The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-21


Our city Aovernment-A Fine Opportu-
nifty for Governor FeRton.
The city of New York is VIGOROUSLY the
worst governed city in Christendom. Bribery
and corruption; which at one time in our NUM-
cipal affairs were exceptional cases. have now
become the rule-universal bribery and cor
ruption, which no longer seek to hide them
selves in dark holes and corners, but sit with
brazenfaced insolence at our city gates. For
twenty years we have been going on from bad
to worse, until our annual Corporation ex-
penses and acquisitions have run up to the
splendid figure Of some seventeen millions of
dollars, which would make an average of over
seventeen dollars taxation to every inhabitant-
man, woman or child-on this island. And
still this swelling tide of corruption rolls on
with steadily increasing volume; so that by
next year our fellow taxpayers will have cause
for establishment, If called upon to foot gene
raj city bill not exceeding the sum of twenty
millions. This, we must say, is progress with
a vengeance, when we remember that the costs
of the government of the United States-diplo-
matte, legislative. judicial, army, navy and mis-
cellaneous appropriations John Quincy
Adams were some thirteen millions Of dollars,
and when we remember that Adams was upset
by the democratic electioneering cry of 1928, of
Observation-Disclosures and reform"
Retrenchmenta and reform are now unquestion-
ably needed in the administration of our mu-
nicipal affairs. But how are we to get themi
Not in the ordinary way; for our city authori-
ties and our political "rings," with their system
affixed machinery of bribery and corruption,
embracing politicians, factions and parties and
party journals of every stripe and of every
language, too, in vogue from New York to
Vienna, have, as matters stand, the game COM
pletely in their bands. Taxpayers may hold
their meetings, citizens associations may agi-
tate the fearful corruptions and spoliations
which envelop us; but all such combinations
will continue to be as they have been-utterly
useless and impotent against the organized
election machinery of our Corporation plum
derers With margin of eight or ten millions
from the city's Corporation assessments for divi-
sion among themselves and their friends, the
parties controlling this city corruption fund
can be reached only by the Intervention of the
State
We therefore appeal to the Governor Of the
State, in view of this Intervention of the State,
to come to our rescue. We again call upon
him to break the ground for our relief, in the
removal from Office of the Mayor and the heads
Of the several departments of this city, except
ing the Metropolitan Police, the Park Commits
sion, the Croton Board and the new Fire De-
partment; for the organization of these depart
ments is in the direction of that complete
metropolitan system Of checks and balances
which this great metropolis requires. Let the
Governor, then, make the removals suggested,
and, in the absence Of any exciting national
election or Presidential issues, or Presidential
parties, we shall have In the interval fine
opportunity for making the question of the
reorganization Of our city government the con-
trolling issue of our November State election.
We would submit the plan Of making the heads
of our Corporation departments, with the ex-
ceptions indicated, responsible to the Mayor,
and of making the Mayor subject to appoint
ment by tho Governor every year, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
Under some such metropolitan administra-
ton we should secure system of checks and
balances which would be proof against all such
plundering combinations of local "rings" as
those which now confessedly and defantly COM
bine to divide the spoils. This great reformn-
ton, II taken up and put in motion by Cover
nor Fenton, will give him and the reform party
supporting him the Legislature needed to COM
plete their work. Otherwise, If he should elect
to leave the affairs of this city they are, the
negro suffrage question, for want Of something
better, will be taken up by the democracy in
November against the negro, and upon this
issue they will unquestionably sweep the State.
The revolution required in public opinion to
secure universal negro suffrage will take some
time; but surely the public opinion of the En-
pire State Is ripe and ready for the practical
reformation suggested in the government Of
this metropolis, in which every citizen of the
State in thousand ways is directly Interested
OrrrcE SEEKERS In wAsnINGroS.-We learn
by the Washington correspondence that there is
an immense crowd pressing around the doors
of the White House, and Fostering President
johnson about getting Offices. The term OF
many of the office holders appointed by Mr..
Lincoln for four years is about to expire, and 1t
is expected that Mr.. Johnson will now either
reappoint them, or put new men in their places
There is great anxiety particularly in the Gus
tom houses and Internal Revenue Department
Great efforts will no doubt be made by the pres
emit incumbents to keep themselves In office
Our advice to Mr.. johnson Is not to be toe
hasty In this matter. The custom houses ant
the Internal Revenue Department are hllet
with secret enemies of President johnson ant
his administration. These departments OF Thu
government are organized TO damage the repu
tation Of Mr.. johnson, and obstruct his plan
for the reconstruction Of the country, under thu
leadership Of Chase and Jay Cooke, upon tn
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