New-York tribune., 1873-02-19

vded that the estimates shall made by but three Of
the four members of this Board Section IT. which
raises this Board OF Apportionmen contains the follow
ing provision:
The Board of Apportionmont shall cause such pro-
vs0na estimate. and the for 10 m detail 70 re
laid before the Board Of Aldermen whose au,y ~ i %
be- carefully consider ant investigate the sld prON
siOnal estimate and the reasons assigned terelof Dt
such considerations aud Investigations shall not continue
beyond fifteen days Any objections 10 0t rectueati1ua
said provisional estimate made by s1id Board A'
mted by the clerk thereof 10 the Board OF App0Hlon
ment who shall proceed 70 the consideration OF Hucu
obiections or cations and after such consideration
shall make a final estimate should the Board overrue
the objections or suggestions made Dy ne botI ot
Aldermen the reasons FOR such action sha oe puOsned
in The Cify Record.
This provision gives 10 the Board Of Aldermen the
same semblance OF legislative power that Section %
gives OF executive power the Mayor and s manifest
sham delude careless readers OF the charter win the
idea that this power Of raising eyying ana appro
priating the surrounded with some safeguard
and accompanied by some check. The Board OF Alder
men, in the ronical language OF this section, is care
fully TO consider and investigate" she said provisional
estimate. not 70 upon IT, but to the end that the
Board OF Apporlonment may Overrue such objections
the Board OF Aldermen may see az to present 70 II IN
writing The very Objectionable amendment 70 which
your attention in my last communication has also
been incorporated to w.t. The depriying the Con-
troer OF the power OF disputing the amount Of any
salary of any officer OF coOrdinote department. OF 10
question the performance OF the service claimed to nave
been performed The criticism then made receives adj
dtonal force from the manifesy corrupt and partisan
design Of the whole instrument which now before Iae
OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY ROOTED UP.
The spirit OF mistrust and Of partisan sus-
picon in which this Charter conceived indicated
by provisions which, in themselves OF not much
Importance, many keys 10 unlock its meaning.
BY 80 the Mayor is cut out from the Department
OF Police az OF its members eXOfci0. Section 40 re-
duce the number OF patromeR under the direction Of
foG sect
duces the number Of days during which the Mayors dis
ability Illness or absence may continue without the
President OF the Board OF Aldermen becoming the de
facto MavOr from 10 to days. Now 10 may well be
asked, With what intent is Charter proposed TO be
enacted which is such destroyer Of responsibility that
IT, from aught that a cursory examination would de-
veop would be destructive Of even political re-
sponsibtyl Where the political head Who from all
tins chaos which 10 be thrown is 70 secure
political advantages TO the party which chooses TO be-
come accountable for this inquitous measure II Is
true that the Department Of Public Works-the most IL
responsible extravagant and expensive Of all our de-
partments cunDngly contryed for Mr. Tweed-is to be
under the charge man, with all It's powers unim-
pared but the term OF office Is reduced TO two years.
aud the Commissioner OF Public Works ceases 70 be
member OF the Board Of Apportionment. We must
therefore look for this political head 10 the officer whose
duties under the proposed Charter are increased with
the accompaniment Of proporOnate lessening OF re-
Police. The following entirely new provisions need
scarcely % word OF comment:
SIC s. II shall be the duty Of the superintendent OF
Police detail each election day, at least two patrol
sEc c All matters connected with the detail transfer
and designation o police officers ana policemen 70 duty
and all orders affecting said police officers ana police
men, shall solely emanate from the superintendent OF
Police.
point and at pleasure such number OF clerks not
exceeding six As he may deem necessary anu snail nave
aI anfIlf fIg hal nr
direction OF detective staff Police Headquarters, OF
not more than which staff shall from time 20 time be
ected designated detailed for service connected
the prompt detection OF and ala IN me punishment
crime and III such mode and manner as the SAID st-
perutondent of Police select and direct the said
Selection 70 be OF one captain and sergeant deemed
necessary and the rest from patromen' ,,.,-
SIC 20. Tue superintendent OF Police, IN addition ~
his other duties SHALL with the concurrence OK te Board
OF Police cause 10 be made and Kept III each ponce pre-
clnct full and complete record OF the name age, birth
place. and place OF residence 0t each nhabiant Of the
may from time time direct aud shall cause copy 20
ana kept his ONCE and when such records and
copy so made u sha thereafter De me duy on tue
superintendent Police the same 10 be revised
ana from time 70 time IN eacn year as he may
deem necessary ana 10 take an pLopgl anu nttcessIy
means obtain ana secure, through the patrOlmen OF
the precincts and the residents themselves early and
full information OF all changes otresidenee ana removals
TO keep said records as u complete ana accurate
possible.
While the Board would seem to nave the power 70
make rules and regulations for the police fOrce section
so limits that power to strict conformity to the pro-
visions Of this article" Therefore, the superintendent
has absolute and sole control OF the polls Oh the day Of
election lie controls, without power OF Interference
the detailing, TRANSFERRING and designation Of police
men he has absolute charge OF the whole detective
force he has the power Of dOmciary visit; he s, in
short a Fouche without Napoleon above him, petty
tyrant whose arbitrary power will make him in a short
time with a little management, the controller Of the
dsjonted departments by this act organized and the
heads thereof In short, in all probability this city is
by a series OF petty annoyances, 70 have its political
convictions changed, and minority party is, by such
means be made maority party through the instru
mentality Of the petty dictator thus TO be raised. It
requires little political perspcacity 70 see who in
tended TO DO this work.
THE PARTISAN FEATURES OF THE ACT.
The imminent and almost disastrous character Of the
evil with which we are threatened induces me sound
this note Of warning Many Of my structures might i'm
ply want Of confidence the present Board OF Alder
men, and my detractors viii also in them personal
desire to WELD greater power than the proposed charter
is TO grant me- Had the Legislature nt TO eothe
the legislative body OF city with legislative powers
TO make the various Departments Of our ciys Govern
ment subject to control to the expenditure OF
money and the exercise OF legislative discretion such
reform would have had my unqualified support; but
what Is intended be done is 20 give 20 10 executive
powers without an executives responsibility, and such
grant Of powers will corrupt any body Of average
not specially selected with the view Of having such
power thrust upon them. II is almost needless FOR me
20 say that am not ambitious for patronage. The few
appointments my GIFT have since, and even before my
accession to the Mayoraty ian office neither desired to
have nor hold, given more annoyance than pleas
ure A large addition 20 this power Will produce, in all
human probability largely increased result
of the same character. But have no
right 70 consider the fitness OF unntness OF
the present Board Of Aldermen. or my own
desires or wishes IN the premises. organic law
as the result Of the reform movement OF the past two
years. Is proposed ana the true question is Is II
honest law Does II furnish the reform for which
people have struggled and victories is IL
emn of dishonest eontriving poIlticans cheat The