New-York tribune., 1867-09-20
THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSIONS.
THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION TO THE CON-
STITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
CITIzESs' ASSOCIATION OF w-ioRR,S
Sept, 1861. No. sl3 Broadway. }

IcCtSc Utc tVhcHtH'tylt " pt"tSV ntW-iWh'
DEAR SIR: The Citizens Association respect
fully begs leave inform yOu and through you the Con-
vention on the subject of making suitable provision in
the Revised Constitution the continuance and efficient
operation of the Commissions established within tho
Metropolitan District OF which NewYork City forms the
largest part.
The exercise of certain governmental functions through
their agency neither novel peculiar to our own state
city London has the following Commissions, viz: J.
The Board Of Police .. The Board Of Health 3. The
Commissioners of Excise. The Commissioners OF sew
The Commissioners Of Regents Park. g. The Com
missoners OF Her Majestys Treasury. The Commis-
sioners Of Majesys Woods and Forests s. The COM
mssloners Of the Metropolis Turnpike Road. .. The
Commissioners of Baths and washhouses. TO- The Com
mssioners of Inland Revenue. IL. The Board OF improve
ment Commissioners II. The Public Works Loan Com
missiOners 10. The Poor Law Board And Baltimore tho
following viz. 1. The Commissioners Of Finance. The
Commissioners OF the Water Department 2. The Com
missioners of Public Schools The City Commissioners
s. The Commissioners Of Druid Hill Park 6. The Com.
missloners Of the Health Department. The Board of
Visitors of the City Jail. g. The Harbor Commissioners;
g. The Board of Police Commissioners. TO- The Board o
Fire Commissioners. H. The Commissioners OF street
Openings while they are found IN many Other states
The dea of absolute local selfg0yernment In the city
of New York has foundation IN our past history, and
is at war with the fundamental principles Of state su'
premaey The State OF Newf0rk never Allows any per,
on Of its territory, be 1t town. county, or cly, QSat
independence but subjects all parts of It's domain to tho
supreme authority Of the State itself When charter IL
given to village for the convenience OF It's inhabitants
the
rights and the suppression of local evils the state
ers upon such village certain special powers which may
from rrevOcabe grants OF property In the exercise OF
powers the village officials, in effect. merely de-
government at that particular place. so on larger
scale, the city of New York, from time to ume has re
ceyed authority from the State for the purposes OF local
government but always subject TO the superior power Oh
the state The great amount Of property and the large
| population Of this city render it eXpedient, and
even necessary that the provisions FOR the local
government here should be ample and com
urpheusiVe: but the fundamental principle OF the
ordination Of the local government OF District to the
general government of the whole State is the same here
the of any village: SO far as NeT-YoFk il
concerned it viii be found that it s entirely due to tho
existence OF Commissions hat our city mas not peeh d
spoiled and ruined Ali that is purely local in the gov
ernment Of city bears comparison IN value 70 that
which emanates from state authority Whe tne corIup
tion Of the Legislature is caused mainly by the money
government To abolish the Commissions would be to
destroy all hope Of attaining good government 1t is
the capitalist the merchant the banker the honest
aborer and rgest taxpayers in this city who are OPP
posed to Commissions but the proiessed p3ean& & & the
Some few, eminent able and honest men may question
OF government; but the great mass OF our re-
sponsbe citizens uphold it, and would be struck with
| terror If it were abolished. .
Nothing in our form government requires that all
offices should be filed by election 1t is maintained by
the abest writer's this subject that to insure the neg
rity OF institutions and the efficient and economical
management of public affairs the elections should be few
and held to fill the highest offices only.
merely executive his duties, by spreading the elective
franchise over so many subjects eheapens and weakens
our officials ais go & by II 16e number Or & o6
give the attention required the character
qualifications of the individuals soliciting his vote
himself on on these the OF of
men, but he hrnks from the task in the case Of
large number Of one Of the most eminent jnriSs in
this state, member Of the last Constitutional Conven-
on has stated that for 20 years nc has seldom cast an in
machinery of cal elections falls into the hands OF
few men who make politics business; while the electors
| go to the polls and vote for the candidates Of tbs
or that party with no knowledge or trustworthy in
formation Of the character or QUALIFICATIONS OF the
individuals whom they Tile pubic take
less interest in the elections and the practical e0nse-
quence is the same as regards the expenditure of tho
eity aud county funds no matter what political party
may succeed. On the other hand, where the elections
is taken in politics, and more attention paid to the
being few, and FOR important offices having many ap,
pontments, the eector is more likely to inform himself
the character and qualifications OF the men offered
TO his choice. by multiplying the number OF elective
officers do not is supposed increase the real
crease it, The people do not feel the responsibility
a bad official elected by themselves that is felt by the
mentor elect6r divides his responsibility among
thousand others. II it be true that good govern
is effectually attained by extending this i'm
agnary responsibility caused by the frequent OF the
realized by making every officer clerk and policeman
elective, which, although it may appear 70 be absolute
responsibility 10 the people, would in fact put an end to
good government.
As regards the general plan Of TIE State Government
there is why should not be nodded IN some
Governor the power OF appointment, subject TO connma
ton by the Senate Of all strictly executive or judicial
to appoint should cease in the the chief
officers of great cities. The City Of NewYork is the most
important division Of the whole State. The commercial
financial social and moral relations existing between
people thereof and of other portions OF the state are
TOO Intimate and well known TO require special reference
this letter suffice TO say that this city Is IN TACT
AT science ed1caton religion, all have their great
here and therefore the people OF our state can
not without great danger 10 themselves, give over the
entire government Of this metropolis TO the hands OF
those irresponsible masses among us who control tho
baot.box Again there are offices which, by
OF their nature, should be Independent OF direct popular
control and especially this the case IN large cities such as
New-York Among such offices aye those which have tho
control OF the police public health the protection
of property and the construction and maintenance OF
TACT, national in character and effect l., AIT.
city which it is their ght and duty 10 protect IL was
consequence OF the danger caused by the bread riots to
the millions Of dollars worth Of breadstufs IN this city
owned by the farmers throughout tie State that tie law
passed making counties liable FOR tne OF
property by rioters The Association holds that IL would
be dangerous in the extreme trust the above great
interests the Mayor who, while his office is elective
masses OF To give the Mayor this power is TO
practically hand the matter over TO the following ele
intoxicating liquors sundays, in the City Of Ncw-ior
sunday the most profitable day for the saloon and
barkeepers IL notorious that every Sunday III every
drinking shop, this law was openly violated no rosecu
tons instituted against the Offenders because they
were influential in controlling the votes of their ward
districts They the whipperSn OF their party Nos
only were.tho sufrages of the landlords and barkeepers
thus obtained but those OF the thousands
persons whose score was ehaked up III the saloons and
were 10 900 drinking shops IN this city, furnished
but voters. here 10000 votes controlled simply
by the intentional neglect TO enforce simple law.
The keepers OF junk shops can be controlled by granting
licenses them in the st instance and IN the second,
by refraning from revoNng those licenses when stolen
goods bought nom thieves, are found ~ their possession
The keepers OF secondhand eothesshops can DC con
trolled in like co. with the keepers OF stands
upon the public streets, held during the pleasure OF
the Common Council" with the store-keepers, who
permitted on the like terms to extend projecting
signs showcases aud advertising devices INTO the thor
oughiarcs. aud 10 ncumber the sidewalks 80 withthe
Keepers stands the markets. with the persons
suffered 10 incnnoer the piers ana whSrNes 20 ,h w