, 1872-12-23

which they have already been paid by the ves-
sel-owners. II the latter are to have tho award
then let the Government present, as an Offset, its
own expense account for the pursuit and cap
ture Of the Alabama.
THE PROBLEM OF MUNICIPAL GOVERN
MENT.
The personal reforms which have been effected
in the City Government Of New York have
brought about the consideration Of such statu-
tory reforms as will insure the permanence Of
the official integrity that has been obtained by
little less than popular revolt This is more
and moro difficult problem. 4 num-
ber OF plans for new city charters have been sub
mitted, but all Of them ha7e been met with !
flood of objections. Mr. Havemeyer, the Mayor
elect, suggests that the number OF Commission
era in the control OF the departments shall be
diminished, and that, where it is possible,
there shall be but one Commissioner, or
Chief, for each department.. It is evident,
too, from conversation which Mr. Havemeyer
recently held with g. newspaper reporter, that
he believes the appointing and removing power
should be vested in the Mayor. Mr. Dorman
B. Eaton, who is q lawyer of ability, and who
has devoted much attention to the Esubjeot OF
municipal government, insists that the Assem-
bly, District system should be abolished, and
that the system OF electing members Of the
Legislature on general county ticket should be
revived. The small Representative Districts,
he claims, are little nests Tor little poiti-
clans, who become. dangerous in the aggre-
gate when they can control the local
Government Of New York City. Other
plans contemplate restoration to the people of
New York City Of the management OF their OWL
municipal affairs. They claim that the inter-
ference OF the State Government. which was
first called in to check abuses in tho New York
CITY Government, has now become the source OF
all municipal evil, and that, in the new charter,
tho Legislature must abandon all its privileges
for assisting in the management OF New York
City. Still other plans, modifying or aimpllfy-
ing those that baye been mentioned, arc the
topics Of discussion; but mono Of them offers
complete or satisfactory solution Of the plob-
lem. The difficulties Of practical
and permanent reform Of the City Government
are found among the people Themselves, and
are summed up by the Nation as ollowB: l. 4
class OF adventurers, who are now known as pro-
fesaional politicians, but who would have been
outlaws in the fourteenth century; 2. 4 small
community Of respectable people, who hare
neither the time nor the qualifications to contend
with these froebooters; 8. A large ignorant
population Furnishing the votes which are neces-
sary to the professional politicians; and 4. The
means that are provided for rewardng these fol-
| lowers and retaining their allegiance. Hence
the Nation concludes that permanent reform can
elections, doing away with q portion OF the po-
itical prizes, and insuring the 1psyiug portion
Of the community, if not the control Of the City
| Government, at least powerful minority in the
| Common Council. How the latter and most i'm
portant feature OF tho proposed reform can be
attained under the law OF universal suffrage, the
Nation does not undertake to say.
It will be seen, from these mere suggestions
| Of the various plana which have been submitted,
| how intricate the problem OF securing good
Municipal Government has become in q city
which has once been subjected to the riot Of Of
fetal corruption. We incline to tho belief that
no legislation and no city charter can assure il
absolutely, and that it is only through the
e1ertion Of that power which the respectable
and tax-paying community can always assert in
0 combined effort that official corruption can be
defeated. The first requisite is, that the re-
spectacle and ta1-pAying community should ac'
together without regard to party politics. Il
was in this way that the official thieves OF Men
York we're dethroned, and that their places wert
supplied with men OF acknowledged integrity al
the late municipal election. TWAS by a concentra
ton OF this kind that Mr. Havemeyer WAS elected
Mayor, and he has recognized it by announcing
that he will not listen to diotationB from an.
party or association in regard to the appoint
ments ho. has to make. The decided action
Of the several prominent citizens o
Boston, who declined to accept poitica
nomination for Mayor, WAS part 0
this general programme; and the election o
Mr. Pierce VAS undoubtedly due to the accept
ance, by the Republicans Of the non-partisa7
disposition Of the Offices which be made az
condition Of his candidature. Tho last two mu
nicipal elections Of Chicago have been conduct
. ed on this plan, and have met with abundAn
SUCCESS. Mayor Mason and Mayor Medin wer
!: both elected by the respectable community, wh
organized against party caucuses and conVen
tions. Il the Common Council has fal}e
; short Of this standard, it is because th
/ Aldermen were mostly chosen by the old system
: Of the word primaries, and because the citizens
. movement was not applied in the case Of th
, various wards. While it is certain that cit
charter can never assure permanently good go1
ernment for oities it can afford important au,
iliaries. Perhaps the election Of Aldermen O
the general ticket, and not by the various ward
would enable the citizens' movement to includ