The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-04


Governor or Mayor who appoiCss them; that
during the whole Of t..eir tenn these Governors
and Mayors are Constantly scheming to secure
their reelection, and really dream of nothing
else as it draw ) to q close, it will appear won
derful that We have got on so well, and es-
capped dan gers which would seem in.eparable
from " CHI system.
If, then, the practice be an evil, and that
evil reside in our systm o. elections, why not
b Oddly take the bull by ths horns, and see if
we cannot change it, and substitute better
one? AS it stands a. present, the President
is elected for four years and is re-eligible for
like period; and the Governor of this State,
and the Mayor Of the city are elected for two
years, and are re-eligible in like manner. 1t
is perhaps questionable whether, if our first
President had had weaker hold of the public
affections, the practice Of re collecting that OF
icer would have ever prevailed in this conn
try. The rotation system is obviously more
consistent with the spirit of our institutions.
Washington's eminent services were the means
of introducing the anomaly; and we now feel
its effects, at time when no such reasons as
existed in his case could be urged on behalf Of
any of his successors.
II instead of electing Presidents and Gov
ernors and Mayors for short terms, and allow
ing them to come forward for reelection, we
should prolong their term to six and four years
respectively, and pronounce them ineligible for
reelection, the evil we note would be restrain
ed. The rotation sy stem with short terms is
open to the obvious objection that it fills the
Offices with new inexperienced men, who no
sooner learn the routine Of their duties than
they are compelled to make way for others.
This inconvenience would be obviated by pro.
| longing the terms Of our Presidents, Governors
| and Mayors. Allowing one year to each as al
apprenticeship, we should then be sure of hay
| ing for five years in the one case and three in
| the others experienced men at the head of af-
| fairs. We should likewise feel certain that our
rulers had no personal aim in view higher than
| the proper discharge of their duties. Their.am
! bition would be diverted into new channel !:
instead of spending itself in unworthy i'll
trigues to secure denomination, it would be
| wholly devoted to the acquisition of repute and
fame, which could not be gained by the officer
without the country or the city becoming q
sharer in the benefit. Under such system,
the dispensers Of public patronage would have
no interest in filling the Offices under their con.
troll with bad men, bnt on the contrary would
feel direct responsibility in selecting sub.
ordinates whose administration might do credit
to their judgment and help to enhance their
own reputation and thus, we should enjoy a
solid guarantee for the efficient discharge of the
public business.
AT all events the idea is worth considering.
The evil is potent and glazing and it is the
duty of every one to seek some remedy.
The Hotels OF New York-Their Value ard
Population.
There is no feature in our social system
which is so peculiarly American as our hotel
life. Thirty years ago there were about dozen
hotels in New York, some of which were little
better than many Of our large boarding houses;
but such has been the improvement in this par
ticular, that we can now boast of between forty
and ffty-and of these there are several I'M
equalled by the best in London or Paris. The
Metropolitan the Aston, the st. Nicholas, the Ir.
viDg-and in fact all our first class hotels-are
unsurpassed in the extent of their accommoda-
tions, the magnifcence OF their furniture, and
in the manner in which they are conducted.
The European hotels partake of the character
of European society-they are exclusive and
ristoeratic-while ours are democratic, and
more in accordance with the customs and prin-
ciples of our people. In the American hotel,
all the inmates meet at one common table; in
the European, they seldom or never min
gle, and their meals are either served
to them in their own rooms, CT procured
at some of the numerous restaurants in the vi
cinity. Those who have travelled over the
Continent, and who have had ample opportuni-
ties Of contrasting both systems, testify to tn,
inconvenience that results from the latter. In
these, the boarder, or ledger, hires his apart
ment and is charged separate for every meal,
a distinct item in his account with his host.
Yet this system has its advantages, and the
fact that it is coming into extensive operation
among us is proof positive that ii is not en-
tirely at variance with the tastes Of some of
our people. But hotel to be conducted sue
cessfully on the European plan, must have at
its head man who has made the subject the
study Of his life, for although the post may ap-
pear insigni6cantin the opinion Of some, it is a
most onerous one, and requires no ordinary
amount of skill and Judgment.
One Of the first things that strikes a Eu-
ropean on his arrival in this country is the ex-
tent, number, and magnifcence of the hotels,
When he enters one he finds whole army of
walters ready, like the genii in the enchanted
palaces of fairy land, to do his every bidding,
and his eyes are dazzled with the
brilliancy Of the frescoed halls and the
richness of the furniture, while he is astonished
at the perfect order and regularity which
characterize the management Of the whole