The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-23

Inc p1eeence OF pestllence, o. iAmine, Ut
even Of war in our midst, could not engross the !
attention of the citizens of New York much
more thoroughly than does the dirty, dusty
and unpaved, dilapidated condition of our
streets. The public journals are unanimous in
their denunciations Of the apparent wilful, dis
graceful neglect Of the authorities. Column
after column, which should be devoted to other
important sub ects, is daily consume', vainly
asking for relief, and enquiring upon whom
should rest the well-merited censure? But no
change-no Improvement promise, even, of
action or reform has yet been given to this suf-
fering and swindled community.
A few weeks since the public mind was in
fated with the hopes that through the practical
workings of the new charter, better and more
economical order of affairs was to be enacted
by their representatives in the municipal gov
ernm MT In political strife, there never before
in this city was w.t.essed such uniformity of
feeling, opinion and activity as was exhibited
in the struggle to adopt the amended charter of
1853 It's majority was over 10000.
The citizens had been SO imposed upon by
set of unprincipled vagabonds at tn t. time
holding the reins of the city government, that
blinded by the desire for revenge for the per-
secutions they had endured, they were led into
an error almost equally dangerous and fatal to
the one which the new charter was intended to
remedy; for it must be admitted that parsi-
monious, illiberal or law-bound policy of 60
vernment must prove more disastrous to the
commercial health of this prosperous city
than the most proAigate government that
would keep pace in liberality with the spirit of
this age, even though every member of that
government should illegally enrich himself.
The adoption of the amended charter proves
that which we hive SO frequently stated-that
the citizens of New York know less of the ma
chinery of their own city government, and
have always taken less interest in its welfare,
than the inhabitants of any city or country
town in the Union. Their majority Of over
10000 votes for the amended charter clearly
and unanswerably places them in the foregoing
ignorant position for had they known any
thing respecting the form of government under
which they had been so long suffering, they
would have refused or abrogated all amend
ments to the original charter of $780, which
formed substantial, concentrated and efficient
theory, capable of an easy and successful prac-
tice, instead Of placing themselves where they
now are un.e government which has been so
divided, sub-divided, and scattered over such an
extensive area, that it is difficult to trace out
in any Of its officers responsibility adequate
to the trust confided in them.
The charter of 1880, passed April 7, which
has thus recklessly been pruned of its useful
by political quackery, provided by
its twenty first section all that was necessary
for the organization of substantial and eff
government. 1t was as follows: The eSecu-
tive business Of the Corporation of New York
shall hereafter be performed by distinct depart
ments, which it shall be the duty Of the Com |
mon Council to organize and appoint for that |
Under the operations of this law, or
section of law, the +" heads" of the different |
departments were responsible to the Common
neglect of duty was promptly |
rebuked, or might have been, by simple order |
or neutrality-suspicious. to the instructions of |
the Common Council or dismissal there was
no alternative under that good old-fashoned |
charter, provided the people placed in power
men of proper stamp and calibre.
The first amendment to the charter of 1880. |
passed April 2, 1849, provided that the
heads Of departments should be elected by the |
people-each for three years-and that each |
head Of department should appoint his own
subalterns There was the great blow given to
good government. The second amendment of |
1853 is merely an echo, compared to the inju-
riOus and destructive character of the amend
ment passed April 2, lS49. 1t has been proved
Tor years past, by the recorded vote, that the
people of this city can scarcely be persuaded |
10 attend the polls for the election of their mu-
licipal officers, and when they do, they are per-
ectly Indifferent as to the ability Of the cand-
late for the execution or performance of his
!uties, attending only to his political creed or
How, then, if the abilities Of the head Of the
department. areoverlooked as insignificant, can
I be expected that the subalterns of that de-
who are appointed by the head, can
De composed of men more capable than himself?
Commissioner of Repairs and Supplies Super
ntendent of Roads, Superintendent of Repairs
o Public Buildings, Superintendent Of Pave
nents, and sundry clerks. inspectors &C.
Those appointed by the Street Commissioner
ire: Deputy Street Commissioner, Collector Of
Assessments. Deputy Collectors, &c. &C.. Su-
,erintendent of Wharves, Contract Clerks
Inspectors, DC. Suppose that the cause of the
many complaints now being made, is to be at
ributed to the inefficiency of the present Com
nissioner-where is the remedy?
The amendments of 1s49 and 1858 to the
harter of 1880, refuse all remedy Those
amendments clearly and distinctly state TO the
'eople of New York. that they have elected
to pave their streets and build their
7harves for three years, and they must remain