New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-20
ORR CITY CUAKTE n.

Some months ago, finding that the latest
amendments TO tie Charter of this City were in
great measure thwaIted in their results, by
political wire pullers and plumber seekers around
the CitJ Hall, We suggested that further piecing
and patching would be ipjudicious and that the
only certain cure for the evils in our municipal
administration WAS radical movement, sweeping
away the entire lumber Of the existing halfdozen
Charters and the hundreds OF amendments piled
thereon. end epactipg instead one brief plain
organic law, which could neither be eluded nor
mscons,lued On such 4 basis the Common
Council could build s few general ordinances,
which every body would understni AMI the whole
body Of corporation laws mil ht thus be put into
few columns Of THE TRIBUNE instead of being,
as now, scattered through hundred volumes OF
ponderous documents, hidden almost beyond
research, and 50 conflicting when found that not
one lawyer in hundred knows as much OF the
existing ordinances as of the code OF the antique
Hindoos.
But this radical change is nc, attempted, snd
probably will not be mcoted ct this session Of the
Legislature. Ins.esd thereof Mr.. Suyve'ans
has introduced Bill to Amend the Charter OF
"New.York City, which seems to meet with
pretty general fsyor its lates. and most important
advocate being Mayor Wood. We printed the
bill st length on the 9th ult, in our report OF the
Assembly proceedings Of the previous day. 1t
sets ont with 6 very bad change, which we
hope TO ee abandoned or defeated; that is the
restoIs tion Of the old Board Of Assistants,
in place Of the Courcilmen. The proPriety OF
| having second and more numerous Board.
and reyretentirg different Constituencies from the
/ Aldermen, and elected for different term, is too
apparent 70 require enforcing. The Legislature
of the State aud the Federal Congress are III
stances of such an Arrangement; and there would be
as much COED sense in advocating two State Sen
ates and no Assembly, SIS in proposing this duPli-
cate Beard Of Aldermen.
In order 70 insure that the Assistants shall be
the mere shadows Of the other Board, Mr.. S'uy-
vessnt ha. them elected every year, and st the
same time with the Aldermen, while be reduces
the term OF the latter to one year. He thus pro-
viles ior complete change Of legislators every
twelve months, giving Us perpetual succession
Of green hands whose sole business will be ma
neuyeriug to secure reelection, or TO further the
interests of the friends who desire to step into
their shoes The present Board Of Ceuncilmen
might be improved, perhaps, By reducing the
number to fifty or possibly to forty; and espe-
eislly by dstrictipg tie City IS the law originally
intended: thst is, diUegardiug Wand boundaries,
and making districts Of the required population
in the manner most compact and convenient.
/. wss the intent Of that amendment to break
up the unity of personal interests existing between
the Alderman and his Assistant under the old
style, BY making Councilmen represent parts OF
diferep. Wards. The politicians who distrieied
the City saw this intent, and frustrated il BE-
cause they knew It would be fatal TO the business
Of buying over this or that Ward for some sci Of
doubtful honesty, under promise OF return OF "a
yoss By all mesps, let rs retain the popular
branch, distrieted so So to cross as many Ward
lines SIS possible, elected biennially, We shOali
propose. while the Aldermen should be chosen
biennislly on the Intervening years. We should
thus have one branch. with years practice at
legislation, constantly in once.
The pext important change proposed /" tss