New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-06
CIVIC GOVERNMENT.
HOW OTHER CITIES ARE GOVERNED.

HOW OIuEh CIIlES ALL uoFEnNfD
INTERESTING IMPORTATION ON THE MUNICIPAL.
SYSTEMS OF LARGE AMERICAN CfrIEs-THE
MEASURES ADOPTED TO SECURE GOOD Gov
EMINENT LIGHT FOR LEGISLATORS ON
CHARTER REFORM.
The following article contains information
deduced from reports made TO THE TRIBUNE by the
| Mayors OF several cities. The facts given relate 10
points In which change is imminent in our CITY Gov
eminent, and regarding which II is now important TO
know the in other cities, guide In perectng
our municipal system:
NUMBER OF ALDERMES-osE OR TWO BoARDs-ELEcTros
| WARDS.
| The Councils or Boards OF Aldermen In most Of
| the great cities are composed OF many more members
than In New-York When the relative populations
taken into account the disproportion appears moro
striking. Buffalo population $4,000 has &c Aldermen,
| receiving each $3.50 per annum. Chicago population
3c0o. 10 Aldermen; salary. Baltimore population
267 COO has 20 Councilmen the First Branch" and 10
In the Second Branch" Of the Common Council. st.
Louis population 100000 has "a Aldermen; Pittsburgh,
Penn population $1,000 has 90 members in its Common
ton s2c there are 30 Aldermen while cSclnns pop
ulation 21Soc0 has - Councilman and "a Aldermen.
excellent features the Common Council is composed OF
what NAV be denominated, to use uniform term, ono
one Board Baltimore has two Branches" Cincinnati,
two Boards and Pittsburgh, a Board Of Aldermen and
There is probably no other city but Neg,Yo,a which
s sv by Ssy meS
Cincinnati Chicago Sc. Louis. and Buffalo, all elect tho
srs n Bacfe the Bane
of a member from every two contiguous Wards
| COMPLETE DIFFERENTIATION - CONTROL or ExPBsDf
| TUREs.
None OF the large cities have improved upon the or
dnary mode Of election mnorites fair
resentaon Newly may have the credit OF nrs Intro
ducng this feature in municipal government, Illinois
with the notable exception OF New.York the iegisla
tive body Of the large cities cngs tenaciousy 10
the Committees of the Councils audit all bills In Ceve
land the city Council control all dispnrsements except
natl the control with the exceptions s exer
cised In Buffalo the sone) Board q Aldermen authorize
aons exclusively for civic purposes are made by the
| City Councils
| THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
The Federal Constitution the model OF many
cities In the appointing Of executive officers In Pitts
burgh, however with the exception Of the Mayor Con
troer and elected by the people for
three Councils in joint session elect the heads
OF departments and the members forming the Board Of
Health &c. But the Police Department is directly
under the supervision Of the Mayor. who s
pointees TO the Police Committee. In Cleveland the
Mayor dominates to the Council the City Clerk Auditor
Civil Engineer Park Commissioner, and the supern.
tendents OF Markets The Sc. Louis charter em6o,les
with the important Exceptions of the controIler GaoT
Treasurer Register, Police Justice, City Attorney City
people for two years In Chicago the Common Council
elects the Board Of Education and many municipal OH
|
ever irresponsible departments In NewYOrk. Balti-
% rule adopts the F %S Dsn
confirm IN Joint convention the Register Is elected BY
| more in regard to the heads OF departments
THE LEvYISG OF TAXES
In abollshng the annual tax levy" containing each
appropriation the Tammany Ring more progress
i've than they intended to be- general powers"
nhere in the corporations Of large cities The char
tiers of Pittsburgh, Cleveland Cincinnati, Baltimore, Chi
| thoon
to assess taxes limitations being prescribed-sncb Il
and 5-lOth mills the dollar in Ceveand-in most IN
| stances In Chicago, however, the Common Council
against surrepous loans is contained the Baltimore
| charter, which ordans that the General Assembly OF
Maryland must authorize all permanent loans and the
ordinances of the Mayor aud fesss rS'<A's
4 scfufinzed. -
| GENERAL INFORMATION ON TIE ofPrcR or nASos'
There is probably no exception TO the rne ea' inc
Mayor is elected by the people in American cites I'D
,,,a. lilo pittsburgh where the British custom pre-
vailed and the council privileged body elected the
chief magistrate, change has long since been msoe !"
election by popular vote
There IL great diversity in the extent OF authority
vested the Mayor in large cities In chicago ne ssu
all warrants and ordinances His power however
is much curtaled by irresponsible Boards ana tDe nm
ence they may exercise In Pltsourgn, tns msyo
serves three years. but two years appears 70 De ths
length most in favor that being the limit OF ne
Mayors s, tenure q r. oe es Bno' Snd ceveIand
The Mayor Of Cincinnati receives 5000 per annaIn o.
E pTrYeiS 81 zoo, of pittsburgh 500.
The oneerm principle has not been LOST slsht OF lt
Baltimore, where the MAYOR mas Sonsiasrao ~ ny %
at his disposal. The charter OF that Guy says s.'
binelgble for the term ne succeeding tnat TOT wss
he was elected. In Pittsburgh the mayor cahno. ps
elected in successive years but In many other ces D'
may. ,,.- -. -
| la Pittsburgh the Mayor signs All warrants Du' can
veto ordinances. In 81 Louis Ne nay veto oiut
nances, and In the charter Is empo~erea 70 ~
remove any appointed oncer put snail report sne iseu
OF the TO the Council AT thelr next session. IN
the Mayor signs al warrants ana may ssto CRU.