New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-11

property and franchises 10 pc uisPV'0u W NV ~
ton. The bribery sections of 1853 are ielt OUT
The most important addition is that giving the
Board of Aldermen, when acting as Supervisors
the power to assess and collect all money necessary
for carr ing on the City Government, without the
necessity of applying to the Legislature annually
for authority.
From this brief statement of the law IS It Is and
as proposed the reader may get an idea OF the
machinery of our local Government. That that
Government has for years been mere shield Tor
public peculatiOn is sufficiently notorious. Inc
disgraceful system of primary elections now we
trust in rapid Decline has been successfully used
to raise into power men who had no other intention
than to FL their pockets from the Treasury. Some
Offices have been deemed such capital places for
getting rich that their current value is reported AT
5000 to $4,000 year. and candidates have
spent even more than that amount to be elected
What can We think Of that wonderful patriotism
which insists on spending $4,000 to get into an
Office that lawfully pays no more than s2,oOO
YEAR Common report says that Alderman So
and.so made $750 600 in two years term, and
that Mr. Blank, the head of Department for
three years, went in bankrupt and came out with
hundred thousand surplus. The cost OF the Gov,
eminent of this City for 1856 will exceed the av-
erage cost Of ell the State Governments in the
Union schools and public debt excluded, and Is
considerably more than the annual average cost oil
the National Government during President Madi
sons first term. But how can we escape Ihe
answer is very simple. Elect honest men to ONCE
Restore the Charter Election to the Spring crush
out the primary election villainy throw aside party
considerations, get the more respectable classes TO
the polls and to accept office; and ii that won't
save us, nothing will.
1t is reported that the Charter now before the
Legislature will be adopted, without important
alterations. We deem it vital to even hope OF
success in any right direction that the choice OF
city officers be rescued from the whirlpool of the
general election. Next November we shall haze
most exciting contest for President and Governor,
and the prospect of winning either will induce any
party to bargain away the comparatively trding
places under the Corporation. 1t might also be an
Improvement to give the Mayor three years instead
If two. The restoration of the right to raise money
without special act of the Legislature every year,
is also proper This perpetual lobbying at Albany
is source of infinite mischief. If we cannot
govern ourselves in money raising we cannot IN
money spending. The tax bill is now made up
here, and the legislative Endorsement is merely a
matter of form, and an excuse for sending commit
tees to Albany at the city's cost. At each success
sive change in the Charter, the people have said,
LET us try it, things cannot possibly be worse
than now;" and every time they have been disap-
pointed. And if thcprcsent project is carried with
the election fixed for November, there can be little
TO hope from its working. But return the Charter
Election to the Spring, and there will be at least
chance for honest men and rational government.