New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-24
HONEST ELECTIONS.


THE NETWORK LEGISLATURE.
The Citizens Association has sent the follow
ing memorial to the Members of the State Senate and
Assembly:
THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF NEw.YoRK,}
No sl3 BROADWAY, Feb. q, 1870.
The Honorable The Members Of the Senate dnd AssenoyV
the State Of Nep-York.
GENTLEMEN: At this tlme when the SUBJECT OF reor
ganzing the local municipal ~ and
when plans TO that end are discussed tno
alton Sss Leave 10 s subject should
IN order TO work substantial good t thts tms
under no " smmmed MN in one sentence: The raut Of
honest eieetions or protection FOR Me odn9t Ills
at Last become Virtually disfranchsed In certain dis
tricts but the most dangerous men cohtroi tne
our city arrive at power. This Is reason why the
Legislature In former years, In order 10 give US goou
6ox Instituted the system OF Metropolitan Commissions
by which important governmental rnsts sncn a. , so
Police Health and Fire Departments were rescued from
the control OF the INSCRIPTIONS men who III tneir
respective districts, control the election OF cy 9eer
Had there been purity Of elections In our city Tor he as
IS years. would have been no necessity ior the
establishments of State Commissions All CLASSES hY l
an honest ballot for tho control Oh anairso
Of one o. se foremost champions Of reform feel
that his counted zone aud that DIS no.e
counted only asiwe that the ballot when reckoned
M would truly express the actual opinions OF the masses
that there would DO fraudulent nauralzatiOhs no
gangs OF repeaters. sulinc OF tho balotDoxes 10
deliberate counting aud fraudulent canyassng there
would be no need appeal the reserved power OF the
state for that protection which should flow through the
channels of local government Tho Metropolitan Com
missions undoubtedly an anomaly 10 muncipality
hands: the anomaly must be endured and the mar
nIony dispensed with in order to insure safety 10 me-
When the legislature gives us pure ballot system
calculated to protect the voter and prevent rsnduen
returns, then our people will have no lear o,
trusting local powers in local hands The voters OF
SowYork who desire good government, ana o S
give them a chance aud they Will prove IT, Eiee-
nority desperate for and evil exercise terrorism
pcaceable and keep the election to themselves
Itis pretty well understood that very large number
OF the votes cast are hcttous-tbe naores exist ohy
paper-and the snrages which eontrOi Us are n,
| depressing both la and capital Before enter
| t.lnlup the thuI ~ OF recognizing our City
Gov"rnmenr' therefor q purity Of the ballot be
secured Tho Association sees atenpts made IN various
directions alter the election laws but believes sees IN
them only the efforts OF local politicians to gain per-
manent power No inspectors or canyassers OF election
removed FROM the Influences and quarres OF the District
officers should be permanent for year a. least ana
political parties OF state system of registry should
| 10 adopted. such rs will give ample opportunity Toe
search and inquiry An annual registry In September OF
each year unalterabo until tho succeeding year would
give Two months before election to detect fraudulent re-
tries and would prevent tho Importation VI 'oefS of
Til. registry should be opened for one month at
Police Headquarters. and every man who desired 10 vote
the ensuing election should attend to be regstereH'
standing removals this would break up political com
bnatons in dIsrcts Al the time OF registry uescrp,
nOn
passport should be entered on the register TINS would
prevent any othes voting on his name as now practced
and would assist In the detection OF fraudulent eglstres
certificate of his night vote should be given To each
voter be presented at the polls ito entte nun 10 nave
his vote received The amples protection should be ex
tnded 10 an inspectors The canvassers
and inspectors shDud not be eIected because ncF orc
not strictly representative officers; they should Do ap
polnted aud their names duly published 80 as 10 become
familiar to the electors and tney should be men oi goou
standing who would have AUST sense OF 'H0 iesp'N''
When the purity OF our local elections becomes GER
may be very properly carried This Association has
for several years past repeatedly expressed rs oeef thh
such is needed aud has stated tue pan
which IN its Judgment will secure responsible Govern.
In the Basis or General Plan Tor the 1oyerinsnt
Convention the nd day OF August 1867 by the Cit
xen, Association the following suggestions we're made,
| which can now DO constitutionally carried out;
The MAJOR @ sAea1 bay, sf poT,5 to sD9Sa the heads
eta sh, bY.r % 20 remove FOR cause CO.. Commission
ocs OF .. Bo., 1na Department. ,'AS,sa 10 ne oy
districts .ppo9.s By ,ss GSssssr % 1s oIyS
The Should have poser appoint and remove The corpora
The Controller hold oac for sir tn. connOn.-
.sd % by ss should Ts aa. me Ss S Nav,
Coou Boar should aeeessase an Investigation into the Affairs
There should he created in the CITY Of SewYok Department to
susus aud aotan system Of whs' aud piers commemorate
l. Their. created the C Of SewYok Department
Board Of Public Works into which shoad DO consolidated the Street
Department ami the croon AQueiae. Department to have the eIeu
ea.Od, and Of all public work, said
Tue existing the Charter upon corrupt legislation should
be rraueL
Tue Mayor should absolute veto the Od
and resolutions OF the Comnon COancl
10 No Donation. of TIE public funds should he made By the Common
C"anc AID all ordinances aud revolutions Involving directly, Dd
the expenditure Of she disposition the prop
should require the t Of threus o the mebers elected TO
each Hoard OF bo Council but DO ordinance resolution
passed G Board should be acted By the other Board before
shall have elapsed.
H. Impeachment Of the Mayor and all local officers for misconduct Ia
ohte.
Tho foregoing suggestions for the reorganization of
City Government were carefully considered and
subscribed to and presented the date named August
a. 1861 10 the Constitutional Convention by tho Commit
tee Of the Association consisting OF James Brown, MUIR
Hamilton, jr, JAS NJ. Constable, Joseph f. Daily A. X
Wetmore, 10 Grand Lockwood, John A. Weeks. Paul
Spoord, aud many others OF prominent citizens
The Association intended by the above plan to secure:
Frat Responsibility part appointment and
continuance oee Of anr local omo Who unit for his place
ssond To the lowest possible tsIsioo OF citizens
Thd To Wharf add Pier haroor
and Increase the business aud prosperity Of
o. To consolidate So independent departments into Que Boad
Of Public Works
The Association sees TO alter materially THIS
PLAN providing the election OF tho local officers who arc
invested with these great DO fairly and non
esy conducted under stringent election law. without
this there can be no expectation Of good government
There are several matters OF great Importance cou
neced with proposed system OF local government upon
which the Association has not touched Foremost among
these Is the arranging OF elections that the pfc
pal officers of the local governments shall out OF oleo
ut The Same time, thus giving tho people al every recu
lnstraton OF the Government In the hope that tneso
few words procure relief for people from
the evils under which they suffer- they are
President Citizens Association OF New York.
Rich NJ. Henry, Secretary.
The New-York correspondent of The Boston