New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-25

safety absolutely demands gre lc',h'i OBJ .nSo
cpidemcs ana 4ous diseases cannot Voc mot success,
iuly by boara on I',," ''i,,e us ~ Ike ft
of the present MrtroI .i'au sudniy District Nor car.
the police force o. O. an, oui> perform i' lHhc,l'' o
preserving order ana nIflsIl iE O'riAt!s VIA 't tu
Co.'S unless its Authority ANA ls force tyei 10 the s
more essential % tlc interests OF tc (iy ol NcWNoik
that this force should he governed hv tle STATE aLd
LITTER cxperitncc has shown tnat % Is N.he 10 be IL
verfcG from Office and 10 DE made ar instrument
soru or partisan interests With tic power OF appoint
H. and removing their force vested solely 90 The Mayor,
the majority propose, II vOt Do likely 90 soon oeSe.
crate into a personal aud political body-Euard OF
that officer Under STATE control u has not hteu
From the time the state Gr-t assumed tlat duty until
uow The police force has been true ho Interests G the
10 the criminal Jurisprudence OF the state, and valuable
aid to It's military forces In 0Iciug domestic Disorder
siuOn of the majority alike iupoltc ANA ddIeeOhs.
They believe us adoption viii subject the city OF hrwc
great political excitement, and perhaps 40 every ICV"
ring election. -
chief mart center l. al the metz opOis where iS Iah
cations extend not only 10 every portion OF TINS stare Dut
connected by chain Of nirOdepcudencc Consequently
any legislation OF the city of NcwYOrk, affecting com
in that city, would affect il throughout lhc Stat9
and the Union. For this reason alone the Sle S.ioiu
TO itself the power of controlling all legislation
8. The majority OF the Committee, after PROVING Ioi
the transfer OF all power apperiainng to the government
Of cities from the state 10 The cities themselves, vests mat
power the whole body OF their respective electors me
undersigned propose 10 exclude the cues O NeH
and Brooklyn from this provision They proyoe tat the
Boards Of Aldermen ana the cDef financial OhCeIs oI
those cities shall be chosen by such OF the electors
thereof shall have paid individually during the year
preceding the election tax on property omclay Nucu
II will he seen that the difference here between the two
articles radical and vital That OF the aOTty places
the government Of NewYOrk and Brooklyn, as II does
the government of ali other cities of tho State. wholly IN
charge OF officials chosen by their entire Vong popu
tom mat VI the undersigned places pat VI 'S LGi
ncut power of these Two cities IN charge OF outlaa
chosen by taXpaying voters Under he pan lhtg hup,
no important measure can DC huottu NIt,1, ~ 80
Of both classes Of officials The sanction OF Tie Boards Oh
Aldermen chosen by VIII DO heceSSly 20 nc
legal efficacy OF every Legislative ayt ana ever! ppt
ant Executive appointment while the finances Will DC IN
charge Of officers chosen by the same class OF electors
The Mayors and the Boards OF Assistant Aldermen rep
rcscntng the whole body OF electors, VIII possess ko
power of restraining the action of the Boards Ct Alder
men, inc result VIII be an equlpo'Se OF pV"cr potTyo
the officials representing the two classes OF ctcoiSNhcn
will enable either class Of officials TO arrest az Improper
acts projected by the others. II inc System
of reciprocal checks should result IN occasional naco
promptly apply the correction by diminishing from Office
those in fault In the mean time no unwise or corrupt
measure could DC contaminated. 49,
II will be urged property qualification for voters
Is contrary 10 public sentiment that property coiers no
qualification is unjust 10 those who do not happen 10
nose it, The Undersigned are not advocates OF this
srlcOn Of the franchise where IT'S exercise relates 10
matters purely political In all such cases they bolevcU
Ia he as urrouded i'm reason AS n is unjust In principle
But municipal governments do not properly belong u
this class because their chief duty consists N the super
vision and preservation OF property. They have
poicai functions that extend beyond their own limits
nor Is IL proposed to give them any authority beyond
what relates 10 the local interests of their residents
The qualifications required of their nGcstracy are integ
rty OF character and business capacity No pOhuca,
know ledge other than that which relates 10 the social
wants and interest OF their own people IS needed
magstracy for the performance Of such duties VII DO
best chosen by those have proved by their acquisition
and preservation Of property that they themselves IN
degree possess the requisite qualifications Tor al
miIjsteIlng municipal government.
