New-York tribune., 1872-02-12
CHARTER DISCUSSION.
VIEWS OF THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.
ADDRESS BY MR.. MACY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
ON CITIES.

posed by the Citizens Association of NewYork having
presented to the Senate and referred TO the Stand
ing Committee the Affairs Of Cities, the Committee
met Feb 1872 to hear argument thereon. Mr. Charles
Tracy behalf OF the Association, addressed the
mittee. The substance OF his remarks follows:
the late exposure Of frauds in the NowYork City
Government and the very decisive voice OF the citizens
expressed in the election there has arisen general
expectation that a charter will be adopted by the
Legislature. The Committee of Seventy have framed
proposed charter, which is under consideration in
the Assembly We recognize the and ability of those
who devised that draft but, upon close examination
things in it strike as better omitted and also
discover material defects in the draft which should DO
supplied
In the great work Of constructing charter large
city, and which affect 20 great public and private
interests deem it important, far possible,
the lights Of experience and AVOID the risks Of novel
pertinent
Many years ago IL was said in reprOach OF coun-
try that the policy and measures OF the British Govern
meDt founded on practical experience but those Of
the American Government temporary and novel
pedens. Since that time country has had large
experience OF its in peace and in and
now furnish from its own history ample precedents for
work Of this kind We are no longer left to work with
mere theory and experiment but may deal manly
with principles tried known, and proven among our
selves.
IN a small city the municipal government s safely
carried on by single Board Of Aldermen, annually
elected who possess body, all the legislative exec
utivc, and administrative powers Of g0vornmentman
aging particular branches by committees OF their own
members. making contracts in the name Of the city,
laying taxes borrowing money, appointing policemen,
ywatchmen, and the like, and in general carry
erease % this @ Ss'pSS sfSsS body "u' at length is found TO
be Inadequate for the necessary functions
sary each having charge OF some special branch OF ser
vice In city as large as New-York the orlgna simple
inadequate for an effective gOvepmcnt One de
after another has been iSgfd
each having ITS own peculiar province, VIII. very I'M
pOrtant powers. For example, when the Cr0ton Aque-
commenced the Croton Board 10 take catee Oh
II indispensable and proved to be most use
@ ana eeent ag wen as necesy s Of ~"
Board of Park Commissioners at later date tne
also the Police and Fire Departments and tho Depart
mcnt of Charities and Correction; later SUI came
ments of Finance Law, Public Works, and Education
The tendency Of this progress toward me ] ]IeRaL]trS ]
quite legislative body, but OF very considerable
In analogy to other legislative bodies and according to
the mature and uniform course of American olhhi03n
in such matters this Legislative Common council o the
CITY Of Ncw-York for long time has consisted OF two
separate boards the concurrence OF both Deg necessary
o familiar hG qSEn raSSn the S very @ Sufficient for having
two separate bodies Of Legislature Thdt the
adopted may he maurely considered IN the deilDeta
tions different sets Of men. and thereby hasty,
crude. unwise and it may be dishonest measures may
not have the effect of law on merely receV R h5 ssnC
of the houses. The Congress OF the United otes
and the Legislatures OF the several states arc loreu
The draft of tho Committee OF seventy proposes 20
depart from this safe ana iesa aIds 81 i u BoaT ag @ of
Aldermen. To this novelty IN our ahnls we lnahe
objection We propose to haye |o n6 os RsSd
heretOfore-namey, Board Vi A!deflHeh anu u bodru
OF Assistant Aldermen. . = e, -, .o,oooa
that the entire body of Aldermen BE- eected annually
and for the OF one year only we propose, on inc
toriaI District making 10 in all each to hod his place
for the term three years aud only one IN each Gls
that B9aTn neusntee We also propose that each
Iy nisfriq he
four districts each of which shall annn1ig elect one
safer and better thus TO have two Boards of tqnal
power the one conservative in s constitution and the
have single Board Of Aldermen, all chosen annually
The draft OF the Committee OF seventy m resPect OF
e one appointed by Mayor and four chosen by the
minority ia Board will in most cases be able tof
In short each commission would he composed of one
appontee the Mayor, three aPpolniccs % ' ~
Of the Aldermen, and one OF the mlnoi''y' Il" " Ho
Ot t seems S to s Is uTc toconfcr such appointing power
upon a Board Of Aldermen. The sad cNp'Hcice 0l te
ci,y under some previous charter ., "-dlAsl IL Oh tu
contrary the Association tgaii Oh ChIl puv% U.s. t1
all the Commissioners be absolutely apnWttu ny tue
Mayor for terms OF three years, 90 aidiE'l tnt oC
Commissioner and not more than Two, VIII ne n9
appointed in each year. This VIII pace thg uHl. i t
Responsibility upOn the Mayor the elective mead OF me
whole people. and answerahe mmcasioiy 10 tneLh aI
every annual election, which j. dr better tLah gttI
and indefinite responsibility thrown upon "Iolc oGdy
Of Aldermen, each being OF an Official grade lar Deio"
The power Of removal Of Comnissoner. by tho draft
ANY Commissioner alpohtri p5 th. iI! vi l I'l' - w. ~
moved bv him at pleasure and any other COMMISSIONER
may o9 m m G d5rm@H may be removed
by them at pleasure Under such ru, what competent
Could IaS but ycari We trust the legislature VIII
provide e1sectuay that each depar%inens I'M nayS com S1
by rotation and viii place me power OF removing
them in the hands Of the Mayor TO be exercised not Oh
his pleasure but for cause and thus insure, so far "a
charter will do IT, the selection OF persons Oh competent
ability and the retaining of them IN 0ice aItr theS
have required valuable experience OF IFS dutle and
will thus removcfrom the COnnisso oners temEiao To
their official powers for promoting INC reeeetoio %,
those upon alone they depend for retaining
their places or securing reappoRlment; ,or,,,
exception regard to the Department ot Public safety
Is an awkward contrivance to fuse IN one
and buildings Each OF the first three OF those /
departments is necessary, great ana distinct pInch
OF administration. and nothing viii he gained nut much
will be lost by forcing them together, ,-.o. ,,o.
The draft Of the Committee OF seventy proposes that
Commissioners of Public instruction, thus constituting
boardSO in number. and the Board to appoint trustees
The Ctizcns Association propose that M Trustees be be
expire one each year. and that the general manage
Of the department be PLACED III the bands OF ~ So
vears expiring in rotation. Ii is uanfesy necessary
TO the safety of our invaluable institution OF com,
mon school education that this branch OF the \
service shond be protected by the conservative influence
OF official bodies having some permanenGe and not SUD-
ject to changes, andwheh shall represent not
only the immediate wishes and views OF the voters IN
the vicinage of the schools NJ single ecuon Dut u
in somc.measu the views and determnau0ns OF Tue
voters previous elections ana the ieposloe cnove
az the Mayor or Mayors chosen at those eiections
Nothing could be radical than the drait on tne
Committee Seventy in tins respect ana no lnteiigtnt
friend OF Common Schools, cogrzart OF the various ~
fuences at work undermine them, can coh'e"piae
such plan without alarm. . 49,, d, ,u,.,.,,ro
The Citizens Association submits TO the Legisanie
three According recognized precedent the estapsn
ment OF anew Charter for "A city, like the founding OF
new constitution for state does not necessarily n'oV9 @
the removal from Office OF all the incnmDents anu
wherever a sole Office entire department ~ now
in competent and satisfactory hands, II s regular anu
safe to retain them rather than Dreak up o onc