The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-09


ment Of the Grand Jury on BIackweII's
Island.
We have in type, and Will publish tomorrow.
most elaborate and able presentment which was
made by the Grand Jury in the Court of Sessions.
yesterday, describing and condensing with much
industry and talent, the causes which have con.
tribu'ed to the Encouragement of that branch of
the municipal affairs connected with Black wells
Island and the PenItenuary. We are compelled
to leave it ont to- day, to make room for the Comp
troler's report and the foreign news. The docu.
ment is the result Of long and minute investiga-
ton into these abuses, and was written by the
foreman of the Grand jury Mr.. r. ]. Smith. It
gives deplorabe, but JUS, view of the condition of
things IN that branch of our municipal economy.
We recommend it to the careful perusal of the
whole country
If a similar investigation by the same body had
been made into other branches of our municipal
government, we have every reason to believe that
greater abuses and deeper errors would have been
disclosed, than those OF Blackwelps Island. The
streets, the police, the wharves, in short, every
department IN the municipal government, of this
great metropolis, would present the like organized
system Of corruption and mlsmanagement-which
have gone on, from time to time, acquiring ad-
ditiona strength, and accumuatlng more lntolera-
bic abuses, despite of all attempts OF every party to
amend or remove them. The astonishing amount
of taxes be levied the citizens for the current
year, ding three millions OF dollars is legti:
mate deduction from these shameful abuses and
the strongest evidence of the necessity of a
thorough and radical revolution in our mu-
nicipal government. But how is this to be ac-
comIlshed? The people of this unhappy and
prosperous city have tried every party, without
efecting any satisfactory result. The truth is, the
error lies IN the system of government more than
In the deprawty, the negligence, or the incapacity
Of the men who are elected to the office of ad.
ministerng it. We must have thorough and
sweeping revolution in the government of New
York, if we ever mean to have our municipal
affairs conducted with any degree of efficiency or
economy. more missoverned city than New
York does not exist IN the clvillsed w6sii1 Tx
Mayor Is mere nonentity, sort Of head police
efiicer. All the municipal officers, who are the
agents OF the mlsgovernors, are without respon.
siblliiy and without pay. Nothing but a re.organ.
cation OF the city government on the same plan as
that Of the State and the Union at large, can ever
effect change or produce wholesome reform.
BY an enure and thorough change in the system
of government. We ought to have Mayor or
President, invested with full executive power and
authority to make appointments for all the execu-
tive Offices, from the highest to the lowest. He
should be assisted by separate and independen,
heads OF departments, responsible for the faith.
ful execution Of their duty to the public, aud
paid literally for their services. The Mayor, or
executive governor should have ioar or five thou
sand dollars year, and the heads of depart
ments should each have liberal compensation
Tor their duties Then, again, the two existing
branches Of our city government should be entire
y abolished, and an efficient municipal legisla-
'ure, composed of two bodies, elected In their
stead, on different basis. The Senate, or higher
branch, should be elected for three years-one.
third going out, IN rotation, every year and they
should be paid for their services. Their duty
would be to pass on the nominations of the Mayor.
as rs dene by the Senate of the State and of Con-
eress, and also to transact the other matters that
would come before them in common with the