The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-08
Our Municipal Election-Tho Opportunity
for City Reform.


Now that the State contest is over and
radicalism put to the route, the attention Of the
citizens OF New York is turned to their charter
election which takes place on the first Tuesday
Of December, and at which Mayor Of the
city is to be chosen. Republican legislation
has LEFT our people but little authority over
their local affairs, and the Mayor has now such
limited power that 1t has generally been con-
sidered immaterial who might DO made the
fyurehead OF the municipal government The
Office has consequently been suffered for years
to pass into the hands Of third rate ward poll
ticians and members Of the different corpora
ton rings, until men Of character and standing
are unwilling to become candidates for the
position. But at this time 1t is essential that
this Indifference on the part of the respectable
portion of the community be laid aside, and
that the property owners and taxpayers make
an earnest effort to secure the services of
good business man as the chief executive OH
Ger Of the city Tor the next two years. The
radical commissions and the ring politicians
together have increased our local taxation to
twenty-four million dollars year, and, willie
protesting piety and honesty, have unitedly
robbed the city treasury OF hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars in all manner of corrupt jo bs.
There is now hope Of routing them, horse,
loot and dragons, and sending them TO follow
negro supremacy and Chase's financial policy
into retirement.
The two houses Of the State Legislature are
politically divided. The Senate, II not tied,
has only one or two republican majority and
the democrats have carried the Assembly. II
the next Mayor OF New York shall possess the
confidence of the best men of both parties we
my hope for the passage Of bills by the
State Legislature abolishing some Of the OBJ
jectionable city commissions, limiting the
expenditures oil those that remain, making
them responsible to the Mayor Of the city, and
generally increasing that officers powers. BY
such measures the enormous local taxation Of
New York can be cut down nearly ten millions
OF dollars q year and strong combination OF
oil the respectable citizens Of both parties in
the charter election next month would lay the
foundation OF this movement for municipal re-
form in the State Legislature, and insure the
passage OF u series Oh MEASURES tenulnR 70 tnAt
result over the veto Of Governor Fenton.
The principal portion Of the power left by
the radicals TO the city is now in the hands Of
three members Of tho democratic party, who
are more or less independent Of Tammany, and
who have thus far evinced disposition to pro-
tect the interests of the taxpayers and to work
a thorough revolution In our municipal affairs.
Comptroller Connolly has already initiated
reforms that will bring in largely increased
revenues from tho city resources and mate
rally decrease the expenditures. Street Com
missioner Mclean has cleansed his Office OF It's
impurities, and is now conducting the depart
ment over which he presides as he would his
own private business. Peter Bismarck Sweeny
has voluntarily renounced the enormous pro-
FITS pertaining to the City Chamberlainship, and
has shown on elevation Of character that
should be q model for the emulation Of all
public men. Connolly and Mclean have long
been independent of the inside ring Of Tam
many, and sweeny, VS. understand, is dis
posed to follow up the good work he has
already done by reforming the management
Of the Wigwam We do not know what are the
sentiments Of these three in0ueuaA city OH