The New York herald., 1871-12-26


ne Now charssr Prspssisisss-Tss sys-
~ nssss a. OsnnlssAsas. 81 % ns4o II
The suggestions Of the Committee Of Seventy,
In regard to the provisions Of . new city
charter deserve fair consideration at the
hands Of the citizens of New York and OF the
State Legislature. The COMMITTEES is COM
posed Of business men, who have given their
time and influence to the cause Of municipal
reform, and who have sought the opinions OF
many competent persons to aid them In
arriving al their conclusions Nevertheless, 1t
must not be forgotten that the Seventy are tor
the main part inexperienced politicians and
somewhat visionary IN their ideas Of govern
ment. They are, moreover, nearly all mem
bers Of one political organisation, and Of =
party numerically less than oas-thlrd ot the
voters Of tie city. While disposed to secure
to us an honest and economical government,
It is possible that they may plaoe q little too
much importance upon the virtues OF .
minority, and thus fall into the old error of
rendering the machinery Of the municipal
administration too complicated and not sufa-
ciently strengthened by direct responsibility.
+ One good feature Of the committees propo-.
sitions Is that which suggests the vesting of all
legislative power in Board Of Aldermen 80
elected as to insure the presence of fair
number OF opposition members. 1t would be
sufficient protection Of the interests Of the oiti-
zens to give body so composed tho control
over all the expenditures Of the several muni-
cipal departments !; the supervision Of all pur-
chases and contracts made ON behalf Of the
city tho confirmation Of the tax levy BY
two-third vote, and the sole money raising
power Of the Corporation. But 1t ID of ques-
tonable expedienoy to confer upon the Board
Of Aldermen the appointment Of heads OF de-
partments. or, indeed, to return at all to the
exploded system of creating bulky commis-
sions in the several subordinate departments
Of the government. The ono proposition
opens the door to all manner Of bargainings
and tradings in tho Board, besides giving tho
money-raising power too immediate an interest
in the departments, while the other destroys
the important object of direct and concen-
trated responsibility. 7a4r
It seems to be easy enough to form thor
oughly good charter If those. engaged In
the labor Of preparing 1t would only
lay aside every political considsra-
ton and set about the work as
they would about their own individual
business. The people care nothing about
politics or politicians 50 far as the city charter
is concerned, and the experiences Of the recent
election should be accepted as . guarantee
that no exclusive partisanship can hereafter
be safely indulged in BY those who may obtain
control Of the local government A few main
points kept in view, and the drafting Of q
charter that would be acceptable to the citi-
zens and effective in securing . competent and
honest administration Of our municipal affairs,
would be work Of comparative ease. These
are The concentration of all legislative and
money raising power in Board Of Aldermen
so elected as to secure q minority representa-
tion; the election every year Of Mayor, who
shall be the real head Of the city government
appointing one executive head Of every de-
partment and having the power to remove
all appontees at his will !; the weekly publica-
tion Of every expenditure made, of every
liability incurred, and Of all cash balances in
every department Of the city government; the
publication Of all proposed ordinances, appro-,
priations, contracts, DO, by tho Board of
Aldermen at least two weeks before their
passage; the public g,zetting Of oil appoint
ments, with the amount. OF salary paid
IN every branch q The CITY goyerrmenti
the prohibition Of double Office holding
in any shape whatsoever BY any employe Of
the city government; and the principle Of
public bids for all contracts mado with the city
and for all supplies furnished to any city
department or public institution. With these
main provisions underlying the details Of a
charter We should secure, first, control over
every outlay Of money and over the expenses
Of ell departments by . anon-partisan legsla-
tive body; secondly, an efficient and response
BILE executive government, so concentrated as
to be capable Of being reached every year,
from the highest to the lowest Office, by the
votes of the eiectors; and, thirdly, perfect
security against any Jobs, colusions and
extravagant or unjust expenditures, by means
Of the publicity given to all the financial opera
tions Of every department Of the government.
Such charter as this would be the death-blow
of polticatcorrupton, bargaining and jobbery;s
and such 4 charter we shall probably secure
from strong partisan State Legislature just
as soon as tho Millennium arrives, but not
sooner. ae> NJ. t3.
JAPANESE REFORM In ACTIVE PROGRESS.
Our mail advices from japan, dated at Naga-
saki on the 8th OF October, assure US of the
fact that the work Of executive reform which