But there special reasons for applying this lmita
on of the elective franchise IN the government OF the
are foreign born Many OF these are men Of intelligence
and integrity, and well 9uated to share IN the a1lhs-
ratlon Of government; but much la ger number are
without such qualifications. Many oi item when thcy
shores, have practical knowledge OF pub
lie affairs, having been reared unaer so'elhnthls Nhc
excluded them from the right OF suffrage, ana from All
O on The . e e%s are OF too d
and thrifuess to learn their duty ms citizens, or
put forth the requisite Efforts 10 elevate thelf
own social condition These added 10 similar classes OF
the nativebOrn which always abound In large cities con
population OF NewYork that twould seem 20 be suicidal
TO commit the important interests OF that city 20 ter
carefully observed the workings Of the local government
OF the metropolis under the present extension OF me
ihat cry %onu DS p thn ehsnuie control of oacias
local dhietss h I hoSv Of s eectors Ineficenev
lavish expenditure corruption and diminished security
of life and property be feared would be the una
yoidabe results 1t will be urged perhaps. that those
without property injured In the same degree as tax
payers by bad government, nasmueh as they are com
PEELED TO share in all It's evil consequences including tho
payment OF excessive taxes OF which they indirectly con
misfortune is that many Of them either ignorant Of
the fact needless OF the quences to unite IN
efforts improve the character Of the city government
Many Of this elias: are incapable 81 governing lh'seN
or oil providing for their individual welfare How I'M
proper therefore TO place the welfare OF the city in r
keeping 10. No .u.,
fled by limitations and safe guards OF the character mere
Indicated the undersigned viii feel constrained 10 oppose
the proposition They feel that the change as proposed
y the majority Of the Committee instead Of giving To the
metropolis better government would be liable to so dc
teTiOrate its character 10 render 1t intOerabe AhO-
aous and expensive is the present diSOined govern
Of that city consisting in part ofloca ana
be much better and safer than the plan proposed Dy the
majority Of the Committee
must be conceded that these state commissions con
sttute the better part Of that Government. There Is
one of them al that ia not administered WIN
ability and fidelity the public interests The manage
Inent OF the Central Park, by Commission emaiang
from the State, receives general COMMUNICATION the
ability and fidelity The other State Commissions, con
sistnc Boards Of Police, Tax, Health, Fire aud
bdation Their respective duties are perhaps more
difficult OF performance and more liable to collision WIN
private and opinions and hence, more key 10
elicit criticism; but the candid OF all parties must admit
that Of them is administered with fidelity and good
Judgment Any familiar with the administrative de
partmets which OF them superseded must c0ncede
that the change has been salutary. 49, ~
For these reasons the undersigned consider impoc
70 abolish the State commissions and to transfer To tho
local authorities the powers now vested III them unless
accompanied change they propose the mode OF
choosing the latter. With that change aud under the
provisions Of the articles they submit they would
regard this transfer of power as sound IN policy ana IN
ali respects judicious They believe 1t to be me be1t
means Of securing good government 10 INC metropolis ~
would give compact symmetrical government win
the executive power concentrated IN sing gr'
head, which would produce u unity OF pnr-
pose and action that cannot be hoped for under
emanating from two distinct sources Of power. The
mode In which is proposed 10 choose is maglstracy
would insure the representation OF all classes aud inter
ests and II s believed could not fail TO secure much
higher official capacity and fidelity than can be obtained
by the present mode. And, finally, II will give 10 that
city the right Of control over its own local neestsa
right which should be conceded to every political division
OF the state and nation II would adhere to the true
principle Of efgoveDment for there be no doubt
that all political communities. whether large or small
will manage their immediate affairs with better
know ledge and vigilance than can be hoped for
when left to the management OF others.