The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-14

labor progresses it will learn of itself the limit
to which it can go without destroying its OWL
means of existence. Capital may grumble as
the giant feels his power and begins intelli-
gently to exercise it. yet as it is necessary that
capital must exist and act with certain un-
constrainedness labor, secure in its might,
can only maintain its position of watchfulness
and conserve the advances it has gained 1t
has much ground to cover yet before that
goal is reached, much drilling to undergo and
much patience to exercise. The late and
prospective victories OF the building trades
are something for labor to be joyful over,
though they were simply achieved by number
Of men saying to capital, 1--WE will work eight
hours if you wish; but if You think you can
afford it we will not work at all Capital pre-
ferred to save them from the sin of idleness.
Tho Last Now York City Charter
What the Governor Ought to Do.
The Palmer charter, as it is called, which
passed the Senate and Assembly last week
amendment inserted by the Assembly in
regard to sectarian appropriations, is still in
the hands of Governor Hoffman, and it is not
yet known what action the Governor may de-
eide to take upon it. AS whole it is far bet
ter law than the charter of the Committee of
questionable experiment in government upon
city Of over million of inhabitants, and
because it places the real executive power
where it properly belongs in the hands of the
chief executive officer Of the municipality.
Probably 1t is not altogether bad law,
although it certainly contains some pro-
visions that might be materially improved. II
it had been introduced early in the session, ma
turely considered in the Legislature, properly
discussed and understood by our citizens,
judiciously amended and passed with
out haste, it might have been made
acceptable to the people Of the metrop-
oils. But it came suddenly into exist
ence on the final disappearance Of the cumula-
tive scheme, was pushed through both houses
almost without debate, patched up in hurry
and sent to the Executive chamber just as the
session is happily about to close Scarcely a
citizen Of New York knows anything about
its provisions certainly few Of our people are
sufficiently conversant with its details to vote
intelligently for officers to be elected under it ;
and should it become q law in few days by
the approval Of the Executive, we shall be
called upon to choose in less than two weeks
the men who are to be entrusted with the
duty Of carrying it into operation.
Under these circumstances, independent Of
any faults there may be in the law itself, we re-
gard it to be the plain duty Of Governor Hoffman
to veto the bill without further hesitation. It
would be worse than a blunder, it would be
a crime, to force upon the great metropolis
whose prosperity is SO closely identified with
the interests of the State and Of the nation,
hastily enacted charter, and to compel the
people to elect officers under it before they un-
derstand its provisions or have an opportunity
for deliberate action. 1t would afford corrupt
men, who are banded together in the ties of
common interest and who are always prepared
for united movement, an undue advantage
over honest, independent citizens, who have a
stake in the good government of the city, but
ton. An election forced upon us on the last
day of the present month would almost as
suredly be carried by the worst class Of voters.
There is, besides, no immediate pressing ne
cessity for any further change in the
city government and in little more
than five months the people will have
the opportunity to elect new municipal rulers
under our present charter. In the meantime
the finances Of the city are in safe keeping, as
all agree; the departments are in the hands of
men placed in power through the influence of
the reform movement; the Board Of Aldermen
are reformers and no interests will suffer by the
postponement Of an election for Mayor until
next November. On the other hand, the city
might be seriously injured by any interference
with the work of the present Dock Commits
sioners, who have undertaken a comprehensive
plan Of river improvements that will materially
advance the progress and prosperity of the
city, and in connection with the great i'm
provements at He'll Gate will work complete
revolution in the business aspect of the me-
tropolis. If their plans are allowed to be car
ried out without interference or hindrance
New York will be put forward quarter Of
century on the high road Of its manifest des-
tiny in less than three years. We shall have
system of dockage unequalled in any city of
the world, and two splendid business streets
reclaimed from the rivers running nearly
the entire length Of the island on both
sides, giving ample room for magnificent
warehouses and wholesale establishments,
and affording facilities for the construction Of
viaduct railroads, at comparatively trifling cost,
from the Battery to Spuyten Duyvil Creek,
along the North and East Rivers. No benefit
the new high pressure charter could confer
upon the city would compensate for any in
terruption of the comprehensive plans Of the
present Dock Commission; and should the
bill be vetoed, as it ought to be, we shall call