The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-12
DO the People Gam or Lose by the
New Charter.

II would lie extremely Interesting, lift were
possible, to sum up accurately the profit and
loss account between the people of New York
and the City Government, aud ascertain how
the account stands since the acquisition of
Boss TwEED's new charter. An approxima-
ton may, however, be arrived at by com.
larison of the degree Of power possessed by
the people under the old charter and under
tie new.
The great demand of our citizens has been
for local scltgovcrumcnt, and the claim is
advanced by the sponsors of the new
charter that, under its provisions,
this is secured. That wonderful or.
gan2atiuu, the Citizens Assoc alton, tells
us that the usurpetions of the State Govern.
mcnt placed the power to remove incom-
petent or wastcful officials in 30 remote and
diffus. hands a. to entirely free II from re
sponsib ty for prompt or conscientious &C
ton and for the remedy for this evil afford
ed 10y the new charter they claim that every
citizen should be grateful But pray tell
ushow the evil il rcmedled? Gov. HoFF.
MAN is q citizen of New York as well az A.
O'HALL, Esq. The new charter takes the up.
pointing power from him and coniers it
upon the Mayor. The Governor was, in
some sens, elected To exercise that power; the
present Mayor no, al all True, the former was
voted for throughout the State, the latter
only in the city of New York but Mr.. HoYF-
MAN received 81, 443 more votes in the city
than Mr.. HALL. Therefore, we contend that,
in this particular respect, the people are
losers by the removal of this power from an
officer who was elected 10 exercise it, and con-
ferring it upon less popular official who
was not:
Besides, under the old system the Governor
had the power 70 remove at will most Of
the officials he was authorized to ap-
| point. Under the new charter the Off
Ger once appointed is practically fixed for
| he full limit of his term. The appointing
officer, in lieu of the power Of removal for
cause, il only clothed with authority TO i'm
peach heads of departments before the Court
| of Common Pleas, and conviction by that tri'
| bunal is necessary TO removal Thus it DE-
| comes q slow, veXatious and roundabout
preceding to get rid of an incompetent, cor
| rupt,or otherwise undesirable oilic al where
40 under the old system he could be deposed
ny mere stroke of he Governors pen Here
then is another feature in which the people
are losers, by having the remedy for malad'
m.nis' ration of Office removed further thar
ever from their reach.
The executive power Of the city was for
merly lodged in Mayor elected for two
years, and sundry Commissions and heads OF
departments, partly elected by the people
partly appointed 10y the Governor. with 9th
ers of mongrel nature, spriugng joint,
from State and municipal authority. Thi
power 10 now vested in Mayor to b,
elected as formerly, with sundr,
heads OF departments and Commits
sions appointed by A. ollALL, Esq, i,
anticipation Of the election of the new Mayor
# is claimed that, under this arrangement
the Mayor, being responsible for the eflicier
cy of his appontees, selects practical men 70
heads Of departments. This might be tn
case were eacb Mayor, on entering upon o
2 | Ace, clothed with authority TO fiji the depar
ments with men of his own selection. Blu
4 unfortunately, the first Mayor 70 be electe
. ] will Rpd Ill the departments filed by men n,