The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-19
YORK HERALD, FRIDAY APRIL 49, ls72-rRlpLE SHEET

NUV
fesslonaI ponticlan and gives the humblest citizen
an equal chance with his more astute neighbor in
| electing our municipal rulers.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CUMULATIVE VOTING
has been tried In England, and found to work very
here by the politicians who saw and realized that
it wrested power from them and gave it to the
people to whom 1t belonged. There will be no more
chance for Repeating or false counting under 1t than
has existed under the present and former charters
and less ctregisty law passed and enforced
1t must insure an honest city government be-
cause there VIII be too many honest and good men
In the Board OF Aldermen and In the several DEPART
ments to admit Of different result The charter
has passed the Legislature substantially as 1t was
presented by the Committee of Seventy. They ia
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
BY the Mayor and Aldermen rather than by the
Marine Court Judges, and this provision has been
retained They did not ask for the retention OF
Mr.. Green or Mr.. Van Mort nor Of any other man
now in ONCE, and every city onlcial from the
highest to the lowest must 90 out under the new
charter and take his chance OF Reelection 1t Is
not deemed probable that many 4 any, Of the pre-
Office.
In regard to the short time which must elapsc
under the new charter Mr.. Stein thought that the
citizens and the Seventy had the advantage over
the Workings Of the new 't system. 0" Although
the Committee OF Seventy have not yet
the nts " W nat esns to to
that they will work through the ward councils OF
| political REFORM and the different German reform
organizations in the city, 1t Is believed that con-
ventiOn OF those organizations will be called within
week to nominate candidates for the several city
offices and to take such other action In the pre-
misses as may be desirable.
Thomas @. Acton's Views.
No public man in this city, perhaps, has done so
much to procure an honest and efficient admins
| tration Of government among as Thomas c.
Acton, ex-Poiice Commissioner. He has been &C
| In III v rolf mr.
ing the past year and has hailed it'll supreme sat
| isiactl0n the overthrow OF the Tammany Ring
| His views, therefore, deserve weight. Speaking
of course, from imperfect information In regard to
the city charter passed yesterday by the Legis-
lature, he expressed himself satisfied in some
sense with the charter. He considers 1t at best
but an experiment. The principle involved has
worked wen In other places, and may also answer
will not this cumulative voting clause give ample
opportunity for fraud in the country the reporter
Mr.. AcroN-I don't know; we can't be worse or
In this regard than We were before They always
counted to suit themselves. And this win give
Beng ouestned IN rega .u ~ to ana
: Van Mort standing chance among the candidates
&C., A.""t." .. atnontment TO their respective
| offices, Mr.. Acton thought it was perhaps hest
thing that could be done to help the passage OF
| the charter The adjustment Of the Department
Of Docks he ala not deem to be OF any particular
Committee Of Public Safety by the Mayor and Board
| OF Aldermen he thought was preferable to having
them appointed by the courts, as at first suggested
But, of course, IN an experiment like this expert
ence will suggest notifications, improvements and
amendments, which can be made Or added at u
paratvely brief period for preparation before the
election, and the rival parties and organizations
! will have to set themselves at work Immediately.
49, ..r J.. ...1---' e-==z=s =l=s'----As. -,.1'
The Union League Club on the Charter.
The Union League Club presented last evening an
animated appearance as various groups scattered
around its spacious reading room and parlors dis.
| cussed the new charter and the future candidates
! for Mayor Opinions were as numerous as
the members AS an entirety the char
ter gave general satisfaction, but in its
| details no man accepted 1t Internationally.
| The HERALD reporter found general expression
Of disappointment at the police clause, as the re-
publicans seemed as though they would rather have
had it remain in the original draft OF the charter
Then Judge Sedgwick, who is republican, and
| Judge Curtis, who Is moderate democrat, would
have nominated, whereas in the appointment by
| the Board of Aldermen OF the commissioners, by
| the cumulative system Of voting, the republicans
cannot expect to have more than two ont
| of six. With this exception there was a general
sense of qualification at the happy passage Of the
charter, but as the contest was not close with the
opponents Of course no great emulation was felt,
and the "Unlon League" could afford to take the
matter as calmly as il the passage had been FORE
gone conclusion. The subject that most interested
the quidnuncs and politicians were the probable
| CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.
This Is question on which there Is a considera
BILE difference Of opinion. The older members
meyer whose wealth, experience and public spirit
edness were thought. to render him peculiarly
as that Of Chief Magistrate Of great commercial
metropolis, which many think should have more
stand the requirements of the city and having large
interests at stake would naturally be assduous In
ADVOCATING and projecting schemes for its political
men brought up and accustomed to exact habits
would make better executive officers On the other
hand Mr.. Havemeyer was objected to on account of
his being chairman OF the Committee of Seventy,
and II he were nominated for Mayor it would look
as II the committee meant to monopolize oil the
offices.
COMPROMISE CANDIDATE.
The liberals were in favor OF describing Mr.. Have
meyer for Colonel Stebbins as they thought the
| former gentleman was somewhat superanuated for
an office requiring considerable physical exertion,
| and, in recognizing demOralzed city gov
eminent, much unremitting attention. Again,
Colonel Stebbins represents both sides, and is an
ties He is not holding once in the Committee Of
Seventy, and the objection to Mr.. Havemeyer, in his
the charter having suggested many of its clauses,
and would be able to carry it out thoroughly,
would come into the c Mayoraty chair as as an appren
tce and while he is learning the business Of adapt
Ing the new regulations to the departments much
valuable time would necessarily be lost. The Colo
mel was personally very popular and his record
clear and public spirited.
These are the qualifications Of the rival candi-
dates OF the Union League Club as expressed by the
surface babbling element. But underneath this
froth there is a strong, deep undercurrent for a
gentleman, whose name at present is only whis-
pered. Some of the strongest men OF this divided
| political element would like to have Mr. William f.
Dodge as their candidate should he consent to run,
and there Is considerable caucussing to induce him
to come to the 'front.' but the shrewder members
deem 1t advisable to keep him In the background
for the present. Little interest Is taken In the cleo
ton for Aldermen as yet, but during the evening
| Mr.. Jackson Schutzs name mentioned, and
| that gentleman Is considered to be republican
candidate for the office.
| At the Blossom Club.
There q small attendance at the Blossom