of departments, and partly through executive
committees Of the Common Council, the various duties
incident to its government will be placed in the
hands of responsible departments accountable to the
Cooperation for all their acts, and subject to the
| slant supervision of the Common Counc-a superv-
sion which it cannot be doubted when it is remembered
il constitutes their chief Duty will be faithfully and
| yigiantly exercised
The duty of organizing the several departments of
| the city government in conformity with the char
ter will necessarily devoye upon you Some Of those
| departments must necessarily be organized mmedi-
atcy. inasmuch as provision is made for the appoint
ment their chief officers by the Mayor, with the
advice and consent of the Board Of Aldermen while
the remainder must be organized at the furthest, by
the general election inasmuch their chief Off
to be then elected and must enter upon their
| duties the first of January following.
TO prevent a conflict between these departments Of
the city government, which must be Immediately
ganizod, and those which must be organized before
the November election seems to me that they should
all be organized and put in operation at the same time,
in conformity with the principles prescribed by the
charter / aware that "A doubt has been express
cd how far the Common Council Is required by the
charter to enter upon the immediate organization Of
construction Of that portion OF the charter which post
pones the first election of the heads of the principal
departments by the people until the general election
| in November next rom this mode of construction
the argument is drawn that until those officers shall
be elected the government of the city must remain as
II is there being power conferred upon the Com
mon Council to ill the new departments, in the mean
time should they be created The practical result of
this argument is that the benefits which ticpa-
ted from the new order OF things are to be withheld
from the people for nearly if not quite year; and
that during the interval state of affairs condemned
in the most emphatic manner by the public voice to
| be allowed to continue.
ments or restrictions Of laws. much as might de-
plore the necessity would be bound to yield it
obedience But in my opinion 1t does not.
Until the first of June next, the existing charter
mains in force and refer especially to the charter of
1880 By the 2lst section Of that instrument IL is
vded that the executive business of the Corporation
of New York shall hereafter be performed by distinct
departments which 1t shall be the duty of the Common
Council to organize and appoint for that purpose"
Under this provision it is clear that it is not only the
departments; appoint their chief and subordinate
oicers and to prescribe their accountability, and the
manner in which their duties are to be performed.
This power they may undeniably exercise, until the
first of June. If they should do so, in such a
that all the departments of the city government
rendered conformable to the charter it will be per-
ceved not only that the objection to the power or duty
Of the Common Council in this respect obviated but
that the people will ut once derive by the voluntary
action of the Common Council all the benefits designed
by the charter In this event also when the officers to
be elected in November into Office. they will do so
with the routine of their duties fully prescribed and
with the departments upon which they enter in full,
and. ii is to be hoped, successful operation
On the other hand should the action OF the Common
Council be postponed until after the first Of June, and
the departments be left until that time, they
1t is manifest that great embarrassmcnts must be
the result.
The powers of the executive committees of the Com
mon Council will then have ceased and the transfer of
those powers to the existing departments will be
work Of easy Accomplishment, for the that
in many instances neither the officers the bureau
within whose appropriate sphere they might fall will
be made to remedy the defect by creating those bu
reaux and appointing the proper officers to fill Them
the question well arise whether the power to do
! is possessed by the Common Council.
By exercising the powers in this respect now vested
in the Common Council, that the departments and
bureaux be created and filed by them before the
first of June these difficulties will be readily removed
and all questions criticism to the powers du-
ties under the new charter will be set at rest.
To accomplish this result within the time which re-
mains before the charter takes effect is am well
n O
| no doubt can be accomplished
in force in reference to the existing departments
and their adaptation to the principles OF the char
ter with the addition of ordinances defining the powers
and duties Of the departments and bureaux q
created by that act. To insure the efficient perform
of this duty would be well to assign it to
suitable person familiar by experience with the
chinery of municipal government, and who will
bring to the task thorough conyersance with the
charter Of the city and his exclusive devotion to the
performance Of the task which the shortness of the
time allowed him will necessarily require.
The necessary ordinances in this manner be
ported to the Common Council and passed by them
during the present month that before the first of
June all the departments and bureaux be filled,
and their duties performed in strict consonance with
| the amended charter
Deeply impressed with the practcability and wisdom
OF this course have hesitation in recommending it
to your favorable consideration The public voice has
in tone not to be mistaken misunderstood,
demned the system now in operation, and substituted,
In its stead one based the separation of legisa
tive and executive functions and the strictest
accountability of the administrative branch of our city
government For one am unwilling, If the duty
OF carrying this system into immediate practice be not
expressly imposed, to withhold the effort if the power
to do so, be clearly shown to exist. Entertaining no
doubt that it does exist feel impcled by every
deraton of what is due to the interests of our const
tuents to urge upon you its prompt and efficient ex-
| ercise.
1t is made the duty of the Mayor by the provisions
Of the charter among other things, to communicate to
the Common Council, at least in each year. and
oftener if necessary such measures connected with the
police security, health and cleanliness OF the city,
he shall deem expedient.
he'll m Is
hope shortly to obtain of the laws and ordinances
relating to the city government and their practical
bearing upon its interests shall avail myself of this
provision to make such further communications here
after to your honorable body the condition of the
CALEB s. Woodruff.
After the reading of the message the Board voted
that the usual number of copies Of the be printed
On motion of Aid Ingerso it was determined to meet
on Monday evening next.
The following standing committees were then an
nounced -
acknowledgement, JAMESON Kelly
.4rts and Sciences-Alen, Halves, Webb.
applications for OGce.-Ingersol, Kelly, Bard
ta71es.-Wooa Schultz jackson
Finance.-Jamieson, Britton, Webb.
Fire Department. Franklin JAMESON Webb
Lamps and Gas.-Allcn Franklin, Mullins.
Schultz, webb.
Lands and Professionalism Brtton, Bard
Croton characterization, Schultz, Hatfield.
Cleaning Sfreefs.-Britton Morgans, Webb.
Ordinances-Haws, Herring, Kelly.
Police, Watch aud Prisons.-Iiaws, Clark Jackson.
Roads and Canais.-Britton Clark Mullins.
Syees-Morgans, Allen, jackson.
Saiaries.-Herring Brtton, Mullins.
Uha,res, Piers and Slips-Schultz Wood Bard.
Joint Committee Public Buildings BiackweUs |
Island, RandaHs Island Long Island Farms and Beiierue
Establishment Schultz, Ingersoll Hatfield
Petition of Peter q. Sherman for his seat Alder
Of the Eleventh ward. and from Archibald Hall,
for his seat Alderman of the Fourth ward Referred
to Special Committees. the first to Aldermen Allen,
Wood and Webb and the latter to Morgans, Haws and
?. Kelly.
Petition from Hiram Fuller for q share of the public |
printing. Laid on the table.
The Board after some other business Of minor i'm |
portance, adjourned.
Board of Assistant Observation-Disclosures |
OF the New Board.
TUESDAY, MAY s. 1S49
The Board Of Assistants WERE according to law,