New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-06

1btrfOrs In city like Nev YORK toe great g. ne A.
Of rule ia tbs authority which entrees the Ia " aud
ttee cen be To dogt that the origin and so1ro. Of
nost Of TIE "pest1 at dis OoteLts mar be found in ia
| DegiSt or improper exercise.
Exiting laws not executed or II executed. cS.
rfd into tfe,t Iesigenty or Improperly AMI In mtay
instances with sole reference 10 tee interests Of the
sgpis. II too frequently hat the subordinate
following the example OF bis Immediate superior 10 Of
Zoe, performs, Bes lects his allotted duties az bes
suits Bis own caprice or convenience. Responsibility,
there Is none The bead Of each department elected
by the peOple-ackDowle' ges Accountability except
TO the peoPe-holds bis Office for the three years for
which be eected-a assumes full conNo and direo-
ton Ct tbs brsnoh Of the public interests which the
charter places under his charge and too often retres
from bis post with foil purse though having char
acier to start With, without loss of reputation.
Hence, Is seen that the Departments sre too sovs-
reign and independent. Too Independent in the origin
Of their power well in the Iercse Of its fuac-
tons and IN their responsibilities and privilege. Be
ing without check or hiBdranoe in the expenditure of
motley, they are no' restricted by the limits OF the ap
! prcprations. Without accountability to a higher
power they can eoisue and execute the laws to sui,
themselves, do no. execute them al all as seems
most conducive to their individual wishes. With no
fear Of removal penalties before their eyes they
avail themselves Of the advantages of their positions 70
smass fortunes, not even giving the public good ai
uinistI alton in return.
Thus they constitute a truly independent and dan.
gerou, power in the Government, par.king in theory
more Of the defpotic than the republican In my In
auguIa Message two years .o, referred TO these de-
fects IN Tie cOaiter judgment, tue
Government OF this city should be remodeled after the
the General Government al Washlngton-thst there
should be ole governing head concentration Of the
executive power not decentralization, ss here-thas
the Mayor should be 10 the Government Of ths City
what the President is to the General Government and
that the heads Of the several departments should
sue his cabinet perfoi their duties under his drec
ton, and be appointed by him With the assent of the
Aldermen, and be subjected 10 his removal for cause.
Thetwo years experieuce which have sd q ,hese
views were expressed, have but confirmed me in the
conviction that we shall have relief until they
s1 &c obtained Win The ASs OF me official machn-
cry has than sstnfed OF tie necessity of
such change. My own eIeItions and personal sscri-
fees for the public veal have been thwarted and de-
feated principally from this cause. Notwithstanding
urceasipg labor in which the whole Of the twenty
four hours not passed 10 sleep, have been assduou.y
devoted to duties spperaining TO my Office, - the eI
clusion of domestic comfort and neglect Of private
Interests, / have reen little or no return TO sa.-
isfy the public or TO requts my own feeogs-
When, two years ago, pointed out these objections
to the present charter, described the proper RENE
dies there was doubt in the minds Of many honest and
int, lgent men whether the absorption Of SO mush su-
hoiity 10 the hands Of the Mayor would not be pro.
ducve Of harm and liable to aouse. Thi, doctrine,
when first enuncisted by me- like all propositions,
eived with doubt and caution; but AN happy
TO say that this is not the ftct now The people of
New-York are generally n favor Of it. Even those
who would withhold all patron sge from the present IN
cumbent Of the Msyoralty have been forced, by over
whelmrg public sentiment, to yield their opposition
1t apparent that the general and pervadng desire
now IT, 10 alter the charter as TO carry this theory
into practical operation therefore, to the exclusion OF
the many other topics requiring attention, have
bious this subject 70 your notice upon the threshold
Of your ebra1 CO into the service OF the people that i'm
mediate acton may be taken to obtain the reform de-
maIded.
But how can II 10 be accomplished Unfortunately,
Only by the action of the State eslature The soyer
eigD power to do il Is admitted dwels there and 70
that body only look for relief. Concedng tho
necessity Of this change and the general ecquiescence
in the MODE suggested, the question presented Is in
what form it shall be adopted; what notifications In
detail are required; Whist alterations any, IN the
constitution OF the Common Council; how shal the
Legislature become acquainted with the wishes OF tue
people Of this city this TO them, momentou' SUBJECT
ana how shall il be put upon its guard against the e
fonts Of designing men, who, under pretext OF pubic
good intend TO tate advantage of the general desire
for alte alton in the charter TO f.,ten upon us laws
more odious and destructive than those already exist
mgt o..,..- ..;.,;o. a.. ,..,;,,, .,a
Importance Of The suIicc,, | convinced thai Tue
constiiu cd authorities of New York, represented by
the Mayor Aldermen and Com lonaty, are the proper
orgtDs TO mako the vsLes o the people known to the
| Les stature.
We have been Just clothed with the mantle Of official
su horit,-apd II mutt be assumed fully conye.sslt
| with the dc siIos Of th( 40 we represent
| i recommend the etors. that tue Common Council
at once tske action that tho details be decided up)n
and that form of charter clothed with our otijIal
appreciation, be submitted to the LeSisia'nre az az
-
by this official sanction, such project a. we approve
| Ii appess to me that the lesdag features OF the
necessary changes are so generally understood and ao
quesced in th.t there can be little or no diversity OF
| opinion among ourselves. II The subject should be
ref,ned to Special Committees OF ea,h Board, shall
be happy, VI called upon, to aid In framing such CHAR
ter. The Legislature cannot refuse assent, If we the
immediate representatives of the people t. be affected
by it, approve and sanction it, and the members OF the
Legislature from this city cooperate with u.s. 50 am
coutues, they will, In asking its passage.
An additional reason Is presented for our eHly aud
united action the fear that others less cOnversant
with or ore Indifferent to- the public wants, Will In
fuence the enactment OF charter moro obnoxious than
the present That such effort will be made, there can
be no DOUBT Deeigning men, who covet ofhclal STA
ton are already at work IN laying plans 70 pefpeIae
through the Legislature a. Albany yet greater wroags
upon this dot med city; and will require all our ener-
gies and most determined remembrance to Illustrate
! their Dc signs.
As described to me- some Of these scheme. frsught
with incalculabe evils not the least offensive OF which
is the cont mpated transfer Of the government OF thus
city to the State power at Albany. Against such an
un arrantsble and uDprovoked wrong now enter my
earnest protest Notwithstanding the perSsding belief
that the oorruptons and imbecty OF present Gov
eminent aise, in the m4in from the absence OF SUN
Gent power the departments and the utter inabu-
y Of tho Mayor TO enforce obedience 70 the laws there
are those who design TO deprive the office of much that
| Is left TO it in the way OF wholesome prerogstive
Instead of ensrti his powers, in compliance With
the popular demand, It Is in contemplation to take
away pretty much al that 10 left. lie Is nov the o.
TERRIBLE head Of the police which, under Present
laws be exercises SoDe degree OF command; bat those
who would use this right arm OF the civic power Tor
base and unworthy purp0ses would su6Vert even this
authority and replace It by q commission OF n re per-
scns 10 be named a. Albany 70 be elected by the
people.
Ihs greet and inde,d the only, defect in the gov
errment OF the Police Is found 10 the distribution Of
The poser - con Iol sm Dy three several hesds Ii
I'll Department not ell ;ient il should be, 1t 10
because the Recorder and City Judge have each al