The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-14

come tired and Disguised with the way matters
with the only party wnch they thought could bring
about change or erect something that would pe
better than man the exisIing order Of things Now
expected 10 accomplish some REFORM A
great deal Is expected OF 1t. and If in those expecta
lions the people are disappointed: II this Leglsla-
ture does not succeed in giving good government;
If they keep up these little factions ana ciques In
COnkng or Fenton. or whoever IL may be, the result
Will be that those who aided the party TO achieve IT'S
and matters viii be as bad II not worse. than be.
fore That is the way LOOK at II, and am author
lied to say that Is the view President Grant takes
'.of course you intend to let the people here I'M
der5tand tnatP'
ION. yes; l shall see the leaders OF the direreDt
sides, Speaker Smith ana Mr. Alvord and lew
others. and talk the matter over with them, and
have no doubt that their good sense Will show them
that they should regard the matter IN that way.
The people ut the tate election laid aside all IDEAS O
party lines TO Dring about II cnange-a re ,orm-and
il they are to represent The people truly tney should
rise above faction differences ana try to erect the
reforms that are needed"
"Have YOU given any thought TO the new YORK
city charter question:"
mo, not very much. have not had quite time
enough Tor that. NV idea OF the city government
Is that the Mayor should be the real head OF The
government lie should be the executive, In Iact-
should appoint the neads OF departments and be
solely responsible Tor the manner In which the gov
eminent Is executed. This idea OF governing by
ments. FOR boards are really irresponsible
bodies, much more so than corporations; for in
have the affairs administered as well as possible.
but boards have no such responsibility. the only
trouble aDou THIS IT, that past experiences OF leaving
responsibility with the Mayor did not prove very
satisfactory. know ihat many Old New Workers
nave the same idea, that the Mayor should be
the responsible head OF the government. but
the trouble who are you going to have Tor Mayor
When this divided responsibility commenced you
found, some day in May, Fourteenth street ripped
up. What Is this for? Water pipes are to be put
down. In June Fourteenth sreep Is ripped up
again. What is this 1orl Gas pipes. Along III
August
FOURTEENTH STREET is RIPPED UP AGAIN.
What IS THIS Tor? A sewer is to be built. Why not
ent departments, and each DO the WORK IN us
own time. The Mayor should have his
cabinet OF heads OF departments meet with
him once or twice or three times q
week. Tney find the Common Council has ordered
Croton pipes to be laid in Fourteenth street, then
the Common Council has ordered a sewer TO he
built in Fourteenth street, then, again, the Four
teenth street property owners have asked that the
street be paved or some other Improvement be
made. Well gentlemen, why not do these all at
one timer Then the Mayor would be responsible
for the way In which the work was carried out. No.
this whole thing IS r'rong; 1t Is founded on our
State constituc", Which IS
THE VERY WORST FOUNDATION
that could be devised on which 10 erect anything
ike q good government. That constitution when
passed In 1916 changed the whole feature OF the
State government and made 1t different from what
a State government should be. 1t stripped the Gov
ernOr OF all power as an executive He is not an
executive now; he Is simply revser or the laws
passed by the Legislature, a sort OF check
by means OF MS veto.