New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-01
Init have not vet been able TO give 70 tho confederation
which some OF Its provisions demand.
-. THE BOARD OF SAFETY.

The vrovson Of tho Charter which excltes In mo tho
greatest Is that which places tho absolute
control Of the Police, Health Fire. ana buons Depart
ments IN the hands Of Board Of Safety composed Of
members. nil TO DO appointed by the Common Council,
.h,ect IN No authority but theirs and liable to removal
by twothrds vote OF that body and TO no other cor
rectye power or Influence with power TO NIL OIL vacan:
ces occurring In their body their regular term Of
office being six years one half OF tnose s 70 40
out In three years The Mayor makes the seventh mem
Der OF this Board but exerts no more power thah any
other one OF his associates. -, ..
connected with personal safety and the protection OF me-
health and property II to be chosen az TWO %
upon the minority or cumulative plan. 1t Is obvious
that in this Board is vested practically tho goyernment
government are concerned, to wit tho protection OF e
and property and the preservation OF public order YET
this Board Is put more completely under the control
OF tho Common Council. than any Of tho others.
little examination viii show that, u, und her
come completely subject 10 the Common Council For
unexplained reason even the restraint o. the mi
noty principle s practically, taken OF In reference 10
this Board The Mayor has power Of appointment or
removal Of any q them He sits with them as Pres
equal vote tho other departments T. Is provided
Of the Tsa Of any % shs I'll
tho vacancy thus enabling the l minority VINO
death resignation Of OF this Board OF Safety tho
remaining members Of 1t Ill the vacancy for the unex
matter by whom appointed. may be removed by the
Mayor, upon assigning hts reasons Tor sueh re.
as is provided for the removal Of sherifIs. But no
member Of this Board Of Safety whom are s"rSs
to sherffs can be removed by tho Governor upon
charges Of misconduct. or by the Mayor. ! ask
mova should BIO gwen to the Governor and Mayor In
less important departments and denied to them in this
the most important department. OF a9 IL Is provided
that any member OF this Board be removed by vote
q t ths & Of sao mS be- mo
the Journal and the accused have ten days within
which TO answer the charges against him.
IN heat rpsu minority
Of voting hope from 1t is that the political minority In
sy by OF Of Il @ tho 90 s
they expect; they look upon as probable that tho
proportion Of the minority will be less than Onethird as
ndrty Of third in tho Board Of Aidermcl, the two
II the f1S %Snird ss'e' vote may of poes
the other four members Of the board. who were APP
pointed by the political majority. political majority r
Two factions in the Board Of Aldermen, whose united
members make two-thirds majority can appoint abso.
uteiy and in spite OF the minority every member Of
this powerful Of the departments. The minority
cannot secure for themselves In tho board to
watch its doings.
INCONSISTENCY OF THE CHARTER.
II the safeguard OF the minority principle be GOOD for
anything, ought certainly to have been retained over
the department in which is vested the largest amount
Of power, and the most dangerous kind OF power
Abuses In the other departments end only In waste
Of money Abuses in the Police, Fire. Health Depart
ments affect the daily security OF HE and property and
Board of Safety the Charter is not only incensstent
with all established maxims Of government, but Is also
inconsistent with Its own cherished theory. . .
In addition these objections call attention TO the
fact that since the passage Of this charter bill has
eOners upon this socaled Board Of Safety, appointed
by and removable only by tho Common Council, the
York 1t is q marked confirmation Of Tho correctness
of tho general instinct which leads us to rely
two duties that those who drafted this charter,
while taking away from the Mayor all substance OF
mental head of affairs, propose nevertheless to enact in
me following m e1 n ne scoS orde9 and
efficient government OF the city, In spite OF the theories
which they had suffered to mlead them they express
city, to be- successful must DO founded and with when
every provision In good charter must DO made "
The only argument that has been addpced before mo
MAYOR powercss that the people may possibly elect
an unfit man to the office. II they should is there
reason to believe that the Common Council would pe
any betteri
MAIN OBJECTIONS.
There are other details In the Charter TO which
objections might be suggested, but my objections
to its lodging all the power o; the city government
executive as well legislative, in the Common Coun
Gill; and to its making the great City Of NewYork tho
subject Of an experiment IN political government. hav
ing the sanction yet only OF speculative opinions and
opposed to past experience. The city getting on toler
ably well under its partially reorganized local govern
men It's credit IA reGstdbished Its scale or expend
lures being reduced and no complaint or want OF de
ty in the administration Of its departments generally
now made. Even II things were not In this condition.
the most pressing necessity could Justify the subject
ing Of this great city to an experiment. or running Tue
risk of sacrificing it to theory Novelty ID not hecess
have watched closely the discussion the subject
of municipal government and especially OF this Charter
IN the public press The Neo York Herald IN a recent
issue SO Wen the nm e,
do better than quote its words. 1t says: - Is law
chf and
which, than anything else tend to secure good ana
over our politicians and oiceseekers are likely to
corrupt bargains and conspracies under TINS
law than We have ever known under any former char
ii have reason to think that many members Of the
Legislature have voted for this act with all its novelties
under feeling that the gentleman from tho CITY OF
NewYork who prepared T. had looked well and care
bers have disposed to rely upon the Judgment Of
these gentlemen as to what was needed and what was
siderarion the Legislature will agree with that tho
bill ought not to become law. The objections which dd
several years experience In connection with the govern
ment ofthe City OF New-York and who, in presenting
Them has other object and desire than to promote
and protect its interests
who has held the second office in the state and whose
practical acquaintance with the public affairs OF the
that OF any living, avowed in debate his belief that
the Charter would prove to be failure ana that he
from NewYork who urging it, and them he put
the responsibility. venerable member OF the Senate
who has nluSeu Decn mayor Vi tnc Sity VI
New-York, shares fully my worst appre
tensions the disastrous evils likely to result 10 the
another gentleman who has been Mayor Of the city,
distinguished member Of the political party opposed to
my own, the provisions In tho Charter which
lodge tho whole power Of tho city in the
hands OF the Common Council are fatal to
ali hopes OF good government under IL. j admit
the Importance of giving to our great city good form
OF local government, and the duty OF the Legislature In
behalf But the people OF that city have right to
claim have any portion Of its people the right to
ask form OF government not In conformity with the
general character Of the governments which prevail
elsewhere In the State and country.
FULL POWER SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MAYOR.