The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-02-28
Senator Norton's Biil-A Beam of
LIGHT.

The bill in regard TO the city and county
OF New York introduced into the Senate by
Senator NORTON, is excellent as far us 1t
goes Ii strikes at the roots of some of tho
great evils which alllict our municipal gov
eminent.
1t consolidates the city with the county,
gives us one responsible government, and
abolishes that sink of corruption the Board
of Supervisors, transferring its rights and
responsibilities to the Mayor, Aldermen. and
Copmonalty of the city of New York, ex.
cept that in the very few cases where, under
the Constitution, its separate action is ne.
cessary, its duties are to be performed by the
Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen.
The I'LL provides that all funds, receipts.
taxes or moneys of ",nhtcver kind and from
whatever source which belong TO or are 10
be paid TO any officer or Board or Commits
sion, in the city and county of New York,
excepting the Board of Education and the
Central Park Commissioners shall he paid to
and held by the Chamberlain, and shall be
known as the City and County Treasury. And
TO use or pay out any of these funds or moneys
In an Illegal manner, or TO take fro m one fund
the means to meet the demands upon any
other fund shall be a misdemeanor. This
section Of the proposed law will prevent some
of the most outrageous abuses under which
the city has suffered. 1t will simplify the
- Of tie accounts and Will do away
with the practice Of borrowing or flching
from one bureau TO make up for the defc.en-
rics or dcfalcations of some other bureau
The bill also takes away the power Of one
man to hold half a dozen, or even two OF.
fees in the city and county Of New York
and it provides that no officer shall receive
any other compensation for his services than
his fixed salary, excepting that the Dstric.
Attorney and Counsel for the Corporation may
receive their taxable costs, and that teachers
and janitors in the public schools may,
in that particular employment, hold more
than one Office, and that certain other per
sons, such as registers, clerks of courts, &c
may receive the fees now allowed them by
law This is a sweeping reform though il
ought 10 have gone q little further for we
don't quite see why the d str let Attorney
md Corporation Counsel should be exempted
from It's operation, and we are rather afraid
OF the elastic term fees However, it
knocks in the head all those indirect modes
whereby officials dcPlcte the treasury and I'll
their own pockets, in the shape of enormous
commissions, premiums, and the like.
Now after some needed amendments and
safeguards ARE incorporated into it, let us
have Senator NORTON ) bill put on lis passage
In both Houses without delay. And more
over, let MS sec, too, nj the earliest moment
what fnctiJnai,s are going TO be clothed
with the vast powers now exercised by the
various Commissions which rule the city of
New York, and especially who are 10 fiji
thcsr Offices Two months Of the session
ure gone, and the people Of this city want to
understand the nature Of the new laws which
ore TO govern them, and want to see the
names Of the nov men who are to admins
Ter those laws. Let there be no needless
dclGv.