New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-01
THE CHARTER VETOED.
ARGUMENTS OF THE GOVERNOR AGAINST
THE MEASURE

York City Charter without his approval:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, April 30, 1872.
To the Assembly: return. without approval, Assembly
bin No. u.s. entitled, "An act TO reorganize the local
government OF the City of New-York"
The bill provides new charter fer the City OF New
York. features which these One Board OF
as Aldermen, elected. nine in each Senate District by
novelmethod called the cumulative vote under whicho
may vote nine times for candidate ana whereby
minority elect its candidate candidates against
the will Of the majority In the district TINS Board Oh
Aldermen to appoint out Of the five heads which are
yen to each OF the administrative departments, except
the Police Board Of which the Common Council appoints
oil the members, and the Mayor is made, ny virtue OF
lis Office an additional member thereof The Mayor has
the power OF appointing the presiding member OF the
boards of five who severly control the other depart
rnens The Department alone is left with head,
chosen by tho Mayor Controller and first Judge of the
Court OF Common Pleas and removable by the Mayor
for
When considering charters for cities and villages
have mot felt myself justified in inerposing the Execu-
tive veto where difference Of opnion existed between
the Legislature and myself only on minor details not IN
voving important principle. This bin, however, Is. IN
Its man features, contrary TO the established funda-
mental principles OF good government as recognized by
the people OF this country and is likely TO lead to very
great evils II vests in the Common Council the az
pontment OF thore who control administrative depart
ments, thus stripping the Mayor of power necessary
20 making his Office OF to the public interests.
The Mayor Is allowed ono member OF each OF
the several Boards to which the administrative de-
partmens inrustcd, while four other members arc
chosen, by the majority and some by the minority
OF the Common Council 1t seeks to establish In one
portion OF .he State only, In single city, revolution
airy change in the mode Of voting by the people, other
than that which has always been practced throughout
the country In passing this b the Legislature could
hardly have expected that would approve Of It, On
the contrary anticipated from the opinions
axcra Cd on ha al
message that could not give to 1t the sanction OF
my official signature. regret that final action upon 1t
has been delayed to so late period in the session.
THE GOVERNORS RECOMMENDATIONS.
1t has stated in argument before me that, In its
main features this bill accOrds with my own views,
heretofore expressed The fact Is is in direct oppos
ton TO the recommendations OF my annual message,
which recommendations were founded upon eight years
OF official experience in connection with the government
of the City of Ncw-York; and which, have reason to
believe, have received the approval Of almost every
inteligent man who has practical knowledge OF the
many comforting ample power upon the Mayoras chief
executive OF the city, II, In TACT, leaves MN almost
'SSd;%irlistrsiiCS to the Common Council, IN whom
is vested the appointment &C, OF those who con
All this IS opposed to experience in matters OF
government and, fact in all matters Of private bust
trated upon him for the 81 subordinates is the first
condition OF good administration 10 pubic or private al
Jars Any other method OF administration always re,
sus in neglect abuses for which no one can be hed
10 blame It will be impossible, unuer this chare, W
fix responsibility for OH any tnt the
The responsibility will be shared by so many that te
usual moral oil no SeaEeoed 40 as scarcely to
lie felt man capable of shame aud sensitive 10 pubic
e5untenaneine each other and knowing that the blame
OF their joint action will he diyded among many are a
ex erience shows much less likely 10 be lnnuencSd Dy
TIE Sc natural restraints upon human cohopet hseII
,,sv exhibits cousenting TO things being uone
q, boards whereof they are members, which we Know
they would not do II acting IN thelr
and on undivided responsibility. For the enact1g OF
for careful Interpretation anu up-
pcaton of these laws 10 the rights OF those suect 10
Them the dcliberatiOn of bodies of men, more or less
numerous useful and but in the enforce
Inent and administration OF the laws single executive
las always been found essential to good government
Our OK pIence both our State and local governments
I Scer his control over and his full
responsibility for the general administration OF affairs
fundamental principle OF the American forms of govern
yncn and IN fact of AL wise government Is tnat me
suI he separated from each other; that each has
proper sphere OF action ana that no one o. tnGse
.rinstpe recognized by the American people and APP
rived Iy the Experience Of the world. Nowhere on
,1s continent is 1t SO essentially conoiuon OF gooa
exeoutye officer should be clothed with ample power,
have full control all subordinate administrative de-
partments and be subject 10 an undivided Tespons
6ty 10 the people and To public opinion for all errors
hOrt-cOmngs, and wronGdo1gs by subordinate Officers
should be IN the hands Of some one on whom
the pubic c gaast Be dyered o1 tne plea that
others share his responsibility and his power No una
for this personal undivided responsibility OF the chief
executive, and this only exist where the powers
cannot throw off upon others share OF blame and so
cannot escape having pubic oalum concentrated
man in this position in that city and we
have the strongest moral restraints upon
which can be imposed by providing for his re-
moyal IRON office by superior authority Having done
this we have done all TO good admnisra
ton ought not to do less Our people are so accus-
toned TO rely the chief executive 10 prevent and cor
rect errors administration that after this charter shall
have transferred the powers that belong the Mayor
over to Common Council. they will not readily
their eyes ON the members tnereo out from IOrce
Of habit, leave them unmatched
II amazing that men Of intelligence and expe-
rence the city, who have lived in IL for
and something at least OF public affairs there,
should urge the conndng substantially OF al admins
elected; body in which responsibility can DO easily
another and is scattered and shared among so many
that, this system, responsible government will
not in fact exist. 1t is amazing 10 That should
urge this plan for the affairs of that great
aud wealthy city, who would not think OF applying such
nr,yate enterprises Who would think of govern
Ing their ships their counting houses, their printing
5rprs II they had them. The instincts OF men
against this false method OF administration through
Hess entrst executive duties to one head to whom
bordinatcs their several departments are answerabe
No private enterprise prosper under any other sy
tenn And, in my Judgment, no government can be sue
cessfu except under the same system approved by the
rned by the instructive habits OF men In all enterprises
public or private. which require cooperation When
theories put forward directly opposed to this ex-
peence and these instructive habits may be sure.
whatever the arguments made IN their favor That they
are not the Outgrowth OF practical wisdom
The CoNsTTUTIOS UNITED STATES AS MODEL.
The Constitution Of the United States affords us the
best model Of Government 1t may not be perfect in
all its details for 1t is Of human creation. But the
country done we'll under for century, and We are
justified latter late civil that no form
Of Government in the history Of the world, has Stood
foct In = bah