New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-09

new members Of the Common Council TO furnish the
preceding condensed and comprehensive view of the
material paris OF the system Of operations pursued in
this department and TO connect the description of SER
vices rendered. with their appropriate subjects ia the
narrative OF the report. This thorough and vigorous
system of supervision inspection and labor which has
been brought TO high state Of perfection by the dill
gence and experience Of my two associate Commi,.
siOncrs, aud by the business faculties aud intelligent
mind Of the former President the late Nicholas Dean
is now recommended to the observation and study Of
your honorable body that if there be any defects in
the principles Of the system they may be shown but
fthey are pronounced TO be among the most sound
which are any where employed in the administration Of
public aars, they may be duly cherished and conse-
Grated for the benefit aud extension of the watersystem
a. long water runs.
With hope of durability consonant TO such pur-
pose, the principles which the department was reor
gained III le49 are briefly stated foows and such
reasons given for their introduction into the law
then considered to be unanswerable. The
assignment of particular duties and responsibilities to
each Commissioner Of the department with Opportuni
ties for consultation and general responsibility
Board, together with the enlarged powers and response
bities imposed upon the President constitute the cap
ital feature Of the system
The appointment Of the Commissioners was ordered
by the law, in conformity TO principles derived from
the old constitutions and practices Of the State in rea
ton 10 appointments to offices OF the greatest trust
modified to suit the circumstances Of the particular
case for which il provides these are, the open
lection and nomination by the Mayor and its confrma-
ton by the Board of Aldermen, and the duration of
the term of Office extended to FIVE years. These prn
cipes were supposed to be invunerabe in the modi-
fed form in which they stated. They have stood
their trial thus far, and then, and can now be
sustained by like the following, which, for
their unauthorized truth, are iDdsputable Caucus
nominations frequently resulting from private bar
gains not sufficiently safe to the right de-
scription of men for Commissioners. 1t inevitably
must happen, and il il well known that appointments
made by the vote of body of men are supposed to
attach no special responsibility to any of them.
As these two objections to that mode of nomination of
executive and subordinate officers by body of citi
Zens, whether they act as a meeting in legislative
life, cover the whole ground of inquiry to that mode
of appointment and sufficient to condemn it, de-
tailed exhibitions of its injurious effects avoided
On the other SIDE when selections for executive sta
tiOns made by the most public and conspicuous
officer elected by the people, and openly nominated by
such officer, there is real responsibility The fact is
plain that it requires stronger argument than its
simple statement. The Board Of Aldermen, not par
taking in the nominating power will be more free from
commitment and for that reason better able and dis
posed to oppose a bad nomination.
In relation to the term of service, it was said that
the fundamental principle OF public liberty is order
obedience TO law. Where there sudden revOlu-
tons there be order. The injury inflicted upon
private and public morals by rapid and heartess
changes in Office and dsmssiOns have become sufh.
GENTLY obvious and need hard words to describe
their consequences or the misery which such system
Of punishment, for no crime, but for opinion only
entails upon its victims; therefore, some certain and
sufcien duration should be conferred those
tive stations which subordinate to the legislative
powers. To make good officers time and motive must
be given. To call into action the most effective sent
ment Of devotion to the protection of the public inter-
ests, it would be highly useful that appointments
should be renewed for good behavior.
Nc person having knowledge of our history and
some experience in affairs would venture to oppose
the broad declaration that the selection and approba
ton of the authorities named would produce better
result than is ordinarily obtained by the chances of an
election Of candidates really chosen behind curtain
and put forward by a secret influence.
Having set forth the principles and reasons in the
main on which the reorganization of this Department
was founded, and term of five years appointment
given to the Commissioners, it may be further OBJ
served that open and responsible selection and suita
bic duration Of official station are III general lndispen
sable TO the procurement and the preservation OF the
proper requisites for such Offices Exceptions there
may be to all rules good and bad but all the reason
ings on the case and all the experience of our free
governments the side of those two principles
REINFORCED by just and reasonable regard to the do
mestic comforts of the public servants and Their
security from penury in Old age, after long and faith
full service by afiordng them opportunity to save
something from their salaries.
In practice the same two principles run through all
tie grades Of service in this department. in effect for
is removed who tells the truth ana faithfully
performs his duty.
Can any more certain mode be devised of procuring
Trustworthy officers? conforming, III small degree,
by five years appointment and including the expect
of our State Government it existed in relation
to judicial appointments these principles tend 10 create
experienced officers, competent 10 their Stations ahx'
ious to retain and increase good reputation, ana TO
spend their time and exert their faculties not only In
the promotion Of the interests conhded to their keep
ing but also to the advancement of their own dignity
and honor To secure in the greatest degree Tor the
public services advantages so immense these Two prn-
cpes should be held together in every system OF sub
ordinate executive officers, they were In the laws OF
1894 and ls49 which were prepared and drawn by the
President of this Board.
In their particular relation to this Department the
fact should be forgotten that If the alter okS
are of that paramount interest which it Is more I'M
potant TO have secured than any other and the peO
ple intend to secure that vital interest from ineompe-
tency and neglect these principles on present
organization is founded, should never be changed or
subyerted but improved by the introduction OF that
proyision which, in le4s was struck out OF the original
bin in its passage through the Legislature, which entl-
tied the Commissioners toareappoiatment tor good De-
haviOr u
These principles arc equally applicable TO other large
institutions and might be supplied TO some of the other
Departments in the constellation OF two or three INTO
one. , ga,
part Of the aqpeduct being necessarily built along
the sides Of hills, and low grounds, creeks ana
rivers may continue to be liable to occasional derange
meuts nj severe weather. During this year benign
Providence has favored the city with exemption nom
any serious injury which the violence OF the elements
might have caused to the aqueduct. The High Bridge
the reservoirs and all the works in the city discharge
their services in a satisfactory manner. The splendid
machine of the Croton Water Works has been guarded
and protected with vigilance and success.
MYNDERT VAN sCHAIcK, President.
AMOUNT OF PIPES LAID DURING THE YEAR
SiXnoh mains .'...''.''''''''''.'''' 10 'cs .ee
INxclvench mains. 6VbS feet
Tweuty-inch mains. 80 tee
ThiItyinch mains iVoe< 'eo
Total ...............................S Sc, 92 feet
Or mies, less thirty nine ieet; ,, w.. pu