The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-09

The Charter Election.
There can be no doubt Of the charter election.
which will take place in this city tomorrow, being
the most important that has ever been held. We
do not use the term important IN political or
party sense, for if we did, it would only apply to
change of men, without reference to retrenchment
and reform; but we employ it, because on to-mor-
low our citizens will decide whether the system of
corruption and iniquity which has characterized
the administration Of our municipal affairs for
number of years past, is to be abolished, or whe-
ther it is to remain in force for indefinite time
to come, and be what it has always been, dis
grace to the intelligence OF the age, and stigma
on the State.
II will not, we are sure, be disputed that the mu-
nicpal affairs of the city Of New York can be con-
Quoted with efficiency for less sum than three
millions Ct dollars per annum; neither can it be
denied that the heavy and almost ruinOus assess
ments which are imposed, retard the progress of
our growth and prosperity very materially. What
has made Brooklyn city of seventy or eighty
thousand people, but the system of expenditure
" hich has driven off thousands who, if economy
had Leen observed in our government, would al
the present time be living here In 1880, the po-
puaton Of that city only Is ,295; in 1910 it was
.6, 223; and in 1850, we have no doubt that it will
number as many as 30 900 inhabitants. Why 30
an Unprecedented increase? Because it has been
the refuge of our ovcr-taxed people. The same
may be said of Williamsburg and Jersey
City, Newark, Morrisania, and other CON-
tiguons places. Thousands upon thousands Of
our citizens who conduct their business in New
York have their homes and residences in those
Il, and oil haoa thov crl
the extravagant assessments which are levied by
our corporation authorities. If there were no
rupton in the distribution Of the taxes thus levied
by assessments-f our municipal affairs were ably
and honestly conducted-if there was anything to
show for the immense sums thus collected-f We
had clean streets or any other return for our
money there would not be so much cause of CON-
plant but, instead sf getting any return. the city
| treasury is under the control of set of cormo-
rants, belonging to this party or that, whose sole
aim is to get rich by their regular annual plumber
ngs Of the people.
There has been no way Of remedying this me-
anchoy state of affairs, because of the defects in
our foim of city government There is no respon-
sibility resting any department. Money is voted
away W it'll perfect looseness. The mouth of the
treasury is always invitngly open to the favorites
of the party that is in power for the time being.
Now, however, it is proposed to remedy those de-
iects in our city government by an amendment to
The charter which will obviate its heterogeneous
ness which will make it resemble the government
at Washington-one of responsibility throughout,
from the highest officer to the lowest This is just
| the change which we have so much needed, and
| for the want of which we have much suffered.
If responsibility rested all departments Of our
municipal administration, through which every in
| stance Of mafeasence or nonfeasance of public
duty could be traced to the proper quarter and pun
ishment brought home to the guilty party, the
conduct of the city affairs would not have been
disgrace to US, or our taxes so ruinously high.
These, then, are the causes Of the bad manage
ment of the city affairs, well as of the corrup-
ton and extravaganza which have marked the ca
reer Of every party that has been elevated to the
control of our municipal affairs for number of
years past These obstacles, in the way of a pro-
per and upright discharge of public duties, will be
removed, if the people of New York will vote for
the amended charter, which will be submitted to
them tomorrow, and which they can carry tri-
umphantly in face of the organized opposition that
will be made against it by corrupt politicians. A
systematic effort will no doubt be made to defeat
hold their peace on the subject of retrenchment
and reform. They will then have only themselves
to blame for, by taking the trouble to vote, they
can secure it.
1t is, therefore, with special reference to this
amended charter, that we say to-morrow's charter
election will be the most important of any that has
ever taken place In this city. In past years, we
have by our annual elections, gained nothing but
change of parties for, no matter what the result
was, it was succeeded by corruption and extrava.
gance. We care not straw which party is elected
tomorrow it is quite immaterial to us, for there
are rascals among all politicians but we do care
whether we to have at last system of RESPONSE
bic government, or a continuance of the wretched
and corrupt form which we have been cursed with
so long. Let our people ponder on these things
Let them bear in mind, that it depends upon them
selves whether we shall have city reform or not.
SOCIALISM ON THE SrAaE.-Since the cele-
brated French revolution of February year
ago, we have seen exhibitions Of socialism, in
variety of shapes, in Paris. Sometimes it has
been exhibited in the streets, sometimes in the 60
venment sometimes in the prisons, sometimes
in the workshops, and lastly on the stage. The
French are excellent cooks, both in politics and
poultry, as every one can testify. One of their
most agreeable specimens of cookery was an exhi-
bition of socialism on the stage, at tho Theatre
Vaudeville, in which all the vagaries of that eccen-
trio set were given to the life, especially the eccen
eNst,n <~f Al.