The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-03

duty, TO ne organized by the Mayor OF the city. II
restored to the people OF the city Their CONSTITUTIONS
right OF local sefgovernnent, OF which they naa
been for many years deprived. IL defined the
responsibility OF those in authority so that Ia case
whom TO cast tue blame
II was first step in reform, casting aside, as 10
did, a very vicious system OF government the evils
OF which had long been manifest 10 many ana are
nsw manifest mani all was not an m
evils others likely TO come out OF the remedy Hselk
were oye yer THIS was the fatal error in tns
government or the city from the people 70 irrespon
svoid ike MISTAKES in framing new cSarer
Tue chef defect OF the present charter Is In re-
s,oaa Tenure or Once law. WHEREBY subordinate
In administrative duties is made Independent Of
sns Ss Inc cne ooer f1
cause satisfactory TO him. The length OF term q
not have Been found in practice ooec IonaSe II the
power had Deen given to the Mayor TO remove SUM
nor ~ M Ss
harmony with the erroneous doctrine 30 prevalens
S late go1a a 90 %
spOnsibility; that the Mayor should have no power
except to accuse them before the Court OF Common
Pleas as the means, and the only means, oil rem0v-
ing them from Office. while the Mayor himself was
somewhat heightened tenure OF once IN some
departments OF the city government such as are
Great ed to carry out to administer some special
work, may be. for many reasons, desirable, ana u
not Objectionable II the power be given 70 me
by him. The parks OF the city and the Croton Aque-
duct have been thus administered from the begin
ming. All officers connected with the general a1-
minstratOn OF Ine city aair5-the Comptroller, the
Counsel to the Corporation, the chamberlain and
without the consent Of the Aldermen. be removable
by him, and go out or once with him at the end OF
his term. as matter OF course.
My judgment is not IN favor OF requiring tho con-
sent of the Board of Aldermen to appointments:
%ent may Se aepenasas Tor is oonr%s., ept upon
ma ar Mnu n ofU nth MI ana =
favorites of the Aldermen.
Though the charter was not all 1t should have
1t promised relief from great and long-c0nttnued
wrong under which the people OF the city mad been
abuses Under which are now coming 10 light The
misconduct recently exposed was not consequences
from any OF It's provisions. -'-- =
TIE responsibility for the wrongdoing, which has
very justly aroused public Indignation, does not
rest SO muca upon the charter as upon individuals
VINO held office In the city before the charter waa
passed and took onlce also under It, The difficulty
with The charter in this connection is that 1t pro-
| vided no means for summary removal from Office.
| The auditing OF the alleged Claims against the
former county, government TO the extent of s,x
millions OF dollars and upward to which the public
attentO N has been chiefly directed, WAS made, not
under the charter, but under a clause In the oMl
commonly called the New YORK county tax levy;
clause perhaps not Objectionable IN 1 SELF II ting
powers which 1t conferred had been faithfully and
carefully executed The annual tax levy OF New
YORK should no more be made up by the Legislature
than that OF any other comfy, 1t has been tho
passed upon by the Legislature, and this has been
The occasion OF great abuse; the estimates Of the
city authorities being almost always largely in
creased by the Legislature. One of the good results
looked for from the enactment OF the present char.
| ter aud other laws passed at the same time was
aoonton OF the practice OF bringing the city tax
| evies into the Legislature.
alude to these facts not because would recon-
mend: retaining the present charter. but because
think they ought to be Known and understood
Judgment be improved upon, but II Is under pOpu-
| lar dsfavor, and recommend its repeal and the
enactment Of a new one, in which ali That is good
OF the Old one may be retained. all that " evl re
| jecled and all that Is detective remedled. -
aud egent pro oy te
10 manage their own affairs and to redress their Own
wrongs: They demand Of the Legislature now 10!
| return TO syStems which have upon trial proved
TO be fauFes but the establishment OF the wisest
ana best form OF strictly local government.
tive power ana responsibility in It's Mayor.
clear and well defined accountability OF all oiicial
themselves Of local administration not faithful 70
their interests would not pc wise Tor the state to
ment OF the local affairs Of New YORK city Il e
the duty of the state to give to the city good or
and then let them understand distinctly that success
public duties If they will not give attention to
their own affairs no form OF CHARTER nor provision
ncipa wrongs are not to be cured by the mere
passage Of a new law, however perfect In It's struc-
promote personal or partisan interests will have a.
1t deserves to nave, brief existence.
|
as good onc Que which cannot be nulliaed or sub
stantlay repeated by the surreptitious insertion OF
q specific law, with any and every change IN the
| persons composing the legislature The charter Of
city OF million Inhabitants should be as wei
considered, as permanent and almost as sacred az
the Constitution of State. II should not only pro-
departments OF the local government, ard clothe It
with power TO raise by annual tax the moneys
and restrict its power 10 create debts except by the
consent OF It's people, expressed In q formal and
well il we could initiate in part at least our own
State Constitution, which, after providing sinking
creation OF any new indebtedness, EXCEPT WITH the
express consent OF the people, for some single work
or object to be specified III the law which must pro
year, and the principal in specified period, This
permanent character cannot, however, be secured
constitution.
10 framing a new charter now the following
points should be Kept prominently in view
FRUSTRATING the responspility for good admins.
traon OF all city affairs upon the Mayor; ana to this
en% sCp al nun ReaS I ana re-
lice.
for q new election OF local officers.
Thtrd-Making the Mayor subject to removal by
the Governor for malieasance In oice or neglect or
duty
fourth Providing for police department, with
three commissioners, to be appointed IS lollows:-
Court OF Common Pleas and one by the Chief Judge
OF the Superior Court TO be removable. any OF then
In the OF sherls by the Governor for cause.
board thus constituted and so subject TO removal
would be, as IL ought to be, strictly local board,
subject to the same State supervision as sherirs.
VINO are conservators OF the peace In their respcc-
tive countess and as free rs any board could POSI-
bly, he from the danger OF improper personal or par
tisan influence
F,nh-Requiring full monthly publication Of all
receipts and expenditures and OF all bonds Issued,
and frequent publication also OF all contracts made
by any department, with statement OF the general
operations OF each department. and OF their pay
rolls.
Sixt-Concentratlng the responsibility Of those
composing what may be termed the legislative
branch OF the city government by constituting THIS
numerous; this Board, with the Mayor, acting a.
SuperylsOrs. leyyIng 6ll taxes. second board %