The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-02
How il VIII Operate.

AT LEN q uCidJ WulCu3 II ~ ndu UOOu plOJCu
in perlectng an ordinance, should have in
sured model law, the Councils of our city
yesterday adopted plan for the cleansing Of
the Streets which, if it be not eff1cacious, is
at least complex. In previous article we
opposed the particular form in which the
scheme was drawn up, because of the power
which it gave into the hands of one man.
Upon closer inspection there will appear other
evils, so radical in their nature that they will
ins all probability nullify the end intended
by the designer of the bill Let us look at
its provisions.
posel of the contract, without any restraint or
provision. He can award the job to any of
his friends If he is SO inclined. He can give
it to any ether than the lowest bidder. He
need not publish for proposals. There is no
guarantee against p trtiaIlIty, favorltism, or
fraud. We have confidence in Mayor Nc
MICHAEL, but were it the angel GABRIEL,
we would be oppose togiving into his hands
such absolute power. The most virtuous
public officer should have some check on his
movements, and in the provisions of the bill
we find none whatever, except the limitation
that the sum paid annually shall not exceed
$95,000,
2. 1t provides for the continuance of the
contract in the same hands for the term Of
five years, yet at the same time gives the ap-
poiAtment to an official whose term of Office
will expire IN less than three years from the
date Of the award. In other words, it saddles
upon another administration, which will be
Mr.. MCMIoHAEL's successor, an incumbent
OF his appointment, aud one into whose hands
the immense sum of nearly 100000 must
annually be paid In none of the systems of
public patronage, either in our National or
State politics, does the term OF Office of the
appcintee extend beyond that Of the superior
who gave him his position. But here in our
municipal affairs is precedent established of
placing in Office man who will hold his posi-
ton and receive its perogatives under new
regime, which had nothing to do with the
selection, and with the success or feelings of
which he is in no wise identified.
8. 1t gives to the Mayor the singular power
OF absolutely annulling the contract or con-
tracts" whenever, in his opiuion, upon hisI own
information or that of the Chief Inspector or
Joint Committee, there has been any failure
on the part Of the contractors to perform all
the requirements" That is to say, should
the present Mayor, or his successor, land we
know not whether we will be again favored
with SO honest and upright an officer,) after
having gwen out the job, find another applicant
who is more consonant with his personal wishes
all that is necessary, in order to get rid OF the
incumbent, is to nnd back alley which is not
cleansed, and send hiu written notice an
nouncing the annulling of his contract and
the forfeiture of his "two good securities,
We opne that the fortunate receiver OF the
award viii have some slight difficulty in
securing "two good securities" who will be
willing to place their bonds in such pre-
carious depository as that provided by the
ordinance. The action of one man can for
felt them, and that one man may be pecuni-
arily interested in favor Of such a course
We imagine the worst, for. sad as it may be
we are compelled to acknowledge that the
example Of the metropolis shows that such
things can be, and that even mayors are not
necessarily incorruptible.
a. While the comparatively meagre sum o.
$95,O00 is all that is allowed to the contractor
yet OF even this he is not sure. In fact, while
he bargains for $4,000 he will only have al
his disposal the sum Of $s7,0 900 per annum, a:
the second section provides for the retention
Of one-twellth Of the SUM for the purpose o
going over the ground cleaned by the con
tractor, and seeing that 1t is well swept anG
garnished In fact, the whole wording OF the
ordinance seems designed to place the aspi
rant for the award in such a position that hC
win be unjustly imposed upon, and, If posi-
bic, placed in such position that he will bt
compelled TO decline the contract We shoulC
think from the provisions of the law tina
It was intended to operate like DRAoo's code
and fall dead because OF its stringency. W,
should imagine that it was not the wish o
the desinger of the measure that any con
tract should be entered into, but that in ordel
70 quiet the public this law is passed will