The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-03
The Mayors Message.

lature.
The Mayors Message.
Mr.. Fernando Wood has commenced his .du-
ties as Mayor with message which is likely
to create some stir. For the first time for many
years Mayor has been found with sufficient
nerve to point to the true cause of our recent
municipal troubles, and to claim for himself
measure of authority commensurate with the
responsibility of his office, and the necessities
Of the city. Mr.. Woods predecessors have
been content to relinquish the government of
New York to the several heads of departments:
to this commissioner, certain duties, to that one,
others, conceding to each sole control over
the business of his department, and in reality
divesting himself-the chief oiUi" "fseAr-af all
power end influence in the regulation Of NUM-
cipal concerns. That this state of things was
in some degree the inevitable fruit Of the i'll
advised legislation which curtailed the execu-
tive authority Of the Mayor, and rendered so
many subordinate officers practically indepen-
dent Of his control by making their Offices
elective, is not to be denied; nor can we won
der that men of weak, yielding disposition
should have forborne to seek collision with
their subordinates by attempting to assert an
authority WHICH the spirit Of six or seven char
tiers tended to deny. But, at the same time,
practice has clearly shown the evil effects Of
this system OF divided authority. All the seve-
raj civic departments being independent Of the
Mayor and of each other, a spirit ofhostility and
opposition has arisen between them. Each has
resented any interference on the part Of another
as q species ofinsult; and many have conducted
the affairs of their own bureaux more with q
view Of annoying their colleagues than in order
to satisfy the public requirements. The Comp
troller especially has signalized himself by en-
deavoring to counteract and thwart the other
heads Of departments in every way in his power:
aiming at manufacturing for himself reputa-
ton for Spartan virtue at the expense of his
fellow officers. The example has been followed
by the other heads Of apartments; and at the
close of the late year, it is doubtful whether
any two elected municipal officers were On such
terms that they could transact business salts
factorily; and we witness on the second day of
the new year the virtual refusal of The Ten
Governors of the Almshouse to give Mr.. Wood
some information OF public character which
he desired to obtain of them. The practice of
the heads Of the departments spread to the con-
tractors and clerks; and only recently its effects
were visible in the state of the streets. The
contractors would not clean the streets in q
manner satisfactory to Nh. Glazier, the Com
missioner: this gentleman attempted to prevent
their being paid; but Mr.. Flagg, the Comp
troler, being independent Of Mr.. Glazier, and
as hostile to him as to the other heads of de-
partments, paid every man as If he had done
his work properly. In this familiar Instance
every one can judge of the fatal effects of the
rivalry and opposition which the system Of d.
vided authority has engendered. 1t is the case
with every department Of the city government:
and Mayor Westervelt, interpreting the charter
as depriving him of all right to interfere, has
contented himself with looking on helpessly.
Mayor Wood has resolved to make an effort
to remedy this state Of things. Relying on
those passages in the charter which declare that
the Mayor shall constitute, in every instance,
q member Of the city executive, Mr.. Wood in
tends to exercise q coordinate authority with
the heads of departments over every depart
ment Of the city government; thus restraining
the Comptroller from paying men who have
earned no pay, and compelling the Commission
er Of Streets to have the mud removed
That the law confers upon Mr.. Wood this au
thoriiy seems beyond doubt; but, whatever
bubbles may be raised on the point, there can
not be question but grea. benefits will ensue
from the Capitalization Of power that viii thus
be effected Until the old plan can be restored,
and the appointment of subordinate officers
vested, as it should be, in the Mayor, this cs-
ordinate jurisdiction Of his will tend greatly to
counteract the mischievous effects of the rival
ry heretofore existing between heads OF de-
partments, aud to give wholesome viaor and
unity to the municipal machine
1t lie, as Mayor Wood remarks, intolerable TO
think that in ten years the expenses Of the gov
eminent of this city have increased two hun
bred aud fifty per cent: and to see as every one
does, that under a load of six millions of an
nual toxes, we live In the worst managed city
in the world. Negligence, fraud, and nlGh are
and have been for years the leading char
act,risticts q orr municipal arrange