Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-01

what banner or leader take they the field.
We hail the New Year, then, with no
gloomy anticipations. This day the Daily
kennebec Journal starts on the third year
of its existence, and the Weekly Journal
has already entered upon its forty-eighth
year. The success of the Daily is graft
lying; the subscription list of the Weekly
was never so large and strong as at pres
ent. To our many readers we send the
greeting of the season, a HAPPY NEW
YEAR.
THE PROPOSED NEW CHARTER FOR
NEW YORK.
The Committee of Seventy in New York
has prepared and published draft of new
charter for the city. After what has been
seen of misgovernment under the old charter
the public will be curious to see the new one
proposed. One of the most notable innova-
tons is the adoption of the cumulative system
of voting in the election of Aldermen and
school commissioners. The application Of
this principle would be as follows Nine AL.
dermen are elected in each Senate District.
Every elector is privileged to deposit nine
separate ballots. On each of these he may
nscribe different name, or he may repeat a
single name on all of the ballots, thus casting
nine votes for one man, or he may give three
men three votes each, or distribute them in
any other way he sees fit. The practical re-
suit would be that each party would secure a
representation substantially proportionate to
its vote. Both would make nominations as
now, but the number of nominations would
be regulatedhby their relative strength. In q
district where the Democrats outnumbered
the Republicans two to one, the former would
nominate six and the latter three, and the
ballots would be arranged and distributed in a
way to secure the election respectively of
these candidates. We find the following
synopsis of the charter in the Albany Jour-
nal.
1t vests in the Board of Aldermen, to be
elected annually, full legislative power to ap-
propriate but not to borrow money, except
by special legislative acts. The Board is for
hidden to give or loan money to any private
charitable institution, except on the recon-
mendation of the Board of Charities, and it
shall neither ALLEVIATE or lease any public pro-
perry, nor pass any resolution taxing the citi-
zens without two days public notice.
There are to be forty-fiye Aldermen and
fifty-f five School Commissioners elected, on
the cumulative principle, SO as to ensure a
minority representation. Each elector casts
nine ballots, with different name on each
with the multiplication of the same name on
them all, if he chooses.
1t cuts off the Department of Public Build
ings and confers its powers, as well as those
of the Croton Aqueduct Board and Street
Commission, upon the Department OF Public
Works, and confers the duties of the Cham
berlain upon the Controller.
A new Department of the Public Treasury
to be composed of five Commissioners, of
whom he will be one, is to be associated with
the Controller in the management Of the city
finances. e
The Mayor is to be elected annually, and
may be removed by the Governor for cause.
The Executive Departments are eleven in
number, namely: Works, Parks, Docks,
Charities and Correction, Finance, Sinking
Fund, Law, Instruction, Police, Health, and
Fire. OF these, the Departments of Law and
Public Instruction are not substantially
changed.
There are to be no more corporation news
papers, but all official advertisements, re-
ports, &C., are to be published daily in a
cheap paper to be called the "City Record"
There are some complications in the mode
of filling vacancies, but any defects which
may be discovered can, of course, be recti-
fed by the Legislature.
1t appears to be the intention of the Com
mittee to revive the old Metropolitan Police
district system, to include the Police, Health
and Fire Department. But the subject is left
for future consideration.
The proposed Charter is yet imperfect; but
enough is,written out to enable the Legisla-
ture to judge of the general character Of the
reforms desired