The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-30

REVOLUTION OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
If the bill reported to the Assembly at Albany
on Monday by Mr.. Pond should become law. it
will work complete revolution in the munich
pal government of this city. There are many
good points in the proposed law, probably
to cover the bad ones. In the first place
it centres more power and responsibility in
the Mayor-a reform for which we have al
ways contended-by giving him the appoint
ment and removal Of all the heads of depart
ments, except the Comptroller, who, like the
Mayo himself, continues to be an elective officer
With regard TO the sanitary condition of the CITY
the bill is important. The vexed question of the
City lnspectorship is settled by abolishing that
Office altogether, and substituting new bureau
in the Mayors Office, entitled the Bureau of Sa-
nitary Inspection" the chief of which must be
physician. This meets the present difficulty be-
tween the Mayor and Mr.. Morton at once; nor is
the measure obnoxious on the ground of reno
wing an official before his term has expired. It
violates no principle and nficts no injustice, be-
cause Mr.. Morton's term legally ended last De-
cember. To the care of the Croton Aqueduct
Board is left the cleaning of the streets. This is
an excellent move, for this department has been
almost the only one to preserve its virtue intact
in the midst of the general corruption. In addi-
ton, the Board Of Health is proposed to be en-
tirely reconstructed, and will comprise, as con-
templated, the Mayor, the Presidents of both
Boards of the Common Council, the Supervisors,
Comptroller, Health Officer, Resident Physician
the Health Commissioners and the President of
the Croton Board.
The Almshouse Board Of Governors is also to
be abolished, and its duties entrusted TO six Aims
house Commissioners, to be appointed by the
Mayor and Supervisors. The Health Wardens
are to be abolished, and the Inspectors and
Sealers of Weights and Measures are to
be placed under the Mayors control. The
members Of the Common Council are to
have each $1,000 salary from January l,
1859; Receivers of Taxes to receive $4,000
salary; Collector of Assessments $1,000, in lieu
of fees, and Deputy Collectors $4,000 each. In
other cases the existing salaries are to be con-
tinued. If paying the members of the Common
Council only stops the corruption, the people will
have no objection to give them thousand
year. Indeed it would he economical. In deal
ing with the Finance Department the bill does not
meet our approval, for it provides that the col
lection of assessments shall be in the hands of
the Comptroller. This is very Objectionable.
The officer who disburses the funds should not
have the collection Of any portion of them. If
that power is vested in him one of the principal
checks upon the accounts will be destroyed.
These are the principal points in the proposed
law to prescribe the duties, tenures of Office and
emoluments of the departments of our municipal
government, and it will be seen that It contcm-
plates several vital changes in the miseraby def
cient system which now exists. But IL will be
necessary to watch the progress Of this measure
in both houses Many Of the good points are
thrown in to blind the people, and NAV be
stricken out at any moment.