The New York herald., 1870-04-11
NEW CITY GOVERNMENT.
The New Departments and Ap-
pointments.
rD1soMAL sEErcH Hs.
MAYOR HALLS PROCLAMATION

The mayor in announcing 20 his constituents this
resul, or his discharge Of the high trust unan,
mousy reposed in him by the Legislature Of appoint
ing heads OF departments for the city government,
eustraces the opportunity 10 accompany the an.
rUuncement with iew observations lie weuld be
politically justified by the numerical record Of votes
snon the legislation which bestowed this RESPONSE
pnty should ne confer every one OF the thirry-two
appointments upon democrats; but the extraordl
nary unanimity by which the power was agreed upon
appears 10 create honorable obligation to respect
tbe political minority OF his constituents 30 far At
least as 70 rcappont few OF his political opponents
whose past services TO the public additionally de-
serve the recognition. The Mayor has been entrust
cd with some appointments for which q full exer.
else Of ms partisan power might well tmperll
interests that in fairness ought to be entirely sepa
raved from partisan considerations. For instance,
IL has long been agreed land arguments to some ex-
tent may be found In nearly every pubic journal
Of the city Of New York In tue past that the exeeu-
ton Of police, fre ana health duty, or Of admins
Tafton Of charities, ought not to De at all controlled
by partisan influences.
Every citizen ought to feel that the policeman. or
the fireman, or health physician who protects his
life his property, should be freed from party bias
and have NO political duty to discharge Indeed,
that he should be controlled BY no other consldera
tioDs than those Of fidelity. Governor Seymour's
initiation in 1868, Of the idea OF dividing the police
equally between the two great parties produced an
excellent effect upon the city.
But there arc some departments such the De-
partment Of Public Works and OF Excise, which re-
quire at the Mayors hands entire respect to party
considerations, inasmuch as the one involves large
patronage and the other represents system almost
entirely advocated by one political party.
In accordance with the preceding views there are
four democrats and one republican in the Depart
mentor Docks. The Department Of Charities and
Correction as well as the Fire Department, Will
stand three democrats TO TWO republicans. The
Aeaith Department viii be composed Of five demo-
Gratis and three republicans. The police s equally
divided in politics, bat with the understanding that
there is to be new democratic execut i've head as
superintendent The other three departments are
entirely democratic.
The new appointments 10 the Board OF Health
have been made with the intention OF equlably re-
presenting the adopted citizens, VINO have been 10
great extent jealous Of the operation OF the Health
Department. 1t win. undoubtedly, tend to allay
that feeling when they are TO he SO widely ana IN
teligently represented In the new Board.
The fresh appointments as Fire Commissioners are
Of three gentlemen who, during series Of years,
were Identified with the Old volunteer IRE depart.
ment, In which they held Official trusts.
All the gentlemen upon the Commission OF Docks
have acquired some especial knowledge or expe-
TIence upon q euuJe,t 30 vital 10 our cChlGcrcHi
interests.
The Mayor Furthermore congratulates his constr
tuenta upon the restoration OF municipal rights TO
the city OF New YorK. Every ofccr now doing city or
county duty within the metropolis IS, in strict con-
f0rmity with the letter OF the State constitution,
elected appointed by some local authority. Con-
formally with the true philosophy Of municipal gov
ernment every exercise Of our municipal power
proceeds from one central executive head-the
kay0r.
The Mayor also practically possesses the power to
remove an incompetent or errng head Of depart
ment, which head in turn may remove every subor-
dinate. Tie Mayor must proceed by charges. The
head Of department acte ct pleasure. The citizens
may communicate charges through the Mayor and
compel him TO at least investigate them.
Although the elective and app0intive heads Of de-
parnents possess different terms OF ONCE ii may be
well argued that to certain peculiarly constituted
Oflices longer security OF terms brings emulation
and relieves an Incumbent from any neces-
sity Of catering to superior power OF
fr0m ever feeling that uncertainty in con-
Meeting present effort with future results which
always is fe, whenever one once holds IT at the
caprice Of another Yet, whatever may be tue let
ter OF tue law that distributes terms OF oicc those
Jerms practically end to each onicer even the
Mayor should be become incompetent or criminal.
Indeed. there have been many in all parties who
nave argued that only the contingencies above ex-
or OF persons holding public positions Which require
peculiar skill. and experience to I'll.
APRIL Q, 1870. A. oAKEY HALL.