New-York tribune., 1872-12-11

In raising the standard OF the Mayoraty NOMINATION.
then say but let strike deeper. aud say 10
those OF the majority Not alone open ana smut
exert yourselves In that hope for we, too, can present
our candidates and have their merits debated ana
the Mayor 100 not having the whole Held 20 I'm, thc
best partisan but the best man had better be nOnnate
With all respect for the charter Of the COMMITTEE he
Seventy 10 seems 10 that its method OF securing 'o
result by allowing the Legislative Deparlneht W
absolutely elect the officers OF the Administrative pc
partment involves too serious objections.
AS have already Indicated rely mueh on on s tnese
Assistant Mayors being inclined TO bring any dehns
officials OF the opposite party before the court io'
exposure. NJ. ,,.u.. ,u bovo an
other important function Being the leaders OF te roo
largest organizations of the city they with the Mayor
and themselves he the Election Board or have super
vision over the Bureau OF Election proper s Of
Police OF a dangerous party pressure.
THE BOARDS OR ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT.
There ia no time for details complicated sub
ject and only few leading principles can be notlced
The alternatives between having the WORK OF tnc
city done by committees of the Common Council or 10y
Boards after the analogy OF the great departments AZ
Washington. The question hardly admits OF argument
for 10 throw such abor upon mere fnctnatng com
thing into confusion and 10 cast away all the conuos
of responsibility foresight and seadness on te ,h
ing would be gained for committees are a eas1 a ga
Gus and grasplng as boards ,e m that Of each
board and nowhere IN State or Na0na anlrs can nere
be found such mngling Of legislative anu aainlssra
the navy build the p0sOfces or take care O the puDc
parks or schools Of Washington. -
10 is OF course essential that there shall be no more
departments or boards, and no more commissioners or
clerks In any board than with energy VIII sunce 10 give
MS an efficient administration. am disposed 10
suspect law enacted for tho city In SO yer the
year seem TO be large extent judcious, though
the jurisdiction OF each Board and the number OF lneln
hers Ieonire nuch revision think that OF the ten
partments there named, eight should be substantially
preserved but the Fire Department ana the Department
OF Buildings should be united into one ana thc FIRE
Dt
bureau of that malgamaed Board Those having tle
%uidnas are consructsd and the force on the depart
ment might act Inspectors Of the structure OF all
buildings being erected, as well as watehmen OF tnei
safety and the Board, which il vcxed with needless
! fires aud the who are called out IN Winter MD
nights To arrest the work OF lncondlares arc, OF al
Others likely 10 give 10 the functions 0i tne flre
Marshal most vigorous aud meTciless execution. =,
Police and Fire Commissioners have duties 700 III
verse united under the same Board nor can tue
in the two departments be well trained IN tho same
manner; the efficient cooperation OF ,the two Boards
can be readily secured. the duties OF the quarantine
Commissioner should be added to the duties OF tue
Board OF Health, and the former commission should be
abolished TO save expense, ana Hye greater mar
mony and yigor to the sanitary administration OF the
The Health Officer should he member Of the Board OF
Health and the Board OF Health should have super
vision Of his duties ana jurisdiction oyerthe harDor 10 he
sea II each and village upon that long. narrow
bay, which pestlence and cOntagon may come IRON
every port OF the ocean prefers 10 skrmsh on ITS own
with those messengers Of death suppose New
York had better at present at least, contend Tor
than the right 10 begin its own battle lar enough
! away TO secure Its own safety.
Of pesience will bring our aOngshOre ncighbOrhoOd
great deal OF profitable knowledge this subject. The
should be restored TO the Board OF Health under such
amended provisions, ~ TO beer and some other subjects
ninstrati0n which preceded the January tharter Ihe
OF the Commissioners Of Taxes might be conferred
upon Finance Department. aud the Tax Commission
abolished To this simpllfYing ana lnNIgurdtlnB
legislation should Of course be added careful provisions
the number OF commissions IN each department.
! and the sphere Of duty OF the department. isclI 90
varied are duties Ia each and great is the danger
|
! parmen should DO without more Than one csmmls-
! siOncr.
THE GOVERNOR TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONERS.
An important question here arises Should the Mayor
make all the nominations for each OF the Boards, or
should the Governor make portion OF them The Re
publican party has long been committed TO the theory
that the state should have share in filing the city com
missions and 1t seems that this theory Is founded
in Justice and policy. The state has abdcated far
100 much power and duty at this great port OF the
the convenience OF NewYork City, let her manage; but
what relates criminal justice. to personal safety to
the public health to the commerce of the nation are
matters general 10 all the people OF the state
and all the hundreds OF thousands from other states
State of New-YorT has no right 20 leave
municipal corporation. Let tine Republican party then
consult principle aud duty as well "a polcy ana con-
eny ny sSS removal % Of IT. proportion Of the mem
bers of the Police Health and Dock Commissions which
ii o1 SouFS TS qeravd pHc pppcy radcy which
confers authority. over the docks and the vessels
commerce Of the nation, upon tho appontees OF the
Mayor of single city The State at least df not the na
and when the State has named Its share OF the Board
should upon that Board the functions of the Port
Wardens and HarbOr Masters aud thus gave harmony
aud viger to the administration.
LAW DEPARTMENT.
There s no part OF the city administration ia which
partisan influences more TO DO deprecated than III
the Law Department and this community knows well
the evils OF allowing great officer. and especially the
Mayor 10 overawe the Corporation Counsel The legal
adviser OF the city government should not be depend
his legal ability and judicial csndor Of Judgment Moth
ing be more demorazing than to require such an
dependence all bartered away TO secure hts nomina
ton and election; The qualities we need ,s would most
pointed bv the judges OF the Two higher city courts at
Joint meeting; and the DisrletAttorney should ee nom.
frmaton OF the same judges
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
While the city is most fortunate in Its present financial
supervision II plain that question OF the composition
and authority OF Board OF Finance IN the not
future is both serious and perpexng. IL seems to me
need Board OF Finance and not merely Controller,
especially II that Department should have conferred
The Controller should be the President and the Execu
tive officer OF the Department, which oueht to be com
posed OF several the soundest Judgment and in
tegrty have time for considering the details OF It's
coinposltion or duties II may perhaps in cooperation
with certain number OF the Aldermen perform the du-
ties OF Supervisors IL seems to me that the Board OF
Finance together with an equal number of Aldermen,
to he selected from the class served longest
and 20 be voted for In the same manner the vote shall
be nominations for the Board Of Fnance would
be fttest body TO perform the duties Of Supervisors
And 1 propose the following method OF such nomna-
ItOns
Let each Alderman have vote for each hundred
dollars OF he has paid the preceding II the
should have the authority OF Supervisors there
would be great inducement TO nen OF property 10 be-
Aldermen, and certainly those who pay small
have but small right 70 participate In liking salaries
and those who no taxes have no right 20 have care
the public moneys IL very plain that between the
abuses OF bills at Albany and the pers OF allowing
the representatives OF the majority 1.-THE halt OF which
pay almost taKes) to vote taxes without limit, there
need TO seek middle ground OF safety aud