The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-07

A&ESosEsr or THE CRY CnARTER.--Mayor
| Gunthers message has concentrated attention
on SUBJECT which only the engrossmcDt Of the
public mind IN the weightier interests Of the
war could probably have diverted it from
| nancy, the anomalous and embarrassed con-
| dition Of our city government The conflicts
| of jurisdiction which are daily arising between
| the different departments, the inconvenience
! and annoyance which they occasion the COM
| munity, in the form Of dirty streets and OBJ
structed thoroughfares, and the enormous in.
crease which has taken place in the public
burdens from civic misma management. have fully
borne out the predictions that we uttered in
regard to the consequences Of the last altera-
tons in the charter. All, or nearly ALL that
has been done under the preteyt Of reform by
the Legislature will have TO be uadone again
before we can return to system which only
required conscientious fulGlmcnt of their
obligations on the part of the independent
voters of the city to render it the best that
could be devised for the public interest.
The election of Mr. Gunther-a man indie
pendent of all political affiliations and tho
roughly reputable in his antecedents and
position-shows that we have arrived at o
point at which no further tutelage in
| the management of our affairs is necessary
on the part of the Legislature. The pretexts
under which, one by one, our municipal rights
have heen 6lched or wrenched from US no
longer hold good. No political party can for
the future count on making an appanage Of the
Offices and revenues of our city government.
A return, then, to q simpler and more economi-
cal system than that under which its affairs are
now administered is demanded No Legisla-
ture will be safe in resisting such overwhelm-
! ing evidence of the determination of the COM
munity on this point as is offered by the cleo.
ton Of our present Mayor.
1t is surprising how, in q republican country
like this, party perversity should have 30 sue
ceeded in altering and impairing the character
of our municipal institutions. Even the most
despotic and self-willed Of European monarchs
have respected the privileges of civic COM
munities, and refrained from laying hands on
their charters. With these, however, as with
I our other constitutional rights, the republican
party have dealt with an arbitrary hand. II is
1
reason and moderation which are to be found
among not inconsiderable portion Of them
will induce them to restore to the city the con-
troll of its own affairs.
| We tell them in advance that any fresh
alteration in the charter which does not
give back to the Mayor the full powers
with which, under all properly framed NUM-
!, S<o1
will be unsatisfactory to the community. As
the head of the city government, he stands rela-
lively in the same position which the President
occupies in the conduct of our national affairs.
What would be the condition of the country If
the heads Of the different departments at Wash
ington were rendered independent of the Execu-
tives Precisely that which our city government
now presents. Irregularity and confusion,
wasteful expenditure and rampant profligacy
Such state of things cannot be suffered to con-
tinue, and the only way to correct it is to give
the Mayor the appointment Of his principal
subordinates (the Police Commissioners in
cluded), subject, Of course, to the approval Of
the Board of Aldermen. We should then have no
conflicts between the departments for the heads
of EACH being subject to removal by the Mayor,
will think only Of the performance Of their
duties and will avoid all just cause Of COM
plant on the part Of the public. Such system
necessarily entails economy from its simplicity,
and if carried out according to our idea it can
not fail to give general satisfaction and tighten
considerably the public burdens.
The RECENT DISASTER TO THE ITALIAN FRIGATE
RE p'IrAIIA.-In another column we give two
communications upon this subject, from parties
evidently we'll informed on the various points
that relate to it. Several statements have been
made of the facts Of this disaster, and in all of
them there has been disposition to throw the
blame upon the Italian officer, Captain Imhert,
which seems to us neither honorable, as attempt
ing to shield ourselves, nor courteous to
stranger. No question has been made of the good
conduct of the ship. She did all that could be de-
sired of her-pEoved herself as fine specimen
of naval architecture as ever left our portland
no doubt our government would like very well
to buy her from her present owners. The only
question that is TO be considered, then, is who
had charge Of her. Beyond doubt the pilot