New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-13
A PROPOSED REMEDY.


Our great municipal victory is valuable, not
especially in itself, but in the opportunities
for reform which it gives us. 1t has shown
cOnclusively, as TIE TRIBUNE has always con-
tended, that the majority of the citizens OF New
York are men of good will. They prefer
order and honesty and good government to
riot and theft and corruption. 1t requires
great effort to bring out the better voting ele-
meats and to marshal them solidly on the
! right side; but when this is done, the effect
is overwhelming. But such efforts as this are
scarcely possible at every election. They
ought not to be necessary. There is some
| thing wrong in our system of politics which
makes the defense of the liberties and rights
of the people 80 difficult and spasmodic a
work. The necessity for these perodi-
| cal commissions should be removed. The
citizens of New-YOrk have succeeded in
sending to the Legislature a delegation COM
posed of men of respectable character and
more than ordinary capacity. The people of
the State Will be represented by the same
class of delegates. There is now, for the first
time in many years, possibility of finding
out and adopting some means of placing our
fundamental municipal system of administra-
| ton upon such basis that it may hereafter
be left safely to the ordinary operation OF
! democratic government. The people OF New
York have once more proved, if the proof
were necessary, that they are worthy of self
government. The work of the Legislature
should be to make the exercise of citizen
! duty in future as easy as is consistent with a
due regard for civic responsibility.
The way in which this is to be accomplished
| is matter which should occupy every thought
full mind in the city and the State. Sugges-
tons from every quarter are welcome and not
without value. One of the most reasonable
and practical discussions of this question which
we have yet seen is contained in Mr. Charles
Nordhoffs article on The Misgovernment OF
| Ne,c- York in the October number of The North
| american Repie,O. Mr.. NOrdhof attributes the
general apathy and ignorance of the voters as
| to the character and qualifications Of candi-
dates to the absurd number of names which
are crowded upon every ticket. In a Presi-
dental election the issues are sharply drawn
between two parties, and these two are rep
resented and symbolized to the voter by two
names, those of the candidates for the
Presidency and for Congress. By oral
discussion and inquiry and by reading of the
|
to inform himself thoroughly in regard to the
merits of these two, and ne casts his vote,
whether it be right or wrong, with q some
what definite idea of what he is doing. But
suppose, as Mr.. Nordhoff observes, the citizen
were asked to vote for President, member Of
| Congress, Judges Of the Supreme Court Sec
rotary of the Treasury, Postmaster General,
Attorney General, Secretary of State, Secre-
tary of the Interior, Collector of the Customs,
and dozen other Federal officers, would he
not despair of any intelligent judgment upon
all these matters, and end by staying away
| from the polls, as is the fatal habit of many
respectable citizens of New York f-Ieaving the
| field open to those directly interested in the
result of the election.
When the candidates who have been able
| to control the caucus nominations and votes
are in their places, the vice of our municipal
system follows and tempts them too power
fully for resistance. They have been made
irresponsible. They are in for their full
terms. There Is no power which can hold
them to account for any violation or neglect
of official duty. They are as good as the
Mayor, and the city lies helpless at their
mercy until the next election. You cannot
hold the Mayor responsible for their crimes,
| because you have put them beyond his con-
troll. He may form with them an alliance of
plumber, and both are inaccessible 10 question.
The City Government, by its ingenious dis
tribution of powers and humiliation of re-
spondbilities, has almost attained the envia-
BILE position of the proverbial Corporation
which has no soul to damn and no body to
kick. f =!
Mr.. Nordhoffs remedy for these evils is to
adopt in the government of our city the gen.
eral principles Of the distribution Of duties
and the concentration Of responsibilities which
have proved 80 etfectual In the government of
the States and of the Union. A Mayor-elected
for short term--invested with the right to
appoint his own snbordinates, but made rig
idly responsible for their acts; city judiciary
to be appointed by the Mayor for life, or dur
ing good behavior; and q Common Council,
preferably of (. one r. house. but sufd-
GENTLY numsrcpS b insure sdiscussion and
publicity In slf<tts acts which shall have
Legislative powers and none administrative or
executive, and control Of appropriations these
arc the ppncipal elements Of the. reform pro-
posed. aMfa Nordh6f thnks lthis vusld CON
tribute to Let In the daylight upon the
commonsr frsadspY would DO sxay with Mr..
NatbAniA Sands md nehf BE Ah aass would
eliminate from among the known rogues the
few honest and injudi6ious men who give them
the sanction of their company in Office in
abort would restore the vholeaOme rnle of