New-York tribune., 1873-02-26


is what those gentlemen propose They pro
pose TO have Board of Aldermen select
officers and the Mayor reject and the Board of Aldermen
might again appoint the men over again What
would you think Of your President Of the United States
II he had such Office that's What kind of man
would you got TO hold the object Better abolish the
Office altogether No. they too shrcwd politicians
for that They do not like the responsibility Of abolish
ing the Office, but they take away the Mayors power
and make him sort Of Grand Llama for the people to
look at and 10 attract the veneration of the SIMPLE
through the curiosity that would simply attain 70 him in
future days as the shadow of one mighty name.
WHAT CONCESSION WILL MADE.
Accordingly, in the spirit of COMPROMISE simply with
the desire 10 get good government as we can,
failing accomplish alive think ought, we are stin
authorized 10 say df that will help produce good gov
ernment, help TO give a good chartcT) rs a COM
promise and concession Let the Mayor appoint and let
the Aldermen confirm. fAppiause.J But we could not
well consent. No, neverl never consent TO any such
form Of government this which is presented 20
u.s. in which all themes Of government are inverted.
[Great applause.]
Now the gentleman who proposed this in the Lesisla-
ture proposed that the Mayor, with the assent OF
the Governor shall have the power of removal OF OIL
GERS Voice. "Who 's therenegadeP P1 do MT call any
names tonight Cries Of Tom Murphy, ," laughter and
hiesesl What 1 say lie his that the Mayor does not
have in this plan any substantial power OF removal IL
no power all. Why, about the question Of removal,
what is the main object Of iti Why does he appOntf
He removes in order 10 appoint. What would be the
effect OF tsf Suppose the Mayor and the Governor re-
move what is accomplished by i He gets no power to
appoint. II he removes, the Aldermen appoint. II
the Mayor removes bad man because he is bad man,
the Aldermen appoint bad again. and so IL goes on
TO the end OF the chapter What good will 1T do to re-
move under such circumstances The only effect will
TO leave him where he just before In order to
have the power of removal amount TO anything the
Mayor have the power Of appointing and OF select
ing. That essential element. 1t is mere device
otherwise Then again. If the Mayor is to be hampeTed
by the Governor, what win he do Suppose the Gov
ernor merely acts according to the Mayors wisl then
the acton OF the Governor OF no O tho
effect may be that he will differ with the Mayor. That
raises an a1IagOhsIh pclWeen tnS w. ''iH 49,, o o,
what position does the Mayor feel in regard to dignity
aud selrespecL
CHANGES IL PCBnC SENTIMENT
Another point il one in regard TO Spring elections.
We have made it cardinal feature Of plan that the
election Of the Mayor and Aldermen shall be held in the
Spring. and the object OF that ia to try far
10 separate this whole matter Of the election for city
officers from mere party politics LApplause.l Suppose
that this election comes in the Fa at thc time OF the
Fail elections what is the ordinary RESULT Why, city
affairs are lost sight Of. We all know that We get
and that fills our mind. Perhaps it is President,
Governor, ana whoever III may he,
election OF Mayor aud Aldermen and bad are apt
slip in IN tha. way We desire to have TINS Spring elec;
be OCCASION il possible, for the entrance OF party
politics. Now ask you, gentlemen If the time has not
come for thatf lVOiCes-Ies, yes Can we consent 10
consider this matter of municipal administration as
business affair." concerning lives, affecting prop
er.y and our health and our comfortl Why, shall
able govern ourselves here among ourselves
they do in the smaller towns OF the State such as
Utca3 They have Spring elections, and why shah
nOt4 Let us have a fair chance. lGreat applause.l
Tney tell us at Albany We will any interest
our, aud viii let the few manage our affairs, and
pay any attention 10 them Now, think there was
good reason saying that few years when there
was apathetic feeling among the people and compare
lively little interest taken III city ias But we nave
for the last few years to take deep interest
city matters-reasOns that We should not soon
been waking up They are alive on this subject, and
not one OF them will forget the dynasty that ruled us
The young men viii forget it, and the old win
net forget ~ because they Will feel day by day III their
viii have patriotism and interest in such way that It
VIII become pant of their thought and feeling think
We can uust the peoples interest at ieast want 10
have the opportunity 10 try It, And after the expert
meut Sprng elections 1t fails, then VIII be will
ing TO abandon our theory ana come BACK 10 me Fan
elections. Let have the opportunity 10 separate the
whole subject from party politics. lApplausc.l
must say a word in regard 10 the various de-
partments OF the CltJ Go rnmcnt You are all aware
what the power Of the Ai0 has become under
except take Of matters of detail and look
ali the powers PoWeris not cXInguished. You never
VIII eXtinguish political power that Is vested some
has all gone into the departmental Now, what are
those departmental Why, they are separate and spe-
such is the Department of Finance, of Public Works,
Parks, Police, aud ohers The effect Of tins charter is
with nobody them, nobody 10 control them. The
Mayor substantially has no power, because the
ned power ei removal i IN connection WIN n the
Now what is TO be donoi They can go in and act
stantay without check OF hindeTance without any
spOnsIbly TO the people, for officer has any power
removal The whole tendency OF the charter is to
magnify and increase tins power which Mr.. Tweed so
sgnay gave an experience Of IL gives more power
to the Corporation Counsel power of appointment,
and 1t gives other departments unchecked power Of
0n The Controller has no power when the salaries OF
officers fixed to whether those officers faith
fully performing their duties There is no check. He
cannot say 10 tkem you cannot have your salary be-
cause yOu have not performed your duty" A man may
hold snecure poshon but the Controller has power
TO re refuse payment 10 him.
Now we say that If you give such vast powers as these
you certainly ought to have some check or control and
ought not TO give them In such way hat they can be
made the instrument OF oppression. And we claim the
present charter violates that principle because it gives
TO the superintendent OF Ponce an enormous power as
being vested In and capable OF being used
TO be dangerous 20 the people. tApplause1 Now
we insist the superintendent shall not have such
enormous and unchecked powers. 1t is enough to give
them the Board OF Commissioners OF Police, and We
insist that they shall not be withdrawn from the Com
misslOners aud vested, they the SupertnteDd
At the same time full and ample power Is given TO
make his salary large the Department may h
without any check upon IT. as IN the case OF the other
officers Then again, we might make the same sug-
gestion about the Corporation Counsel.
PRINCIPLES, NOT MEN.
Now, gentlemen, the time which had allotted TO my
self has expired, and will say single word further
and that is this What wrong 1t would be 10 great
city like this have its charter framed the
question: inclined TO put it, OF whether there
an agreement or an accord OF not between the Re
publican party and the Mayor the city. Now, when
YOU are framing great and organic charter like tnat
which is to govern the city you have no right to frame
il principle OF simply meeting particular emer
gency. You have got 70 frame 1t as
system of good government lAppausel That
is what ought to be done. Now, / have
on another occasion made comparison OF this TO
attempt to frame the Constitution of the United States
because we didn't like particular President, 10
frame constitution for the State OF New-York because