The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-15

question as 10 the fact that we owe dee p debt
Of gratitude to the former. In no way can we
better acquit ourselves Of 1t than by giving .
cordial and generous support to the ball which
is about to come of for the benefit Of the
widows and orphans of its deceased members.
Our City CsnmIssiens and the State Constisu-
tional Convention.
There are several bills before the State Legis-
lature for the creation Of new commissions for
the city of New York, all Of which, If enacted
into laws, would only aggravate the evils of
our present irresponsible and inefficient system
of mixed municipal government Every per-
SON possessed Of ordinary intelligence must
be sensible Of the impossibility Of properly
governing city by number Of independent
authorities acting without regard to each
other and responsible TO no general head.
There can be neither harmony nor strength in
such system With the elective officers and
the boards and commissions already in existence
and contemplated by the present Legislature
the government Of New York is split mp and
divided into the following parts, each Of which
is independent Of the others:-The Mayor and
Common Council, the Board Of Supervisors,
Metropolitan Health Commission, Metropolitan
Excise Commission, Fire Department Com
mission, Board OF Tax Commissioners, Central
Park Commission, Commissioners Of Emigra-
ton, Commissioners of Charities and Correc-
ton, Commissioners of Pilots, Captain Of Port
and Harbor Masters, Department for Inspsc-
<inv Of ,.s1I Al Of I>f
Public Works, Commissioners Of Markets, Com
missioners Of Piers and Wharvea
Besides these, all of which are independent
powers, doing their business without regard to
harmony, and often coming into direct conflict
one with another, the custom has prevailed Of
creating number Of temporary commissions
for building markets, bridges, &C., wherever
such work has been needed. To say nothing
Of the heavy and unnecessary expense entailed
upon the people by this mixed and muddled
system, it is impossible that the city can be
well governed under it. We have already had
sioners and the Police Commissioners, the lat
ter Of whom are also on the Health Board, and
an open and disgraceful fight keeping our
courts in broil and rejecting disgrace upon
the parties concerned, between the Metropoli-
tan Police authorities and one of the Police
Justices. Not long since there was Soon
flict" between two other Of the commissions
those Of Emigration and Charities and Correo-
tion-which could not be settled without en-
listing the aid Of q notorious lobby agent and
one of his friends, who were paid one thousand
dollars each, out Of the public money, for their
services"
The Legislature, in addition to the above, ID
also asked to abolish our present Board Of Edu-
cation, which Is now under the Corporation, and
to create new, independent commission for our
common schools. This is not, however, likely
to be done, since the present Board Of Educa-
ton is composed Of respectable citizens, and ito
duties are well and faithfully performed.
Instead Of further complicating this already
intricate machinery the Legislature had better
pass the bill providing for the meeting Of the
State Constitutional Convention at an early day
in the summer, and leave the whole matter Of tho
municipal government of New York to be con-
sidered and acted upon by that body. A
thorough reform is needed and will NO doubt
be made by the convention. As the present
homogeneous system must be changed in the
amended constitution, IL Is not worth while to
put any new commissions into operation or to
make any further experiments. II will cost
more to set them going than to run them for
two or three years after they are in working
order, and, as they are likely to be swept away
or materially changed by the new system
within few months, 1t is not desirable to
put the taxpayers to such needless expense.
The Constitutional Convention will have II
in its power to give us An eficient and honest
government by providing for the election Of .
council of mayors, consisting of three execu-
tive officers, one Of whom should be elected
every year, and in whose hands the whole
executive power Of the city should be placed.
The annual election would make these mayors
directly responsible to the taxpayers Of the
city, and they would be more likely to discharge
their duties faithfully than would any political
commission appointed by party Governor.
They should have the power to appoint and
remove all the heads of subordinate depart
ments, except, perhaps, the Central Park Com
mission, which is formed for special purpose
and cannot be improved. The Board of
Supervisors should be abolished and the two
Boards of Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen
should have legislative power alone, and the
right Of investigation into the conduct Of the
mayors and every subordinate department
This would give the people of New York .
government in which they would repose conf
dence and which would be satisfactory 10
them, and the best thing the Legislature can do
il to reject all new schemes and leave the
subject, as we have said, in the hands Of the
Constitutional Convention.
The City Tax Cemmisskoners' SaIaries-Palsry
EcSnomy.