The New York herald., 1870-05-05
THE NEW RE CINE.
Address by the Citizens Association on the Text
Of the Recent Changes in Our City Govern
ment-What the Association Has Done
in the Past and Wants the Pub
lie to Do in the Future.

lie to Do In the Future.
The changes effected by the late Legislature in the
local government OF this city have been made by the
Citizens Association the subject OF lengthy address
to the citizens at large, setting forth the nature of
these changes the efforts made by the association to
bring them about, and the results likely to follow
the inauguration Of the new regime. We give below
its substance.
The address begins with stating how new boards
Of Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen are to be cleo
ted TO supersede the present board how the Street
Commissioners Department and Croton Aqueduct
Board are to be Onsolidated into Department
Of Public Works; how the new Department. Of Docks
is constituted, how various changes have been in
augurated In the Police, Fire and Health boards how
the Board Of Supervisors is to be abolished, all about
the changes in the Finance Department and so on
through the lists Of departments and changes All
these changes II is claimed are such as
the Citizen Association have been asking for the
past six years. Next comes the story or the organi-
zattOn ana the labors Of the association. 1t is
asserted that since Its organization, December IL,
1858. 1t always has been thoroughly non-parisan
body, composed Of men OF every shade Of poll.
tical opinion, acting In concert to secure one
end-honest, efficient and economical govern
ment for New York. For nearly seven years
it has increasingly and vigorously pursued
It's course and performed its work. Bitter attacks
or censure have mover for moment turned 1t aside
from its duty II has labored every year to reduce
The annual tax levIes, and the result Is shown in the
in any other large CITY IN the country-beinr about
one per cent on the actual value OF property 1t has
also laborcd every year TO secure such changes
in our local government as would best secure
economy and efficiency. Among The changes 1t
sought was the appointment OF ali heads OF depart
The Mayor being responsible for the efficiency OF
his appointees, 1t insisted that he should select
mere local political manipuatOrs should be ex-
cluded and that the heads OF departments not being
eteessa and aayng 92 minor political aanereats to
offices, the departments thus becoming business
establishments with efficient incumben;s instead of
mere eectioneerfng machines and nurseries for DO.
lillsal iavorltes Each head ofdepartment not being
ONCE viii now Study to economze the bubble nof runds s
and serve the public interests The consolidation Of
the Street Department and the Croton Board. to.
gether with The building functions OF the Super.
yisors in one Board, to be called the Board of
Works, Is also mentioned as navlng been urged by
The advantages Of this measure, il is urged are
that 1t gives the whole jurisdiction over our street
paving, hagging, sewerlng, water pipes, public
buildings, &c., &c, to one head instead OF leaving
1t totwo conflicting authorities that it cuts or 4,
fruitful source OF pecuIation formerly pracised by
collusion between contractors from the two inde.
pendent departments andalessens the expense OF
Keeping up TWO boards, and that IL makes
one man responsible before the people in such
a manner that he cannot escape the con
sequences OF neglect malfeasance or ineificiency
The creation OF separate board to have charge Of
all the warveS. piers and water front is said also to
have been urged upon the Legislature by the associ-
alton, and the benefits to flOw from this measure
briefly summed up are: the institution OF q yigor-
ous Comprehensive and progressive policy nv the
government in relation TO our docks. by which the
present decayng wooden structures will be replaced
by permanent, elegant and commOdiOus wllarves at
once an ornament TO our harbor, an inducement
to commerce aud q needed Improvement to the
health OF the city, The cost of these structures
though large and propOriioned to the great
benefits to be gained Will not really fall upon our
people ihe wharage TO be collected will pay 10th
IS simply an intelligent administration of our great
wharf estate which Is inaugurated by this change;
the Croton water, will pay for ITSELF. and, like the
cost OF the Park, will be an investment which viii
hesadvantages of board OF aldermen elected By
the ' city at large Is next dwet upon. It
+ sassa %s Inc az OF such board is
elector, the candidates must be better class of c
zens who Will not attempt the runous pavement eX.
pendltures the attacks on private property tile
waste OF money and the various petty infections
which the former boards practlsed in order to sup
ply the wants Of rapacious local politicians whose
obscurity and limited constituency almost screened
them from investigation. Another thing urged was
the abolition or the Board Of Supervisors and vestng
their powers in the Board OF Aldermen.
This saves the expense of separate government
and separate legislation for territory which is alike
the exercise OF single act OF vigilance to watch
both the city and the county government, as It is
exercised Ill one DOdy. me Mayor OF the city is
thus also made responsible for the county govern
ment, and his character experience and position
are put IN the scale TO weigh in favor CT good gov.
ernment.
The creation of separate boards to have charge OF
the Police the Fire and Health Departments
The appointment Of a separate committee
to complete the work upon the new Court House,
ana the institution OF local judicial tribunal 10
which resort can be had for relief from oflcal wrong
doing are dwelt upon in turn and the Efforts made
by the association to bring about these reforms duly
set forth.
The great ends OF local reform for which
every adverse circumstance, 1t IS shown, have
Deen accomplished, and that our city is
so far as Its system Of government is con-
cerned, redeemed from the rrresponsiblty into
remain. They go on to say that the association at
times has been accused OF working in the republl-
can interests and at others OF working In the demo-
cratic interests; the truth being that 1t worked at
ment, and il does not now hesitate TO appeal to the
people OF tie city and State OF New York to
say whether It's course has not been SO
directed that the administration. of local
since the organization OF the association. The as
sociatlon in ends to carry on It's work in the future
with the same energy and zeal II has shown in the
past The government or the City must be perfected
III all its details, and then New York city viii reach
such @ height OF prosperity and reputation as the
world has never seen. The association feels more
than ever the momentous importance OF its work
and the grand consequences involved In its success.
lis aim IS city reform aud city Improvement.
II this metropolis had been created and located on
purpose to show how great 1t possible for city to
become, no better ch0ce 1t is urged, could have
been made. Washed on three sides by rivers, with
Il bay capable OF holding the commercial nav1es OF
the world with every faciity for cleanliness health
and comfort, with innumerable outlets and commu.
nations OF the eaith with attractions drawing to 10
men OF enterprise and industry from ali countries