New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-11
MUNICIPAL REFORM.


Madlson-square. Mr. Jackson S. Schultz, the ney
Il PRESIDENT elected as successor to the present U.
d Minister to Austria, indicted into office. Nh
o Schultz, on being conducted to the chair made few
!, remarks, suggestive in themselves and so warml,
ana heartily received by the influential organization
10 which they were addressed, that we present then
! erewith in full:
| L. "o0"enoGs 1t Is my first duty TO thank you foi
the ~ nor winch you have conferred in thus electing
ra, over your deliberations for the coming wear
vi who know best will do me the Justice tc
believe that ala not seek this position not because
failed to appre ate Its Importance but because
think myself eth. capable worthy, when placed in
contrast with the distinguished gentlemen who had
hitherto served you Ia tins capacity. But was re-
minded by your nomuatins committee that the "Rebel-
lion over" and the perAod when tie e1hausting
and labor which had heavily taxed your execu
tive officer had passed away and fiat now 1ere man
of business might hope do the service which 80
Gently taxed the learning and eoquence OF Jay.
| WHAT is LEFT FOR TIE Union LEAGUE CLUB To- DO.
1t is conceded that the emergency which called this
organization into being has well nigh passed But the
consequences-the effects of the Rebellion-wi long
tnue to demand the zeal and watchful care OF all pat
otto men. Political reconstruction, which up to very
recent period occupied public attention is now, happily
so far advanced reasonable doubt that be.
Gently rebellion VIII occupy former places
Union. And to some minds with this end secured,
cries of past services-with recolecons of friend
ships formed during those long and eventu years OF the
wat-our membership have been unwilling 10 separate
| FREEDMEN-FINANCE-TAX
have said that political reconstruction making
satisfactory progress But is thore other kind Of
construction Has the late Rebellion left behind
many interesting and difficult political, financial,
social and moral problems, which will require the best
judgments Of the most skiful and unselsh men to adj
| just I
| W. q q
the relations of the free linen III their new position IN
our national, State and municipal debts must be pro
vded for, and "A system Of taxation established which,
little onerous as possible We have but little past
history guide in this financial emergency and there
is positively nothing IN the history or experience OF tle
more advanced Governments Of the old world which can
While we have an abiding confidence that in some way
all debts will be paid. the most certain ana OCst
means to this end yet remains to be pointed out 10
what body of men can the country look win more con-
fdonce for suggestion and counsel than those VINO nave
dsinterestedly served IL through our late cohhct 49,
II there is a moral to be drawn from the past history
OF this organization, is this Whenever and wherever
good and unseish men band themselves together Tor
common object they are vastly more eeCtnJ man 10 MIc
they operate sngly This conceded principle OF assOcl
effective when applied TO political ana moral
action as when applied to the development OF te pys
cal sciences, and while clam that sneh ASSOCIATION
has served strengthen and make efectual our efforts
TO save the General Government may we nor
rely upon the Influence to save our state, ana par
| ticulary this CITY, from the msrue under when we
| suffer.
The geographical position OF NewYOrk is all that could
be desired No city this continent If, indeed in the
| world presents more natural advantages. All we re-
qure to make it what should be is the establishment of
lust and equal laws and their economical administration
This done and there will be attracted TO this center OF
the wealth and enterprise not only OF our own
States, but those OF South America and the outlying
Islands Of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts To secure ana
make permanent these advantages is worthy inc best
efforts Of the thoughtful citizens What Is there in
our organization when should prevent US Iion express
ing views and wishes upon all matters OF CITY CON
cernl We may not be partisans but we are men ana III
a proper sense, are politicians; and cannot If We
would avoid the responsibilities OF citizenship what DO
these responsibilities implyi Do they IMPLY that we are
merely 10 roeP TO conne ourselves 70 this simple duty
is Intellectual and tends rather to bind our letters than
10 be heard and feltand then we shan command respect
This organization is more than 100 strong point Of
worth ana character IL Is me equal Oh any C,neT y
| OF you being among the heaviest
All our property our families their rights ana inter r.
this city that cannot affect an indifference we would
THE CHARTER.
| The period on which fall is suspicious We
are assured by those who called TO u, that
we are to important changes introduced in both the
| form and administration Of our City Government Ger
tain time-honored institutions to be changed-ndeed
the only portion Of system which many Of us thought
toerable be abandoned-ard instead OF State Com
missions in which both political parties have heretofore
been fairly represented, TO have Departments
controlled by the popular will in one Of its several forms
just where the line Is to be drawn We are not yet In
| formed.
Whether each District Ward is to electits Cap
tain Of POlce-as It does Its civil and Police jus
tces-wil be more fully known Oh the adjournment Of
our present Legislature.
Let MS be assured that whatever changes we are to
endure N they TO be such indicated IN the
charter now pendng)-we must be most seriously
affected. While may not hope to control or prevent
this civil revolution, may we lot by jndicous action
| 1hs new charter is regarded by some as a novelty
This Is mistake. 10 is only new as cOufers ana trans
fers certain administrative duties.
| HAS THE MAYOR USED TIE POWER lie HAS so WELL THAT
lie OUG1T TO BE TRUSTED WITH MORE
It proposes TO elect the Mayor now, by popular
suffrage, confers that officer the duty Of organ
izing certain OF the departments. We have already
passed through such an experience and that too at
period when the general Generalization was not so great
as nOw-and venture the opinion that our citizens Will
the retnacted when our police are con-
trOed by partisan Mayor.
by this reform charter the administration OF me laws
is to be divided between the Mayor and the people them
selves representatives which they may elect There
novelty in tins. All that Is bad IN our present sys
| TEN proceeds from these two sources
| The Mayor appoints and controls the Street Commits
sOner Are his acts cOmmen dedf THIS department IS so
VIGOROUSLY extravagant and corrupt that property own
nstncyey resist all attempts NJ opening ana feg-
ating the grades streets much their property
| might seem TO require this service. 49,
The City Chamberlain is the Treasurer OF our city He
is appointed by the Mayor Does his financial manage
ment commend this system OF appointment
These two important city departments have been Tor
long of years under the control and direction OF
the Mayor. Have we right to believe That better men
or more honest administration VIII DC secured uueI
the new charter
ABOUT ORR ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
| II We turn to those departments which admins
tered by persons elected by the people, We find very
little to commend Our Controller" Surrogate"
Sheriff." Register" County Clerk" Corporation
Counsel" beside all police and civil justices, now
elected by people Are they usually such men. and
do they administer their several offices IN such manner
| as to commend the mode OF their appointment
The practical working Of neither OF these systems OF
administration has been such 10 give hope for greater
success under any change Of aud yet the IN
dcatOn are that both In part Of these methods
will receive the sanction of the present Legislature
| WHAT CAN THE CLUB DO UNION OF HONEST MEN OF