The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-31

CONFUSION. Inc custom House King en-
deavored at first to coerce obedience, and,
when this failed, adopted the fatal policy of
hesitation and timidity. The object of the
republican party was to take control of the
jority in the Legislature they feared to do so
boldly, and wasted their time in quarrelling
over details and individuals until at last the
people have become disguised with their
whole policy They lacked the courage to
say, We have the responsibility and we will
honesty to act as partisans for the benefit of
their organization they have shown them
selves simply trading politicians, each bent on
doing the best he can for himself and each on
the lookout for change to promote his per-
sonal interests. If they have lost the chance
of taking such advantage of their accidental
victory in New York as they might have Sc
cured by decisive and harmonious party
action they have only themselves to blame for
the blunder.
There is now but one course to pursue, The
Legislature having shown its want of strength
and of unity, and the faction leaders having
displayed no faculty but the faculty of squab-
bling over personal preferences. the disgrace
full scramble should be brought to o close at
once and the uncontrolled power of appoint
ment be placed in tho hands of the Mayor.
This will be the moro practicable and the
more desirable inasmuch as Mayor Have
meyer has become satisfied that the Office of
Comptroller is "too large for Mr.. Green and
that we can have no vigorous and harmonious
government without change in the head Of
the Finance Department. There are many in
fuential and intelligent citizens who believe
that the best way to secure strong efficient
and honest government is to give one man the
whole, uncontrolled executive power and to
hold him responsible for the good conduct of
every subordinate department. The twaddle
of some partisan papers in favor Of giving the
Mayor the appointing power subject to
confirmation by the Board Of Aldermen
is not worthy of consideration. If the Mayor
is to be in truth the executive head, and
if the legislative and executive branches of the
government are to be kept distinct from and
independent of each other, the absolute
power over the appointments and removals
should vest in the Mayor alone. Many per-
SONS who believe in this theory of govern
ment hesitated to urge its adoption in the
new charter, because the Comptroller was
supposed to exercise undue influence over
Mayor Havemeyer-an influence which every
sensible citizen must feel would not be for
the benefit of the city. This obstacle being
removed they are willing now to see the sole
appointing power vested in the Mayor, and
the Legislature will save itself from further
reproach if it will cease its indecent wrangling
and place the appointments in Mayor Have
meyer hands. The Mayor will then be re-
sponsible for the good government of the city,
and if the republicans fail to secure the great
political advantage resulting from the control
of the enormous patronage once welded by
Tweed and his associates they will at least
enjoy the satisfaction of having fulfilled their
promises made before election and done their
best to redeem New York from misrule